Windows 11 Incompatible with i7 Processor

Madhav 81

I have a gaming laptop with i7-7700HQ processor, 4 cores, 8GB ram etc. However, my PC isn't compatible (a lot i7 cores are compatible, for some reason, this one is not)

Should I install windows 11 using the other methods that were discussed online? It just seems like downloading an OS when it is not officially supported by your processor would be a bad idea. I remember reading somewhere that windows might not even roll out updates for users who have installed windows 11 in any other way.

Also, is windows working on releasing a build that would work on this processor?

Please help. I desperately want to download Windows 11, but don't want to make any rash decisions.

Miko Gorospe 21 Reputation points

2021-10-05T04:23:09.753+00:00

We got the same problem even though it's says on their website that it's compatible
Miko Gorospe 21 Reputation points

2021-10-05T04:29:47.673+00:00

mybad i look though it again and it is not compatible for some reason.
Madhav 81 Reputation points

2021-10-05T04:41:32.12+00:00

Yup, for some reason, this particular processor is not compatible. It is so confusing and irritating, I have been patiently waiting for this release since half a year now, and I can't even download it, while a lot of my peers who have lower intel processors have because weirdly they are compatible.
Vinicius Oliveira 16 Reputation points

2021-10-06T03:23:51.6+00:00

It's a shame that it does not support! I'm at the same page, with a pretty powerful machine and since I knew it has TPM 2.0 I didn't even bother about the update. Until I've enter in the Health Chekc today and it is stated that it does not support Windows 11 by default. And it's funny, even though there are not many differences between the 7th gen and 8th gen CPUs, Microsoft only released support to 7th gen CPU for the ones that are present in their Surface laptops that are still being sold today.

Came on Microsoft, release Windows 11 for every computer that has TPM 2.0 or at least are from 2015 or newer. Or the odds of we having once again a OS that has no presence in the marketshare is huge. I'm certainly be moving to Linux for sure and will be using only Windows once in a while for games.!

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Madhav 81 Reputation points

2021-10-06T05:14:50.2+00:00

I share the exact same sentiments as you do, thanks for letting me know I am not alone in this.
Danish Mohammed E 21 Reputation points

2021-10-06T06:04:34.477+00:00

Same issue here. Its frustrating
Desmond Fial 11 Reputation points

2021-10-06T10:42:14.747+00:00

To be honest this is a bad move on microsoft part.
And it would be a good idea for them to fix this NOW.
II also have this processor in my laptop and also i can't update to win11 (the rest is of the systeem req are green)

Also this REALLLLY is a good idea during the CHIP CHIP CHIP CHIP shortage.

SO Microsoft don't MAKE me buy a new gaming laptop AGAIN this one is not even 3 years old (something something E-WASTE)
RyoAoki-4197 6 Reputation points

2021-10-07T22:41:23.127+00:00

Dear in the pciture ,the url belongs to a version of windows 10, please check this link that it is from the version of windows 11:
https://learn.microsoft.com/es-es/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors
Ian Tully 16 Reputation points

2021-10-11T16:52:29.313+00:00

If they really have only made this available for Surface compatible processors then I think the other manufacturers should be making loud complaints. Clearly it is not about generations as lots of i3 machines are listed, nor about power since there are cheap Celeron ones too. I bought my i7 HP laptop expecting it to be relatively future proof, not out-of-date a mere three years later, with no explanation from Microsoft, Intel or HP.

There needs to be greater clarity on what specs we need to keep relatively abreast of Microsoft's changes, it should not be a lottery, with the occasional processor a "rogue" where future developments are concerned.
Mr Sandman 1 Reputation point

2021-10-15T14:42:55.353+00:00

I bought a 17" Alienware gaming Laptop with 32 GB Ram with a 6GB dedicated Video Card as well as an i7-7700HQ processor... How is it that it can't run windows 11? Am i missing something here? I feel like my PC could run it rather easily yet its not compatible?
Bob 1 Reputation point

2021-10-15T19:55:53.193+00:00

I have same issue with i7 Processor which is much more capable then the i3's that are approved.

Microsoft is acting more like Apple now
Aalhad Damle 1 Reputation point

2021-10-22T05:32:36.03+00:00

I have a i5 7200U processer which is EXTREMELY fast. I dont wanna throw away my pc to get a better one.
edit:
(I have already reported to microsoft)
Sai Praveen 1 Reputation point

2021-10-27T12:56:53.53+00:00

Same issue here My laptop is i7 7th generation (7500U) and I am not able to upgrade to Windows 11. then what's the use by selling this type of laptop, while i3 laptops getting windows 11. waste fellows.
david chesworth 1 Reputation point

2021-11-10T09:38:37.603+00:00

Told by Microsoft that Intel paid them not to allow i7 chips to run on windows 11

I have a

HP Pavilion 23-q275na All-in-One-United

the chip is an

Intel Core i7-6700T
CPU speed: 2.8 GHz (3.6 GHz max turbo boost)
CPU cores: 4
CPU Cache: 8 MB
TDP: 35 W
Integrated graphics: Intel HD graphics (GT2)

Everything else Microsoft wants it supports, except this chip. I asked Microsoft and was told i7 chips not supported cause we simply don't want to support them, we are being paid to refuse them by Intel. Is this true?
Wissam Faris 1 Reputation point

2021-11-14T08:43:23.717+00:00

same problem , I have core i7 10700 and it says it is'not supportes by win11

any help
NelCapeTown 31 Reputation points

2021-11-19T03:54:44.547+00:00

I feel exactly the same. When I bought my HP Omen with the i7 7700HQ processor I definitely expected it to be future proof. I know there was one previous Windows 10 Update which was also said to be incompatible with this processor, but eventually it installed and worked without a problem. If I remember correctly it was towards the end of 2018 with one of the major Windows 10 updates.
Unfortunately I'm a software developer so I need Windows since I'm developing software for it, but unless they bridge the compatibility gap, I'll stay on Windows 10 for the time being.
I am disappointed that they are not responding to any requests to provide an understandable explanation why this particular processor is not compatible. Surely there must be something they can do if they want Windows 11 to have a good market share?
James Burgess 1 Reputation point

2021-12-10T12:57:50.91+00:00

how is it my cheap msi gameing laptop with only i5 cpu support win.11, but my more expensive 16 g ram rog strix i7 doent?
astara 1 Reputation point

2021-12-15T10:48:54.233+00:00

Problem is number of cores. MS doesn't sell win10/11 lics to users for more than 4 cores.

MS wants to regain control which is why the last version of windows that did everything ('Ultimate') has been pushed out the door. Run media center, movie at tsame time browsing web and having 2-3 games running in background that you can switch between....not havin that.

You can't easily move your workload to the cloud -- for that matter you not only don't need MS cloud + can't have MS apps, but could be a competitor to MS if you have enough CPU's (got one of those Intel 25C (50HT) models?

Users need to know their place. One of those places is as a mobile client machine that can run on a server as part of a VM.

MS wants you to only have small PC-units that they can rent to you.
Sawcy1 11 Reputation points

2022-01-19T17:52:57.717+00:00

Hello, I also just found out mine is not compatible. I know my laptop is 7 years old, but I did buy the best of the best when I had it built. I have an Intel Core i7-4700MQ CPU @ 2.40 GHz. This CPU does have 4 cores and seems to fit the other requirements, so I'd like to know what it is not on their list.
Ideafix 1 Reputation point

2022-01-20T15:34:33.977+00:00

It has nothing to do with the number of cores. I have a Ryzen 9 3900 (12 cores / 24 Threads) and the PC Health Check tool detected it as compatible. Windows 11 is currently running fine on it.

The problem with only some processors being supported isn't related to the processors themselves, but with the DCH compliance of their respective driver packages, which is a requirement now.

Basically, Everything Intel Gen 8 or AMD Zen+ and above are supported, with some exceptions being made on some Intel Gen 7 processors that have shipped with DCH-compliant drivers.

More info below:

https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/08/27/update-on-windows-11-minimum-system-requirements-and-the-pc-health-check-app/
Steve Collins 1 Reputation point

2022-09-20T01:49:31.617+00:00

That isn't quite right. I have a 9th Gen and it is not compatible.

31 answers

Dee Carver 11 Reputation points

2021-10-08T14:58:05.067+00:00

I also have an HP Omen with the i7 CPU. The fact that the i7 CPUs are now being denied the update when previously they were approved is disappointing. I know of a few beta testers that ran Windows 11 just fine during the testing phase with the same processor.

I do not game on my Omen but use it for work, however, Steam came out with a Linux OS for Steam Games that seems to work really well. I am trying to be patient and wait until the end of the year before making any final changes, however, if this issue is not fixed, then like others I will convert my system to Linux and be done with Windows.

We should at least be given the option to do the upgrade and then if it causes a problem with our systems then that is on the user themselves.
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Limitless Technology 39,606 Reputation points

2021-10-05T10:35:51.687+00:00

Hi there,

For a PC that doesn't support Windows 11, you will get an update named 21H2 which is similar to Windows 11. I also will not suggest you to update via clean install as your PC might be struck without an update and be open to security threats. So the best way would be to update to Windows 10 21H2.

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Madhav 81 Reputation points

2021-10-05T15:48:51.24+00:00

Hi,

thanks a ton for your answer. I researched about the 21H2 update, and it doesn't really provide us with any functionality of windows 11. Do you think that microsoft might roll out a windows 11 update in the near future, which would allow other processors (such as mine) to install it?

NelCapeTown 31 Reputation points

2021-11-19T04:02:33+00:00

I already have this update 21H2 installed on my laptop. To say that it is like Windows 11 is just untrue. It is like Windows 10 update 21H2. It doesn't have *any of the features promised with Windows 11. *

Luci 0 Reputation points

2024-05-01T17:26:01.1366667+00:00

Which would be all very well if that update were to be supported like Windows 11.
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Rahil 11 Reputation points

2021-10-06T07:14:45.373+00:00

I have the same issue. Having HP-OMEN with Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU @ 2.80 Ghz, 16GB Ram. It's such a shame to own such high-end laptop configuration and yet not able to update to Windows 11. I hope some fix comes for the same in future.

Also, 21H2 is not in any ways similar to Windows 11.
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Danish Mohammed E 21 Reputation points

2021-10-06T07:33:05.443+00:00

Is there any chance? I have the same issue

Rahil 11 Reputation points

2021-10-06T07:43:37.967+00:00

We all are waiting for any help from Microsoft. Nothing more than that,,

Desmond Fial 11 Reputation points

2021-10-06T10:44:38.187+00:00

same here i have the same laptop with the same specs
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Ali Keserwan 1 Reputation point

2021-10-08T11:02:12.347+00:00

Same problem here with the same processor, I submitted a question via Feedback hub.
I hope they reply back.
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Jhei, Balisi 6 Reputation points

2021-10-09T07:02:57.967+00:00

I have MSI 7RDx. Pretty much new, nearly 3 years old. And they don't support it. I checked with the chat support and all they said when I asked they don't support 7th gen is due to security reasons. Oh well, pretty much anything can be done now with Mac/Linux/Android. Might as well not buy new Laptop just to get Windows 11. Nothing much you can do these days for windows 11 only. Probably gaming but, hey you can do that a lot in Android so, bye?
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Windows 11 Incompatible with i7 Processor

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