3 ways to install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC

Windows 11 is finally here, and you can install the first Insider Preview on any compatible computer (check compatibility here). However, the new Windows has many hardware requirements and only supports certain processors. It might be a disappointment for users with older but powerful machines. Either way, Windows is Windows after all, and it's possible to install it even on incompatible computers. Here's how to install Windows 11 Insider Preview on an unsupported PC.

Related | Remove recommended files from the Start menu in Windows 11

Install Windows 11 Insider Preview on an unsupported PC

Microsoft has made TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot support mandatory for Windows 11. In addition, it only supports modern processors, including 8th generation and newer Intel chipsets. This is why many users of older generation processors face compatibility issues with Windows 11.

In one of our previous articles, we explained to you why your PC is not compatible with Windows 11 and fixed the error “This PC cannot run Windows 11”. Go through it to see if signing in to your Microsoft account or enabling TPM and Secure Boot in the BIOS menu helps.

If you can get past compatibility, scroll down for the steps to install Windows 11 through the official Insider program. However, if your PC does not have a supported processor or hardware requirements, follow the methods below.

Method 1 - Manually Install Windows 11 Build

1. Start with, download Windows 11 insider preview build from here.

2. Once downloaded, right click on the file et extract it in an accessible folder. Can't see the checkout option? Install 7Zip or WinRAR on your computer.

3. Now open the extracted folder.

4. Click on the setup.exe file to start the installation of Windows 11.

5. Once the installation is loaded, Accept the license terms to proceed with the installation.

6. So choose "Keep personal files and applications" et press Next (so that your existing data is safe).

7. Once you are on the Ready to Install page, press the Installer to start installing Windows 11 on your incompatible device.

Update the Microsoft Store

Once you have installed Windows 11, it is time to load the latest Microsoft Store as it is missing from the version. To do this, download the installer from the Microsoft Store from here. Then open the installer and select the Update option to install the new store preview.

That's it. Wait for the installation process to complete. This way, you can enjoy Windows 11 in an unofficial way without having to pass the compatibility check.

Method 2- Modifying the registry

This method requires you to edit the registry and bypass Windows 11 requirements. However, be sure to back up the registry before continuing, as registry changes can damage your system. Proceed at your own risk.

Additionally, if you start using preview versions on an unsupported device, you may need to revert to Windows 10 or upgrade your system once Windows 11 is released to the public.

1. On your Windows machine, open Settings and head to Update and security > Windows Insider Program.

2. Here click on Start then link your Microsoft account. Make sure you're using the same account you used to sign up for Microsoft's Insider program.

3. Then select Version preview ring and carry on. Finally, press To restart to complete the setup.

Optional shortcut method: Download the registry file from here and open it to apply the settings. You can then go directly to step 9. You can also create a registry file yourself by typing the following into Notepad and saving it with a .reg extension:

Windows Registry Editor version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsSelfHostUISelection] "UIContentType" = "Primary row"
"UIRing" = "External"
"UIBranch" = "Dev"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsSelfHostApplicability]
Branch name "=" Dev "
"Content type" = "Main line"
"Ring" = "External"

4. Once your PC has restarted, press Win + R to open Run. Here, type " Regedit »And press Enter.

5. Once the registry editor is open, select copy and paste HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsSelfHostUISelection in the address bar. You can also manually access the Selection folder.

6. Right click on the Selection folder in the sidebar and tap Export. Save it in an accessible location as a backup.

7. Now press UIBranch and replace its value data with Dev. Likewise, change the Type of content à Main line et Ring à External.

8. Now close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

9. Once the device has restarted, go to Settings> Update and security and see if your PC is enrolled in the Windows Insider program under the Dev channel. Otherwise, select "Development channel".

Then, Check for updates in the settings. You will now be able to receive and update your computer to Windows 11 Insider Preview.

Update failed?

If the update fails or indicates that your PC is not supported, cancel and close the setup. Then download appraiserres.dll and copy it to the folder C: $ WINDOWS. ~ BTSources (replace with the original file if prompted). Then try to update again through Windows Update.

Method 3- Using the script

The OffInsiderEnroll script uses undocumented settings from the Windows Insider program. It can sign you up for the Insider Program Development Channel on unsupported devices and even work with local accounts - you don't necessarily need to sign in with a Microsoft account.

1. Download the OfflineInsiderEnroll script from the GitHub website.

2. Once downloaded, right click on the script and press Execute as administrator.

3. The command window will open and ask you to select from the available channels of the Windows Insider program.

4. Select Development channel by pressing the corresponding number, i.e. '1'.

5. press Enter and restart your PC.

Finally, go to Windows Update in Settings and check for updates. You can now download and install Windows 11 Insider Preview on your incompatible computer.

Bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement

You may get "This PC cannot run Windows 11" by trying to install Windows 11 on unsupported devices without TPM 2.0. However, you can bypass the TPM requirement with a simple registry modification, as follows:

1. press Win + R to open Run. Type Regedit and press Enter.

2. Now paste it HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetup in the address bar or manually navigate to the Configuration folder.

3. Here right click and create a new key called LabConfig.

4. In LabConfig key, create two new DWORDs with the values ​​below:

• Bypass TPMCheck - 0000001
• Bypass SecureBootCheck - 0000001

5. Save and close the registry editor. Now try to install Windows 11 again.

The other method is to modify the actual ISO file. To do this, you must overwrite the "appraiserres.dll" file in the Sources folder with the same file from a Windows 10 ISO, then recreate the image.

Bonus - Install Windows 11 on Supported Devices

If your PC is compatible, you can visit insider.windows.com and sign up for the Insider program under the Dev channel. Then go to Settings> Update & Security> Windows Insider Program and connect your Microsoft account.

Once done, restart the machine and check for updates in Settings> Update & Security> Windows Update. You will probably have already received the Insider version. Update to install the latest Insider Preview as normal, just like any other Windows update.

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These were three different methods to download and install Windows 11 Insider Preview Update on an unsupported or incompatible PC. Try them all and let me know which one worked for you in the comments. Please also proceed with caution and make sure to back up any important data. Please do not hesitate to contact us via the comments if you have any doubts or questions.