Upgrading Windows 11 can be challenging if your computer does not meet Microsoft’s strict hardware requirements. Windows 11 officially needs a 1 GHz or faster CPU with at least two cores, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI with Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. Many older but still functional computers do not meet these requirements.
If you originally installed Windows 11 using a custom USB created with Rufus, you likely bypassed these checks. While the operating system works, Windows Update usually does not offer feature upgrades on unsupported devices. As a result, your installation eventually becomes outdated and insecure.
This guide explains how to upgrade Windows 11 on unsupported hardware using a method that keeps your apps, files, and settings while bypassing hardware checks.
1. Why Upgrade Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC?
A Windows 11 installation created with the Rufus bypass can still receive monthly security updates for a limited time. However, feature upgrades such as moving from Windows 11 version 23H2 to version 25H2 are not offered through Windows Update.
Figure 1 - Creating Custom Win 11 USB disk with Rufus and Skipping Hardware Requirements
This becomes a serious issue because every Windows release has an end-of-support date. For example, Windows 11 version 23H2 reached the end of support for Home and Pro editions on November 11, 2025. After this date, it no longer receives security patches. A system without updates becomes more vulnerable to attacks.
Note: Check your Windows 11 version by Right-click on Start and Select System. In my case, the version is 23H2 (Figure 2).
Figure 2 - Legacy Windows 11 23H2
There are two main approaches when your hardware does not meet Windows 11 requirements.
1. 1 Clean Installation
You can create another customized USB installer using Rufus and perform a clean installation of Windows 11. This method is the most reliable because it removes all applications, settings, and old files. It often fixes performance issues and reduces the risk of installation errors. The downside is that you must back up your data and reinstall programs.
1.2 In-Place Upgrade
An in-place upgrade installs a newer version of Windows 11 from within the current system. Your files, applications, and settings remain intact. However, if you run setup.exe directly from the ISO, the installation usually might stop with an error. For instance, your CPU or TPM may not meet the requirements as it is depicted in Figure 3.
Figure 3 - CPU does not meet hardware requirements
Fortunately, a simple command can bypass these checks.
2. How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware
2.1 Download the Windows 11 25H2 ISO and mount the ISO image
Download the latest Windows 11 ISO directly from Microsoft. Save the file on your computer.
To mount the ISO image Right-click the downloaded ISO file and select Mount (Figure 4). Windows creates a virtual drive that contains the installation files. Open File Explorer and note the drive letter that Windows assigned. In my case, it is letter G:
Figure 4 - Mounting Windows 11 ISO Image
2.2 Open Command Prompt as Administrator and start CMD
- Click Start and open Run.
- Enter cmd.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch the command prompt as an administrator (Figure 5).
Figure 5 - Starting Command-line as administrator
2.3 Switch to the Mounted Drive and start installation
In the command prompt, enter:
G:
Replace the letter G with the correct drive letter of the mounted ISO.
Type the following command to run the Windows 11 setup bypassing the hardware requirements and press Enter (Figure 6): The setup program now starts normally.
setup.exe /product server
Figure 6 - Starting installation process bypassing the hardware requirements
2.4 Choose What to Keep
When the installer asks what to keep, select Keep personal files, apps, and settings. Windows begins the upgrade process and restarts several times. As it is an in-place upgrade, the setup does not show the Out-of-Box Experience. Finally, you will return directly to your desktop with your files and applications preserved (Figure 7).
Figure 7 - Windows 11 Upgraded from 23H2 to 25H2
Note: The upgraded system continues to run in an unsupported state. Windows Update may still deliver patches, but Microsoft does not guarantee their availability. Sometimes the bypass may fail and the installer may still report a compatibility problem. Downloading a fresh ISO usually resolves this issue.
Conclusion
Upgrading Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is possible even when your PC does not meet CPU, TPM, or Secure Boot requirements. The method described in this guide allows you to keep your data and applications while moving to a newer version of Windows.
This helps maintain security after your current Windows release reaches the end of support. A clean installation remains the most stable long-term option, but the in-place upgrade is a practical solution for users who want to avoid reinstalling everything.