The short answer: Windows 11 needs a 64-bit processor on Microsoft’s supported list (broadly Intel 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 3000 series and newer), 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, UEFI Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. Businesses should run Windows 11 Pro or above, not Home. The newest release, version 26H2, began rolling out on 29 September 2026, and support for 24H2 on Home and Pro ends on 13 October 2026, so any PC still on 24H2 needs updating now. Upgrading an eligible Windows 10 PC is still free.
Last updated: 29 September 2026. Checked against Microsoft’s Windows 11 release information, hardware specifications and lifecycle documentation on that date.
In this guide
- Windows 11 hardware requirements
- Which Windows 11 versions are supported?
- Still running Windows 10?
- Windows 11 Home vs Pro vs Enterprise
- Copilot+ PCs and AI features
- How to upgrade a business to Windows 11
- Frequently asked questions
What are the Windows 11 hardware requirements?
These are Microsoft’s minimum system requirements for Windows 11:
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip |
| Memory | 4GB RAM |
| Storage | 64GB or larger |
| System firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module version 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 compatible with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | 720p, larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per colour channel |
| Internet and account | Home, and Pro for personal use, need internet and a Microsoft account during setup |
The processor rule is the one that rules out most older business PCs. Microsoft publishes supported processor lists for each version. The lists for the latest versions start at Intel 8th generation Core and AMD Ryzen 3000 series, while older lists still include some Ryzen 2000 chips. The quickest check is Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app, or ask your IT provider to run a report across every device at once.
Treat the minimums as a floor, not a target. For business use we recommend at least 16GB of RAM and a solid-state drive on new laptops, because 4GB and 8GB machines struggle with Teams, browsers and security software running together.
Which Windows 11 versions are supported, and until when?
Microsoft releases a Windows 11 feature update each year. Each second-half release gets 24 months of security updates on Home and Pro, and 36 months on Enterprise and Education. A PC on an expired version stops receiving security updates, even though it is running Windows 11.
| Version | Released | Home and Pro support ends | Enterprise and Education support ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26H2 (Windows 11 2026 Update) | 29 September 2026, phased rollout | Not yet published (24 months expected) | Not yet published (36 months expected) |
| 26H1 | 10 February 2026, new devices only | 14 March 2028 | 13 March 2029 |
| 25H2 | 30 September 2025 | 12 October 2027 | 10 October 2028 |
| 24H2 | 1 October 2024 | 13 October 2026 | 12 October 2027 |
| 23H2 | 31 October 2023 | Ended 11 November 2025 | 10 November 2026 |
The practical point for most businesses: Windows 11 Pro PCs still on 24H2 lose security updates on 13 October 2026. Moving from 24H2 to 25H2 or 26H2 is quick, because both are delivered as a small enablement package that needs a single restart rather than a full reinstall. 26H1 is different: it is only for new devices and is not offered as an update to existing PCs.
What if you are still running Windows 10?
Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Businesses that still have Windows 10 PCs have three options, set out in our Windows 10 end of life guide:
- Upgrade PCs that meet the requirements. Microsoft confirms the upgrade from Windows 10 is still free.
- Replace PCs that do not meet them.
- Buy Extended Security Updates (ESU) as a stopgap. For businesses, Microsoft charges $61 per device for the first year, doubling each year for up to three years, and the cost is cumulative: joining in year two means paying for year one as well. Year three ends in October 2028.
Two other points matter. Microsoft 365 Apps will keep receiving security updates on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028, but Microsoft treats Windows 10 as unsupported for them and feature updates end with Version 2608. And for Cyber Essentials, a Windows 10 PC without ESU is unsupported software, which fails the assessment unless it is removed or isolated from the internet. See our Cyber Essentials requirements guide.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: which should a business use?
Use Windows 11 Pro or above. Home lacks the features that let a business manage and secure its devices centrally:
| Feature | Home | Pro | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| BitLocker drive encryption (managed) | No (basic device encryption on some hardware) | Yes | Yes |
| Join to Microsoft Entra ID | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Hello for Business | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Update client policies (control update timing) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Credential Guard and advanced security features | No | No | Yes |
| Support per annual release | 24 months | 24 months | 36 months |
| Hotpatch (security updates without restarts) | No | No | Yes, with eligible licences |
Businesses on Microsoft 365 Business Premium can manage Windows 11 Pro devices through Intune, enforce BitLocker and push updates automatically. Windows 11 Enterprise features need a Windows Enterprise E3 or E5 subscription on top of a Pro licence.
Do you need a Copilot+ PC?
Copilot+ PCs are Windows 11 laptops with a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 40 or more trillion operations per second, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. They run AI features on the device, including Recall, Click to Do and improved search. For businesses, Microsoft has made Recall opt-in and disabled by default on managed devices, and it requires Windows Hello sign-in.
You do not need a Copilot+ PC to use Microsoft 365 Copilot, which runs in the cloud. The Copilot+ specification is still a sensible baseline for new laptops you plan to keep for four or five years, because 16GB of RAM and a fast SSD are what we would recommend anyway.
How should a business upgrade to Windows 11?
A controlled upgrade avoids the Monday morning where half the office cannot print. A sensible process:
- Inventory every device with its processor, TPM, RAM, disk and current Windows version.
- Sort devices into upgrade, replace, or update to a supported Windows 11 version.
- Test your business applications, printers, scanners and VPN on a pilot group first.
- Back up anything stored locally, and make sure OneDrive is syncing desktops and documents.
- Upgrade in waves, out of hours where possible, starting with the pilot group.
- Set update policies so future feature updates arrive on a schedule you control, before each version’s end-of-support date.
- Securely wipe and recycle replaced hardware.
If you would like us to check your estate, our free IT review covers your devices, network and Microsoft 365, and tells you plainly what to fix first. For ongoing management, see our managed IT services.
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum requirements for Windows 11?
A compatible 64-bit processor with 2 or more cores at 1GHz or faster, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, UEFI with Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card with a WDDM 2.0 driver, and a 720p display larger than 9 inches.
Is the Windows 11 upgrade still free?
Yes. Microsoft states that upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free on eligible PCs, through Windows Update.
What is Windows 11 26H2?
The Windows 11 2026 Update, released on 29 September 2026 as a phased rollout. PCs on 24H2 or 25H2 get it as a small enablement package with a single restart.
When does Windows 11 24H2 support end?
13 October 2026 for Home and Pro editions, and 12 October 2027 for Enterprise and Education. PCs on 24H2 should move to 25H2 or 26H2 before then.
Should a business use Windows 11 Home or Pro?
Pro. Home cannot join Microsoft Entra ID, lacks Windows Hello for Business and managed BitLocker, and gives administrators no control over update timing.
How much do Windows 10 Extended Security Updates cost for business?
$61 per device for the first year, doubling each year for up to three years. The cost is cumulative, so joining later means paying for earlier years too.
Can I run Windows 11 on an unsupported PC?
It can be forced onto some older hardware, but Microsoft does not support it and such devices may not receive updates. For a business, and for Cyber Essentials, unsupported configurations are best avoided.
Sources
- Microsoft UK: Windows 11 specifications
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 requirements
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 release information
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 version 26H2 status
- Microsoft Learn: Extended Security Updates for Windows 10
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10
- Microsoft Learn: Manage Recall
- Microsoft Support: Upgrade to Windows 11 FAQ
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