Windows 11 doesn't support my processor

Question

I'm currently trying to install windows 11 on my pc. My pc meets all the requirements, except for the processor. The processor is an intel core i5 7600K 3.8GHz. It's way above the minimum requirements, yet it's not supproted. Why is that?
Best regards,
Anders

Answer 1

@Docs I read your link, it mentioned older generation of CPUs are not supported. I thought whatever is listed on the MS support list should be fine. Could you help me clarify please? My understanding is i5-6500, indicate i5 6gen processor. There won't be any i5-6xxxx that is 8gen. It would be i5-8xxx. I verified the supported CPU list from the MS site. Please refer to my 2nd attachment. i5-6500 is listed. When I do Health Check it still indicate the CPU is not supported.
If anyone else have any additional info please let me know. Thank you

Answer 2

Hi OntTech-9836,

These are the lists of Intel supported drivers for each of the most recent Windows versions including Windows 11:

Please use (ctrl + f) to find the CPU.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/windows-processor-requirements
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-10-21h2-supported-intel-processors
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-10-21h1-supported-intel-processors
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-10-20h2-supported-intel-processors

Comments can be sent to Microsoft using the Feedback Hub:
(Win + F) keys
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

Windows 10 is fully supported through Oct 14, 2025.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro

Windows 11 can be installed on most computers in an unsupported fashion:

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

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-windows-11-on-devices-that-don-t-meet-minimum-system-requirements-0b2dc4a2-5933-4ad4-9c09-ef0a331518f1

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/bypass-windows-11-tpm-2-0-and-cpu-system-requirements.1989/

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/clean-install-windows-11.99/

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Answer 3

There is still a way to install Windows 11 on those old CPU models.

1. DOWNLOAD THE WINDOWS 11 ISO
   You’ll need to download the ISO. In our testing, this trick doesn’t work with the Windows 11 Install Assistant, it doesn’t trigger Windows Update, and it doesn’t fool Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool.

On this Microsoft page, scroll down to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO). Open the Select Download dropdown, pick Windows 11, hit the Download button, select your product language from the Choose one dropdown that appears below, hit Confirm, then click 64-bit Download.

While that 5.1GB image is downloading, let’s move to step two.

2) EDIT THE WINDOWS REGISTRY TO BYPASS THE CPU CHECK
In Windows, hit Start and type regedit, then hit enter to launch the Registry Editor. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup, either by pasting that whole address into the box just beneath “File, Edit, View, Favorites, Help” or by drilling down through the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and System and Setup and MoSetup folders one at a time.

First a new DWORD, then enter a value of 1.
In the right pane, right-click and pick New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the value “AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU” minus the quotes. Double-click on the new value you created, and enter 1 into the Value data field. Hit OK and close the registry editor.

3) OPEN THE ISO IN WINDOWS EXPLORER AND LAUNCH SETUP
Did the ISO finish downloading? Just right-click on it and pick Open with > Windows Explorer to mount the virtual disc, then double-click the setup file to begin installation.

That’s it! If the registry hack worked, you should soon see a warning message instead of a rejection message, and be given the option to install Windows 11 without losing your data.