What criteria is used to add an "approved processor" to the Windows 11 "approved" list?

Microsoft does not force users to install Windows 11, even if their computer fully supports it. However, it is recommended to update to Windows 11 to ensure your computer is fully updated and supported.

For computers that cannot upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10. This program provides critical and important security updates for systems that are otherwise unsupported. While ESU is primarily designed for businesses and organizations, recent developments suggest it may become available to individual users as well.

You can find more details about ESU here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq...

Also, Microsoft has shared insights on preparing for the Windows 10 end-of-support transition:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/202...

Please feel free to ask if you have more questions.

Hey there DY,

Appreciate your response, but why would I want to install Win11 (given that my processor is not on their list) when MS clearly states in the link you provided that if I do install it when "not recommended" there is NO SUPPORT. I might as well stay with win10 with NO SUPPORT and take my chances...or try a different OS and take my chances WITH SUPPORT.

Hi Tucklo,

I'm Dyari. Thanks for reaching out. I will be happy to assist you in this regard.

There is one additional factor not mentioned in the criteria above, CPU generation. Windows 11 is only compatible with computers that have 8th generation processors or higher. You can find why Windows 11 does not support processors from the 7th generation and below.

https://www.howtogeek.com/739029/why-doesnt-win...

If your computer does not meet W11 system requirements, Installing Windows 11 is not recommended. If you choose to install Windows 11 on ineligible hardware, you should be comfortable assuming the risk of running into compatibility issues.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ins...

Ways to install Windows 11:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/way...

Please let me know if you need further assistance.

____________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

You're asking a good question. Windows 11 was essentially a security upgrade with a theme pack. Processors are qualified for Windows 11 not on the basis of their compute power, but on the basis of security.

Windows was being overwhelmed by attackers, and Microsoft realized that there's only so much they can do software-wise to protect their customers. So Microsoft worked with hardware vendors, principally AMD and Intel, to harden PCs against attack.

AMD and Intel added components to their processors that work together with Windows 11 to better protect customers from attack. TPM 2.0 is most often cited, but AMD and Intel included other hardware changes as well. Processors either have this additional hardware or they don't.

If a processor lacks the additional security hardware, it doesn't qualify for Windows 11. Which means that millions of perfectly good computers, including my own Windows 10 PC, don't qualify for Windows 11.

Thanks for the reply Chien. I am wondering how a processor which theoretically was manufactured around the windows 7 time period could have more security than my computer, built 5 years ago. It makes me wonder who is doing the choosing

You're asking a good question. Windows 11 was essentially a security upgrade with a theme pack. Processors are qualified for Windows 11 not on the basis of their compute power, but on the basis of security.

Windows was being overwhelmed by attackers, and Microsoft realized that there's only so much they can do software-wise to protect their customers. So Microsoft worked with hardware vendors, principally AMD and Intel, to harden PCs against attack.

AMD and Intel added components to their processors that work together with Windows 11 to better protect customers from attack. TPM 2.0 is most often cited, but AMD and Intel included other hardware changes as well. Processors either have this additional hardware or they don't.

If a processor lacks the additional security hardware, it doesn't qualify for Windows 11. Which means that millions of perfectly good computers, including my own Windows 10 PC, don't qualify for Windows 11.