Microsoft forces installation of Windows 11 on unsupported PCs

A few days ago, Günter Born, a well-known German tech blogger, raised the alarm: his Dell laptop kept receiving notifications to upgrade to Windows 11… despite having the TPM disabled in the BIOS. How is this possible if this is one of the key requirements of the new system?

What initially seemed like an isolated case has become a worrying trend. Georg, another user with a Lenovo in the same condition, reported the exact same problem. But the most critical point came when a systems administrator discovered that several computers in his company were automatically updated to Windows 11 24H2. This occurred without approval, even with update control configured through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) , an environment designed to block precisely this type of movement.

Windows 11 has been trying to establish itself as the benchmark operating system for some time, but its growth has been slower than expected. Despite being offered as a free upgrade from Windows 10, the minimum requirements, especially the TPM 2.0 module , have slowed the migration of millions of users.

Now, just over a year away from the end of official support for Windows 10 (October 14, 2025) , Microsoft appears to be speeding up the transition… even if that means pushing the update to computers that don't meet specifications.

The tech community is divided. Some experts suggest it could be a glitch in Windows Update , which isn't correctly reading the hardware status before issuing notifications.

Others, however, see it as a covert marketing ploy : By showing the upgrade option to more users, Microsoft may be trying to inflate Windows 11 adoption statistics. Even if the installation doesn't happen, it creates a perception of demand.

It's best not to install Windows 11 if your computer doesn't meet the official requirements . Even if the prompt appears, forcing the installation can cause stability issues, lack of support, or malfunctions. Also, keep in mind that Windows 10 will continue to receive security support until 2025 , and some computers may even receive extended access for another year, depending on the environment (education, business, etc.).