Find Windows 11 specs, features, and computer requirements

List of all minimum system requirements for Windows 11
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System requirements

These are the minimum system requirements for installing Windows 11 on a PC. If your device does not meet these requirements, you may not be able to install Windows 11 on your device and might want to consider purchasing a new PC. If you are unsure whether your PC meets these requirements, you can check with your PC Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or, if your device is already running Windows 10, you can use the PC Health Check app to assess compatibility. Note that this app does not check for graphics card or display, as most compatible devices will meet those requirements listed below.

Your device must be running Windows 10, version 2004 or later, to upgrade. Free updates are available through Windows Update in Settings>Update and Security.

Processor 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC).
RAM 4 gigabyte (GB).
Storage 64 GB or larger storage device Note: See below under “More information on storage space to keep Windows 11 up-to-date” for more details.
System firmware UEFI, Secure Boot capable. Check here for information on how your PC might be able to meet this requirement.
TPM Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. Check here for instructions on how your PC might be enabled to meet this requirement.
Graphics card Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
Display High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel.
Internet connection and Microsoft account Windows 11 Pro for personal use and Windows 11 Home require internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during initial device setup.
Switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S mode also requires internet connectivity. Learn more about S mode here.
For all Windows 11 editions, internet access is required to perform updates and to download and take advantage of some features. A Microsoft account is required for some features.

Certain features require specific hardware. System requirements to run some apps will exceed the Windows 11 minimum device specifications. Check device compatibility information specific to the apps you want to install. Available storage on your device will vary based on installed apps and updates. Performance will scale with higher end, more capable PCs. Additional requirements may apply over time and for updates.

List of all feature-specific requirements for Windows 11
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Feature-specific requirements for Windows 11

Some Windows 11 features have increased requirements beyond those listed above in the minimum requirements section. Below are some additional details regarding requirements for key features:

Windows Subsystem for Android™ Apps available in Amazon Appstore in Microsoft Store on Windows 11. Requires 8 GB of RAM and a supported processor (Intel® Core™ i3 8th Generation, AMD Ryzen™ 3000, Snapdragon™ 8c, or above). Not available on devices running Windows 11 in S mode. Available in select markets. App availability varies by geography.

Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Amazon and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

5G support requires 5G capable modem where available.
Auto HDR requires an HDR monitor.
BitLocker to Go requires a USB flash drive (available in Windows Pro and above editions).
Client Hyper-V requires a processor with second level address translation (SLAT) capabilities (available in Windows Pro and above editions).
Cortana requires a microphone and speaker and is currently available on Windows 11 for Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States.
DirectStorage requires an NVMe SSD to store and run games that use the Standard NVM Express Controller driver and a DirectX12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support.
DirectX 12 Ultimate is available with supported games and graphics chips.
Presence requires sensor that can detect human distance from device or intent to interact with device.
Intelligent Video Conferencing requires video camera, microphone, and speaker (audio output).
Multiple Voice Assistant (MVA) requires a microphone and speaker.
Snap three-column layouts requires a screen that is 1920 effective pixels or greater in width.
Mute/Unmute from Taskbar requires video camera, microphone, and speaker (audio output). App must be compatible with feature to enable global mute/unmute.
Spatial Sound requires supporting hardware and software.
Microsoft Teams requires video camera, microphone, and speaker (audio output).
Touch requires a screen or monitor that supports multi-touch.
Two-factor Authentication requires use of PIN, biometric (fingerprint reader or illuminated infrared camera), or a phone with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities.
Voice Typing requires a PC with a microphone.
Wake on Voice requires Modern Standby power model and microphone.
Wi-Fi 6E requires new WLAN IHV hardware and driver and a Wi-Fi 6E capable AP/router.
Windows Hello requires a camera configured for near infrared (IR) imaging or fingerprint reader for biometric authentication. Devices without biometric sensors can use Windows Hello with a PIN or portable Microsoft compatible security key.
Windows Projection requires a display adapter which supports Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 and a Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct.
Xbox (app) requires an Xbox Live account, which is not available in all regions. See Xbox Live Countries and Regions for the most up-to-date information on availability. Some features in the Xbox app will require an active Xbox Game Pass subscription (sold separately). Learn more about the pass.
List of all key feature deprecations and removals when upgrading to Windows 11
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Feature deprecations and removals

When upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10 or when installing an update to Windows 11, some features may be deprecated or removed. Please see below for information regarding some of the key features impacted:

Cortana will no longer be included in the first boot experience or pinned to the Taskbar.
Desktop wallpaper cannot be roamed to or from device when signed in with a Microsoft account.
Internet Explorer Microsoft Edge with IE mode replaces the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application in Windows 11. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.
Management capabilities for organizations to deliver customized Start and Taskbar experiences are limited:
  • Start supports the ability for organizations to override the Start layout, but does not support locking down the layout from user modification.
  • Taskbar pins and ordering can be controlled by organizations.
Math Input Panel is removed. Math Recognizer will install on demand and includes the math input control and recognizer. Math inking in apps like OneNote are not impacted by this change.
Multi-App Kiosk Mode is not available. Windows 11 only supports the use of a single app in Kiosk Mode.
News & Interests has evolved. New functionality has been added which can be found by clicking the Widgets icon on the Taskbar.
Quick Status from the Lockscreen and associated settings are removed.
S Mode is only available now for Windows 11 Home edition.
Search Results from the Internet Windows 11 does not support disabling the return of internet Search results via Registry Key. The related Group Policy setting is not impacted by this change.
Snipping Tool and Snip and Sketch have been merged into a single experience keeping the familiar Snipping Tool name.
Start is significantly changed in Windows 11 including the following key deprecations and removals:
  • Named groups and folders of apps are no longer supported and the layout is not currently resizable.
  • Pinned apps and sites will not migrate when upgrading from Windows 10.
  • Live Tiles are no longer available. For glanceable, dynamic content, see the new Widgets feature.
Tablet Mode is removed and new functionality and capability is included for keyboard attach and detach postures.
Taskbar is changed including:
  • People is no longer present on the Taskbar.
  • Some icons may no longer appear in the System Tray (systray) for upgraded devices including previous customizations.
  • Alignment to the bottom of the screen is the only location allowed.
  • Apps can no longer customize areas of the Taskbar.
Timeline is removed. Some similar functionality is available in Microsoft Edge.
Touch Keyboard will no longer dock and undock keyboard layouts on screen sizes 18 inches and larger.
Wallet is removed.
Windows Deployment Services is being partially deprecated. Please see this article for detailed information.
Windows Store for Business and Windows Store for Education no longer include the Private Store tab. Please see this blog post for information on app deployment options.

The following apps will not be removed on upgrade but will no longer be installed on new devices or when clean-installing Windows 11. They are available for download from the Store: