How to Remove “System Requirements Not Met” Watermark in Windows 11

Microsoft introduced stricter hardware requirements for Windows 11, such as TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and newer CPUs. If your device doesn’t officially meet these requirements but you’ve installed Windows 11 anyway — perhaps using a workaround — you may see a persistent watermark on the bottom-right corner of the desktop:

“System requirements not met. Go to Settings to learn more.”

This watermark is not harmful, but it can be distracting, unprofessional, and annoying during screen recordings or presentations. The good news? You can remove it using safe and proven methods. Windows 11 includes registry entries that control this message, and with a few adjustments, you can hide the watermark without affecting system stability.

In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through several effective ways to remove or hide the “System Requirements Not Met” watermark in Windows 11.Let’s begin!

Why Am I Seeing the “System Requirements Not Met” Watermark?

You’ll generally see this message if:

• Your PC does not meet TPM 2.0 requirements
• Your CPU is not officially supported
• Secure Boot is disabled
• You bypassed Windows 11 installation checks
• You upgraded from Windows 10 using registry-based methods

The watermark is simply a visual reminder from Microsoft. It does not limit your features or block OS updates — it’s just cosmetic.

1. Remove the Watermark Using Registry Editor (Most Effective Fix)

Windows stores watermark-related policies inside specific registry values. Editing these safely removes the message instantly.

1. Press Windows + R, type:

regedit

2. Press Enter and allow the UAC prompt.
3. Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\UnsupportedHardwareNotificationCache

4. On the right side, look for:

• SV1
• SV2

5. Double-click each value and set Value data to:

0

6. Restart your PC.

Result:

The watermark disappears from the desktop after the reboot.

2. Delete the UnsupportedHardwareNotificationCache Entry (If SV1/SV2 Missing)

On some builds, the registry values aren’t present. In that case, deleting the entire folder forces Windows to regenerate it — without the watermark.

1. Open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel

3. Right-click UnsupportedHardwareNotificationCache.
4. Select Delete.
5. Restart your PC.

Windows rebuilds the entry without the notification flag.

3. Disable Watermark Using Group Policy Editor (For Pro & Enterprise)

If you’re running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can control this via Local Group Policy.

1. Press Windows + R, type:

gpedit.msc

2. Navigate to:

Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System

3. Scroll down and look for:

Display options for update notifications

4. Set it to Disabled.
5. Restart your PC.

This removes multiple desktop notification watermarks, including the unsupported hardware one.

Note: Home edition users cannot access Group Policy without enabling it manually.

4. Remove Watermark Using a Command Script (Microsoft-Friendly Method)

Some users prefer running a quick command instead of registry editing.

1. Open Notepad.
2. Paste this script:

reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\UnsupportedHardwareNotificationCache" /v SV1 /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\UnsupportedHardwareNotificationCache" /v SV2 /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

3. Save the file as remove_watermark.cmd.
4. Right-click → Run as administrator.
5. Restart your PC.

This performs the same registry edits automatically.

5. Update Windows 11 (Microsoft Sometimes Removes Watermark Automatically)

In several preview builds, Microsoft removed or modified the watermark behavior. Installing the latest cumulative update may remove it automatically.

1. Open Settings → Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install all pending updates.
4. Restart your PC.

Especially on newer builds, unsupported PCs no longer receive the watermark in the same way.

6. Re-enable TPM/Secure Boot (If Your Hardware Supports It)

Some systems appear unsupported even though they technically meet requirements.

1. Restart your PC → Enter BIOS (F2, DEL, or Esc).
2. Enable:
   • TPM 2.0 (PTT / fTPM)
   • Secure Boot
3. Save and exit.

If Windows now reads your hardware as compatible, the watermark disappears on its own.

Wrapping Up

The “System Requirements Not Met” watermark in Windows 11 is harmless but undeniably annoying. Fortunately, as we explored, removing it is quick and safe—requiring just a few registry tweaks or using Group Policy on supported editions. Whether your PC lacks TPM, Secure Boot, or an officially supported CPU, hiding the watermark won’t affect your system’s functionality.