Is the Windows 11 update compatible with your old computer? How to learn before attempting

Your outdated but still usable Windows 10 computer will not get monthly security updates starting next year. Here's how to determine whether it is time to say goodbye or if you may safely extend its lifespan by a few years.

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By October 2025, monthly security updates will no longer be available for your outdated but still usable Windows 10 computer. Additionally, updating that computer to Windows 11 is the most straightforward solution, despite the fact that you have several possibilities.

These days, Microsoft is seriously discriminating against your Windows PCs based on age. Windows 10 can run on even the oldest computers, but not everyone can update to the most recent version.

Today, there are more than 1 billion Windows PCs worldwide, the majority of which are running Windows 10. Whether your PC can survive another ten years or if it is time to locate a retirement home depends on where it fits in. One easy inquiry will help you sort yourself out: What is the exact age of that PC?

The design date of the PC and its internal components is far more important than the date of purchase. And the CPU is the most crucial part of those parts. The System Information tool, Msinfo32.exe, can be used to find that information in Windows 10. As in the example below, find the Processor value on the System Summary page.

windows 11 compatible with older devices

Equipped with such knowledge, you can categorize your computer into one of four groups. Here’s how to determine which one you belong to.

2019 or after

In general, Windows 11 can be fully supported on PCs that were designed and constructed in 2019 or after. If the CPU on your computer appears on any of the following lists, it is in this bucket.

By design, any computer with one of the CPUs on this list will also have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, which is another crucial component needed for Windows 11.

If your computer is in this category, you can use Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant to upgrade to Windows 11, which should allow it to function well for another ten years.

You will need to do some research if your CPU is not on any of those listings. By visiting the processor specifications page of AMD or Intel and looking up the part name (i7-11850H, for instance), you can find some crucial hints regarding the age and capabilities of a CPU.

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