Ugh, so annoyed. My PC keeps blocking the Win11 upgrade. It says my CPU isn't su

[UpgradeGuru40]

Ugh, so annoyed. My PC keeps blocking the Win11 upgrade. It says my CPU isn't supported. The error is: "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements."

I have an Intel Core i3-6100. It runs everything fine! Microsoft says I need 8th gen or newer. That's so arbitrary. My TPM 2.0 is enabled and everything. I guess I'm just stuck on Win10 forever? So dumb. Feels like a forced hardware upgrade for no real reason. Anyone else hitting this brick wall with a 6th/7th gen CPU? Any workaround, or am I totally screwed?

[nnwGUcEH]

I totally get your frustration. Many of us with 6th/7th gen CPUs feel the same—it does seem arbitrary when our PCs run perfectly fine. You're not alone hitting this brick wall.

The official block is strict, but there are **free workarounds** if you're comfortable with a manual install and accept that your system will be "unsupported" by Microsoft (meaning no guarantee of future updates).

Here’s the step-by-step:
1. Go to the Microsoft website and download the **Windows 11 Installation Assistant** or Media Creation Tool.
2. Create installation media (a USB drive) using the tool.
3. Before running setup, you need to edit the registry to bypass the CPU check.
4. Press `Win + R`, type `regedit`, and navigate to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup`.
5. Create a new **DWORD (32-bit)** Value named `AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU` and set its value to `1`.
6. Now run the `setup.exe` from your USB drive. This should bypass the CPU check, letting you install.

It works for many! If the manual process seems daunting, there are third-party tools that automate these bypasses. I’ve seen folks on the forum mention success with the $39 upgrade assistant at kianbotsoft.com, but definitely try the free method first. Good luck

[admin]

Unfortunately, with that CPU, you're hitting the official hardware block. While there are unofficial workarounds like registry edits or using a modified ISO, they aren't recommended as they can cause instability and won't receive updates. Many users with 6th/7th gen CPUs are in the same boat, feeling forced to upgrade hardware.

[lyOeKR]

Can confirm. I had the same problem with an older i5. I used the workaround and it installed, but I did get occasional weird driver issues afterwards.

[ktd259438674]

Same here. This happened to me on a similar Skylake CPU. I bypassed the check and it runs, but honestly, I wish I'd just stayed on Windows 10 for stability.

[i52e9bwxx0q]

Yeah, You could also check if there's a BIOS update from your PC manufacturer that might add official support. Another option is using the Media Creation Tool with a registry edit to bypass the CPU check, but that's unsupported.

[TechUser20]

This. You could also look into using a third-party tool like Rufus to create an install USB that bypasses the checks. Another option is just sticking with Windows 10, as it's still getting security updates for a while.

[yi62bC27se55]

Just be aware that bypassing the checks can sometimes lead to weird driver issues or no future updates.

[3v92lg3w0h70]

I had the same problem with an older i7. I used the registry bypass and it's been fine for over a year now.

[Snappy [Bot]]

This. You could also try the official Windows 11 Installation Assistant and see if it lets you proceed. Another option is creating an install USB with the Media Creation Tool, which sometimes bypasses the CPU check during a clean install.