How to Fix Can’t Upgrade to Windows 11

If you’ve tried upgrading your PC to Windows 11 and ran into an error saying your computer isn’t compatible or the installation failed midway, you’re not alone. Many users face upgrade issues — from TPM errors and unsupported processors to stuck installation screens.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through why Windows 11 upgrades fail and how to fix them step by step. By the end, you’ll know how to make your system fully ready for Windows 11 — without losing your data.

Why You Can’t Upgrade to Windows 11

There are several reasons why your PC might not be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Here are the most common ones:

Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 is disabled in BIOS.
Your processor isn’t officially supported by Microsoft.
Insufficient free disk space for installation files.
Outdated drivers or BIOS version blocking the setup.
Windows Update errors or corrupted system files.

Don’t worry — we’ll go through each possible cause and fix them one by one.

Step 1: Check Windows 11 Compatibility

Before trying any fixes, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11.

Minimum System Requirements

Processor: 1GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a 64-bit processor
RAM: 4GB or more
Storage: 64GB or larger
System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM: Version 2.0
Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible GPU with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display: 9-inch or larger with HD resolution (720p)

Use PC Health Check Tool

Download the PC Health Check app from Microsoft’s official website.
Run the tool and click Check now.
If you see a message saying “This PC can’t run Windows 11”, click Learn More to see which components failed.

If TPM or Secure Boot is the issue, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

These two security features are mandatory for Windows 11. Many older PCs have them turned off by default.

How to Enable TPM and Secure Boot

Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI menu.
- Usually, you can do this by pressing F2, DEL, or ESC repeatedly as your PC boots.
In the BIOS menu, locate Security or Advanced Settings.
Find the TPM option — it may appear as PTT (Intel) or fTPM (AMD). Turn it On.
Next, go to the Boot tab and enable Secure Boot.
Save changes and exit the BIOS.

After your PC restarts, try the upgrade again.

Step 3: Free Up Disk Space

Windows 11 requires at least 64GB of free space, but the upgrade process runs more smoothly if you have around 20–30GB extra.

To free up space:

Press Windows + I, open System > Storage, and click Cleanup recommendations.
Delete temporary files, previous updates, or unused apps.
Empty the Recycle Bin and clear large downloads.

If you’re still short on space, move files to an external drive before retrying the upgrade.

Step 4: Update BIOS and Drivers

An outdated BIOS or incompatible drivers can cause the upgrade to fail.

Update BIOS

Visit your PC manufacturer’s support website (like Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.).
Enter your model number and download the latest BIOS update.
Follow the on-screen instructions carefully to install it.

Update Drivers

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
Right-click on each major device (like display adapters or network adapters) and choose Update driver.
Alternatively, you can use Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates to install driver updates directly from Microsoft.

Step 5: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

If you’re upgrading through Windows Update and the process fails repeatedly, the built-in troubleshooter can help.

Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Find Windows Update and click Run.
Follow the recommendations that appear and apply any suggested fixes.

After running the troubleshooter, restart your PC and check for updates again.

Step 6: Repair Corrupted System Files

If your Windows installation has corrupted or missing files, it may prevent the upgrade.

Search for cmd in the Start menu and select Run as administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow This will automatically repair any damaged system files.
Once done, run the following command to check component health: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
After both commands finish, restart your PC and try the upgrade again.

Step 7: Use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant

If all else fails, you can bypass the upgrade issues by using Microsoft’s Installation Assistant tool.

Go to Microsoft’s Windows 11 Download page.
Under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, click Download now.
Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
The tool will guide you through the upgrade process without deleting your files or apps.

If your device is slightly below requirements (like lacking TPM 2.0), you can create a bootable USB drive using the Media Creation Tool and perform a clean install — though this will remove all existing data.

Step 8: Check for Unsupported Hardware

If your CPU or motherboard isn’t officially supported, you can still install Windows 11 using a small registry tweak. However, Microsoft doesn’t recommend this and may limit updates on unsupported devices.

If you want to proceed:

Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup
Right-click on the right panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name it AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU and set the value to 1.
Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Now, run the Windows 11 Installation Assistant again — it should bypass the CPU and TPM checks.

Wrapping Up

Upgrading to Windows 11 shouldn’t feel like a puzzle. Most “Can’t Upgrade” errors come down to disabled security features, lack of space, or outdated system software. Once you’ve checked compatibility, enabled TPM and Secure Boot, and updated your BIOS, the upgrade usually goes smoothly.

If you still can’t upgrade after trying all these steps, it may be worth performing a clean installation of Windows 11. Just make sure to back up your files before you start.

Windows 11 offers a fresh, modern experience — and with the right tweaks, your PC can enjoy it without the headache.