Microsoft ramps up pressure on users running Windows 11 on unsupported PCs

With Windows 10 support due to end next October, Microsoft really wants you to upgrade to Windows 11. But it doesn’t want you to run its latest OS on unsupported hardware and now it’s playing hardball to discourage you from doing just that.

In an update to a Windows 11 support document as spotted by Neowin, Microsoft warns that a watermark will be added to the desktop on any PC that’s been upgraded to Windows 11 without meeting the minimum requirements. Further, a notification may pop up in the Settings app to indicate that the computer doesn’t meet the necessary requirements.

Also: How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11

Microsoft is also cautioning people that any unsupported PC running Windows 11 might not receive updates, while any damages may not be covered by the warranty.

Here’s the strong-arm language that could appear on any PCs that don’t qualify for Windows 11:

This PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements for running Windows 11 – these requirements help ensure a more reliable and higher quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may result in compatibility issues. If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren’t covered under the manufacturer warranty. By selecting Accept, you are acknowledging that you read and understand this statement.

On the support page, Microsoft even includes detailed steps on how to roll your unsupported Windows 11 PC back to Windows 10 if you change your mind. This Go Back option is available only up to 10 days after the upgrade, so you can’t wait too long to make the decision.

Since its release in 2021, Windows 11 has faced resistance from users. That’s likely due to a few reasons.

Also: Microsoft has a big Windows 10 problem, and only one year to solve it

First, people comfortable with Windows 10 have little desire to upgrade. Second, Windows 11 changes certain key features, such as the Start menu and Taskbar, and not for the better. And third, Windows 11 imposes strict hardware requirements, such as Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. That third factor leaves many older PCs out of the running, forcing you to purchase a new computer just to run the new OS.

With the uptake of Windows 11 slow to start, adoption has lately been inching up. However, Windows 10 continues to be the dominant OS with a 62% slice of the market, leaving Windows 11 with around 35%, according to the latest numbers from Statcounter. But as we move closer to the end of support for Windows 10, more people are going to want to upgrade, if not by buying a new PC then by upgrading their existing one.

Though Microsoft obviously offers no way to upgrade an unsupported PC to Windows 11, a few tricks and tools have popped up to help you jump ship. Certain registry tweaks can bypass the check of the hardware requirements. Otherwise, third-party tools such as Rufus and Flyby11 will let you install Windows 11 on an unsupported device. Though Microsoft may not like these workarounds, they get the job done.

But are you taking a chance running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware?

Also: Why ‘debloating’ Windows is a bad idea (and what to do instead)

For now, all I can say is that I’ve long been running Windows 11 on two physical PCs and three virtual machines that are unsupported and I haven’t run into any issues. I’m still able to access all my apps and settings, make any customizations I like, and install the necessary updates and patches. Ideally, you’d want the enhanced security built into the hardware of a supported Windows 11 PC, but that doesn’t mean you can’t otherwise run the OS.

We’ll have to see if Microsoft carries through on its threats to display a watermark and warnings on unsupported Windows 11 PCs. Even then, someone will undoubtedly find a way to dispense with those.

Eventually, you’ll have to buy a new PC as your existing one winds down. For instance, my main desktop is feeling its age, so I’ll probably purchase a new one within the next year. But if you can get more mileage out of your current PC by moving it to Windows 11, don’t let Microsoft discourage you.