Cannot Upgrade to Windows 11 [What to Do Next]

Windows 11 promises a sleek interface, enhanced performance, and cutting-edge features, but many users hit a wall with the dreaded "cannot upgrade to Windows 11" message. Whether it's CPU incompatibility or cryptic error codes, these obstacles leave users feeling helpless.

What’s more, Microsoft is scheduled to end Windows 10 security updates on Oct. 14, 2025. This means you will not get software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes if you continue using Windows 10. Thus, it’s essential to fix this issue or explore alternatives if Windows 11 still won't upgrade.

This guide dives into why your PC might be refusing the upgrade and offers practical solutions to get you back on track.

Why Cannot You Upgrade to Windows 11?

Windows 11 comes with strict hardware requirements that your computer must meet. Without these, your system won’t pass Microsoft’s security checks, blocking the upgrade to Windows 11.

Check PC Hardware for Compatibility Issues

Microsoft offers users an official tool - PC Health Check, which is the easiest way to diagnose PC hardware and find out the root causes.

Step 1. Download and run PC Health Check for a thorough check. You need to click Check now under the "Introducing Windows 11" section.

Step 2. After scanning, review the results, which flag specific failures (e.g., “TPM 2.0 not enabled” or “CPU not supported”).

✅ You can also check hardware manually: Type tpm.msc in Windows to verify TPM 2.0 status. If absent, check your BIOS settings. Open msinfo32, use dxdiag or systeminfo to confirm specs.

Fix Can’t Upgrade to Windows 11 Error | Step-by-Step Solutions

Struggling with the “can’t upgrade to Windows 11” error? Scroll down to check step-by-step solutions below.

Clone Disk Before Upgrading (With Confidence)

Cloning a hard drive before upgrading allows you to upgrade with confidence, as it preserves your Windows 10, system settings, installed programs, personal data, and more. Should any issues arise during the upgrade, such as a system crash, you can quickly switch back to your original OS.

Choosing reliable cloning software is crucial - AOMEI Cloner is highly recommended for its excellent UEFI/GPT compatibility. It allows you to clone HDDs/SSDs and MBR/GPT disks while ensuring secure boot.

Step 1. Download Windows OS cloning software- AOMEI Cloner. Then, open it after installing and click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Choose your source disk (current Windows) and target disk (data will be overwritten).

Step 3. Enable SSD Alignment to improve SSD disk performance and uncheck Sector by Sector Clone for faster cloning. Click Start Clone and wait for completion.

After cloning, you need to test the cloned disk - Swap the cloned drive into your PC and boot to see if it works properly.

Upgrade Hardware: UEFI, TPM 2.0, BIOS, and More

If your PC fails Windows 11’s hardware checks, upgrading or enabling specific component scan resolve the issue. Enabling TPM and Secure Boot is a common solution.

Step 1. Restart and press the BIOS key (e.g., F2, Del, Esc, etc)to enter BIOS/UEFI settings window. Navigate to the Advanced menu.

Step 2. Look for “TPM,” “PTT” (Intel), or “fTPM” (AMD) and set to Enabled. If absent, check for a BIOS update on your manufacturer’s site.

💡 Note: An outdated BIOS can disable TPM or Secure Boot. Please visit your PC manufacturer’s website (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo) and download the latest BIOS update for your model. Then, follow the instructions to flash the BIOS.

Step 3. Switch to the Boot menu and set Secure Boot to Enabled.

Step 4. Save changes and reboot.

Step 5. Verify if TPM and Secure Boot are enabled.

• Run tpm.msc in the Search box to confirm TPM 2.0 is active.
• Open msinfo32 and check that “Secure Boot State” is “On”.

In addition, you can also upgrade SSD for sufficient storage if your problem is low storage. AOMEI Cloner is a great choice.

💡Note: Upgrading multiple components is both time-consuming and prone to errors. The wise choice is to purchase a new computer equipped with compatible hardware or pre-installed with Windows 11.

Change the Registry Key - MoSetup

If hardware upgrades aren’t an option, a registry tweak can bypass Windows 11’s TPM and CPU checks. Use this cautiously, as it may lead to instability.

Step 1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter to access Registry Editor.

Step 2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup. If not, create a MoSetup registry key under the Setup key.

Step 3. Then, right-click blank in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 4. Name this new DWORD as AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU and set its value to 1.

Step 5. Download the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s website. Mount the ISO file (right-click > Mount) and continue with the upgrade.

💡Note:  This bypass doesn’t guarantee stability or future updates.Clone your disk before proceeding - not only for backup purposes, but also for quick replacement (without downtime) if updates fail.

Force Upgrade to Windows 11 with Rufus

If the standard upgrade fails, clean install with Rufus can force an upgrade to Windows 11, bypassing some checks. Be sure to download Windows 11 ISO image and Rufus, as well as prepare a USB drive (8GB+).

Step 1. Open Rufus. Select your USB drive under Device.

Step 2. Navigate to Boot selection, be sure Disk or ISO image is selected. Then, click the SELECT option to browse for the Windows 11 ISO image.

Step 3. In the Windows User Experience dialog, check Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0 under Image Option. Click Start to create the bootable USB.

Step 4. Restart your PC to enter BIOS, and set the USB as the first boot device.

Step 5. Save changes and reboot. Then, follow the installer prompts. Select Custom during installation.

After the installation is complete, you can choose to install drivers from your PC manufacturer’s site for stability.

❌Warning: This method wipes the target disk unless you’re upgrading an existing installation. It also carries the same stability risks as the registry tweak.

What If You Can Not Upgrade to Windows 11?

If your computer doesn't meet the requirements for Windows 11, you're not alone. Many users will face this situation when Windows 10 reaches its end-of-life on October 14, 2025. This doesn't mean your computer will suddenly stop working, but it does mean you'll be in a less secure and more vulnerable position.

Pay for Extended Security Updates (ESU)

For those who absolutely need to stick with Windows 10, you can choose to pay for the Extended Security Update (ESU) program. It only provides users with critical security patches for Windows, no updates for new features or bug fixes, or technical support.

This is a lifeline for businesses or institutions with essential, legacy software or hardware that simply won't work on Windows 11. It buys you time - three years to be exact - to plan for a new computer or find an alternative solution. However, this option comes with a catch: it's not cheap.

The consumer plan (newly released, with open enrollment until Oct. 14) is a one-year option priced at $30. The pricing is structured to be a disincentive, pushing users to upgrade. Microsoft has made it clear that this is a temporary solution, not a long-term plan.

Keep Using Windows 10 (Always Backup)

While it is not recommended, you can continue to use Windows 10 even after it is no longer supported. However, you must be aware of the significant risks involved:

• No Security Updates: Your computer will become vulnerable to new security threats, viruses, and malware.
• Software Incompatibility: Over time, new software and applications may not be compatible with an unsupported version of Windows.
• Hardware Failures: If your hardware fails, it may be difficult or impossible to find compatible drivers and support.

If you choose this option, it is absolutely critical to have a robust backup strategy in place. Regularly back up your important files or directly clone the entire disk. This will help you restore from a potential system failure or security breach.

Further Reading: Windows 11 Minimum System Requirements

• CPU: 1 GHz or faster, 64-bit, with at least 2 cores (supported Intel 8th Gen+, AMD Ryzen 2000+, or select Qualcomm chips).
• RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended for smooth performance).
• Storage: 64 GB free space on a compatible drive.
• Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver. These specs ensure Windows 11’s features, like virtual desktops and gaming enhancements, run without hiccups. Falling short on any of these triggers the "cannot upgrade" error.
• TPM 2.0: A hardware chip or firmware in newer systems protects encryption keys and prevents unauthorized boot tampering.
• Secure Boot: A UEFI feature to ensure only trusted software loads during startup.

💡Note: Microsoft added some restrictions for the Windows 11 version 24H2 update. It requires a CPU that supports specific instructions -SSE4.2 and PopCnt. Most PCs with Intel CPUs from 2009 or later will meet this standard. AMD CPUs from 2013 or later should also meet these requirements.

Conclusion

That’s all for “Cannot upgrade to Windows 11”, from possible reasons to diagnose, step by step solutions, etc. Be sure to clone the disk before upgrading. It can solve the upgrade issue due to insufficient storage and serves as a quick fallback option in case the upgrade fails.