aka.ms/windowssysreq explained
Updated
aka.ms/windowssysreq is the Microsoft short link to the official Windows 11 specifications. People usually meet it when a PC or virtual machine fails a Windows 11 compatibility check and they want to know which requirement is missing.
Where the link goes
When we checked on 16 October 2026, aka.ms/windowssysreq forwarded to microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications, Microsoft's page listing the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Microsoft keeps a more technical version on Microsoft Learn as well; both are linked in the sources below.
The minimum requirements
This is Microsoft's list as published on the day we checked. Microsoft notes that requirements can change over time and that some features and apps need more.
| Part | Windows 11 minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores, on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip (SoC) |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB or larger |
| System firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module version 2.0 |
| Graphics | Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | High definition (720p), larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per colour channel |
| Internet and account | Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use need internet and a Microsoft account during initial setup |
To upgrade an existing PC, Microsoft says it must be running Windows 10, version 2004 or later. Copilot+ PCs have higher requirements on top of these, including a processor with a neural processing unit (NPU), more memory and more storage.
How to check your PC: PC Health Check
Microsoft's own tool for this is the PC Health Check app. In Windows, search for PC Health Check from the taskbar. If it is not installed, Microsoft's instructions point to aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp. When we tested that link, it started a download of the installer file WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi directly from download.microsoft.com, so expect a file download rather than a web page. In the app, select Check now to see whether the PC is eligible and why. Microsoft notes that the app does not check the graphics card or display, because most compatible devices meet those.
Even an eligible PC may not be offered the upgrade at once. Microsoft can hold back the upgrade on a device with a known compatibility issue until it is fixed; it calls these safeguard holds.
The two requirements that trip people up
TPM 2.0
Microsoft says most PCs shipped in the last five years can run TPM 2.0, but on many it is switched off, especially on retail motherboards for self-built PCs. To check, open Windows Security and go to Device security, or press Windows key + R and run tpm.msc. Look for a specification version of 2.0. If no TPM is found, it may be disabled in the UEFI firmware settings, where it can be labelled Security Device, TPM State, AMD fTPM, Intel PTT or Intel Platform Trust Technology. The exact steps depend on your PC maker, so follow their support pages.
UEFI and Secure Boot
Windows 11 needs firmware that is UEFI and Secure Boot capable. Older PCs set up in legacy BIOS mode may need their firmware settings changed; again, your manufacturer's instructions are the safe reference.
A supported processor
The phrase "compatible 64-bit processor" matters: speed and core count alone are not enough, because Microsoft supports specific processor generations. Microsoft's processor requirements page tells customers to use PC Health Check to find out whether their device is eligible, or to ask the PC manufacturer which version of Windows a specific model supports. Unlike TPM or Secure Boot, the processor usually cannot be fixed with a settings change, and on most laptops it cannot be replaced at all.
Installing Windows 11 in a virtual machine
Searches such as "aka ms windowssysreq hyper v" and "vmware" show many people hit this check inside a VM. Microsoft Learn lists the VM requirements separately:
- Generation 2 virtual machine. Microsoft notes an existing generation 1 VM cannot be upgraded in place.
- 64 GB or more of disk space, 4 GB or more of memory and two or more virtual processors.
- Secure Boot capable with a virtual TPM enabled. For Hyper-V, Microsoft lists Secure Boot and TPM enabled; for Azure, Trusted launch with vTPM.
- The host processor must also meet the Windows 11 processor requirements.
If your PC does not meet the requirements
Microsoft's advice is to check with the PC manufacturer, enable TPM or Secure Boot where the hardware supports it, or consider a new PC. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025, which means no more free security updates through Windows Update. Be wary of anyone selling "upgrade unlock" services or tools: they are not from Microsoft, and the official Windows 11 download is at microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
Stuck at the network step while setting up Windows? See aka.ms/networksetup. Locked out by BitLocker after a firmware change? See aka.ms/recoverykey. More links are in our aka.ms links directory.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is aka.ms/windowssysreq?
A Microsoft short link to the official Windows 11 specifications page on microsoft.com, as we found on 16 October 2026. It lists the minimum hardware Windows 11 needs.
How do I check if my PC can run Windows 11?
Use Microsoft's PC Health Check app and select Check now. If it is not installed, Microsoft points to aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp, which downloads the installer.
What does a Windows 11 virtual machine need?
Microsoft lists a generation 2 VM with Secure Boot and a virtual TPM, at least 4 GB of memory, 64 GB of storage and two virtual processors.
My PC has TPM but the check still fails. Why?
The TPM may be turned off in the firmware, or be older than version 2.0. Check it with tpm.msc and your PC maker's instructions. The processor or Secure Boot can also be the cause.