Microsoft’s PC Health Check app is one of the easiest ways to find out whether your computer meets the hardware requirements for Windows 11.
Instead of manually checking your processor, TPM version, Secure Boot status, RAM, storage, and firmware configuration, you can run Microsoft’s official compatibility checker and get a Windows 11 eligibility result in seconds.
If you’re looking for the PC Health Check app download, this guide explains where to download it safely from Microsoft, how to install and run it, how to check Windows 11 compatibility, and what to do if you see the “This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements” message.
Download PC Health Check App From Microsoft
The safest option is to download PC Health Check directly from Microsoft.
Official PC Health Check download:
Download PC Health Check from Microsoft
The installer is typically downloaded as:
WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi
You can also visit Microsoft’s official PC Health Check support page for instructions and troubleshooting information.
Avoid downloading modified installers from unknown third-party websites. The Microsoft version is free.
What Is the PC Health Check App?
PC Health Check is a Microsoft utility that provides information about your Windows PC and can determine whether a Windows 10 computer meets the minimum requirements for upgrading to Windows 11.
Its best-known feature is the built-in Windows 11 compatibility checker.
PC Health Check can provide information related to:
- Windows 11 eligibility
- Windows Update
- Storage usage
- Startup time
- Battery capacity on supported devices
- Backup and sync
- Device specifications
For users considering a Windows 11 upgrade, the compatibility check is the most important feature.
How to Install PC Health Check
After downloading the official installer:
- Open your Downloads folder.
- Double-click
WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi. - Accept the license agreement.
- Click Install.
- Wait for the installation to complete.
- Select Open Windows PC Health Check.
- Click Finish.
PC Health Check should now open.
You can reopen it later by clicking Start, searching for PC Health Check, and selecting the app.
How to Check If Your PC Can Run Windows 11
Once PC Health Check is installed, checking Windows 11 compatibility takes only a few seconds.
- Open PC Health Check.
- Find the Windows 11 section.
- Click Check now.
- Wait for the compatibility test to complete.
You should receive a result indicating whether your computer meets the Windows 11 requirements.
If Your PC Is Compatible
You should see a message similar to:
This PC meets Windows 11 requirements.
That means the computer satisfies Microsoft’s minimum hardware requirements.
You can then check:
Settings > Windows Update
for an available Windows 11 upgrade.
Microsoft also provides the Windows 11 Installation Assistant and official installation tools.
If Your PC Isn’t Compatible
You may instead see:
This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements.
PC Health Check should provide more information about the requirement preventing the upgrade.
Common causes include:
- TPM 2.0 is disabled or unavailable
- Secure Boot isn’t enabled or supported
- Unsupported processor
- Insufficient RAM
- Insufficient storage
- Firmware or UEFI configuration issues
Some of these problems can be corrected without replacing the computer.
Windows 11 Minimum System Requirements
Your PC needs to satisfy Microsoft’s minimum Windows 11 requirements.
| Component | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, 2+ cores, compatible 64-bit processor or SoC |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB or larger |
| Firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | TPM version 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | 720p, larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per color channel |
Meeting the basic specifications doesn’t automatically mean every processor is supported. Microsoft maintains separate supported processor lists.
Check Microsoft’s current Windows 11 system requirements before purchasing hardware specifically for an upgrade.
Why Does PC Health Check Say My PC Can’t Run Windows 11?
A failed compatibility check doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new PC.
Here are the most common reasons and what you can do about them.
1. TPM 2.0 Isn’t Enabled
TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) is one of Windows 11’s security requirements.
Many relatively modern computers already have TPM support, but the feature may be disabled in UEFI/BIOS.
To check your TPM:
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
tpm.msc. - Press Enter.
- Check TPM Manufacturer Information.
Look at Specification Version.
If it says 2.0, your PC has the required TPM version.
If Windows says a compatible TPM cannot be found, it may still be available but disabled in firmware.
How to Enable TPM 2.0
Restart your PC and enter its UEFI/BIOS settings.
The exact procedure depends on the computer or motherboard manufacturer. Common setup keys include F2, Delete, F10, and Esc.
Look for options such as:
- TPM
- TPM Device
- Security Device
- Trusted Computing
- Intel PTT
- AMD fTPM
Intel systems may call firmware TPM PTT, while AMD systems commonly use fTPM.
Enable the appropriate setting, save the changes, restart Windows, and run PC Health Check again.
Important: BIOS menus differ significantly between manufacturers. Don’t change unrelated firmware settings if you’re unsure what they do.
2. Secure Boot Isn’t Enabled
Windows 11 also requires Secure Boot capability.
You can check its current status without entering BIOS.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
msinfo32. - Press Enter.
- Find Secure Boot State.
If it shows On, Secure Boot is enabled.
If it shows Off, your PC may support it but have it disabled.
Enabling Secure Boot generally requires opening UEFI firmware settings.
However, don’t blindly change Legacy/CSM or disk boot settings. Switching from Legacy BIOS to UEFI incorrectly can prevent Windows from booting.
Back up important files before making significant firmware or partition changes.
3. Your Processor Isn’t Supported
A computer can have plenty of RAM and a fast CPU and still fail Windows 11 compatibility because the processor isn’t included in Microsoft’s supported CPU list.
Check your processor by going to:
Settings > System > About > Processor
You can then compare it with Microsoft’s official processor compatibility information.
If the processor itself isn’t supported, changing a Windows setting won’t make the computer officially compatible.
4. Your PC Uses Legacy BIOS Instead of UEFI
Windows 11 requires UEFI firmware and Secure Boot capability.
Check your current configuration:
- Press Windows + R.
- Enter
msinfo32. - Press Enter.
- Find BIOS Mode.
Ideally, it should display:
UEFI
If it says Legacy, additional changes may be necessary.
In some cases, an existing Windows installation can be converted from MBR to GPT using Microsoft’s MBR2GPT tool before switching the firmware to UEFI.
This is an advanced procedure. Back up important files before modifying partitions or boot configuration.
5. Your PC Doesn’t Have Enough RAM
Windows 11 requires at least 4 GB of RAM.
Check your installed memory at:
Settings > System > About
Look for Installed RAM.
Although 4 GB satisfies the minimum requirement, more memory is generally preferable for everyday multitasking.
If your computer supports memory upgrades, installing additional RAM may resolve this requirement.
6. Your Storage Doesn’t Meet the Requirement
Windows 11 requires a storage device of at least 64 GB.
You can check storage information through:
Settings > System > Storage
Don’t confuse the minimum storage-device requirement with the amount of free space required for a particular Windows update or installation.
If you’re running low on free space, you can remove temporary files, uninstall unused applications, move personal files elsewhere, or upgrade the storage drive.
PC Health Check Says Compatible but Windows Update Doesn’t
You might encounter a situation where PC Health Check says your computer is compatible but Windows Update doesn’t immediately offer Windows 11.
This doesn’t necessarily mean PC Health Check is wrong.
Microsoft notes that eligibility information in Windows Update can take up to 24 hours to refresh after hardware changes.
Microsoft may also delay an upgrade on a compatible computer because of a known compatibility issue or safeguard hold.
Restart the computer, check Windows Update again, and allow time for the eligibility information to refresh.
Recheck Compatibility After Changing Hardware or BIOS Settings
If you’ve upgraded your processor, motherboard, RAM, storage, or changed TPM/Secure Boot settings, run PC Health Check again.
Open:
Start > PC Health Check > Check now
Don’t assume an old result still applies after hardware or firmware changes.
PC Health Check App Not Working
If PC Health Check won’t open or the compatibility checker isn’t working, try these fixes.
Restart Windows
Restart your computer and open PC Health Check again. This can resolve temporary service or installation problems.
Update PC Health Check
Microsoft periodically updates the application.
If an update is available inside PC Health Check, install it and rerun the compatibility test.
Reinstall PC Health Check
Go to:
Settings > Apps > Installed apps
Find Windows PC Health Check, uninstall it, restart your PC, and download a fresh copy from Microsoft.
Install Windows Updates
Check:
Settings > Windows Update
Install available Windows updates and restart the computer before testing again.
PC Health Check vs Windows Security Health Report
These two Windows features have similar names but serve different purposes.
PC Health Check can check whether a PC meets the hardware requirements for Windows 11 and also displays certain device-health information.
Windows Security > Device performance & health monitors areas such as storage capacity, apps/software, battery, and system health.
If your main question is “Can this PC run Windows 11?”, use PC Health Check.
Can I Check Windows 11 Compatibility Without PC Health Check?
Yes.
You can manually check many requirements using built-in Windows tools.
For example:
Check TPM
Press Windows + R, type:
tpm.msc
and press Enter.
Check UEFI and Secure Boot
Press Windows + R, type:
msinfo32
and press Enter.
Check CPU and RAM
Go to:
Settings > System > About
Check storage
Go to:
Settings > System > Storage
However, PC Health Check is easier because it combines the Windows 11 eligibility assessment into a single tool.
What Should You Do After Passing PC Health Check?
If PC Health Check confirms that your computer meets Windows 11 requirements, the preferred upgrade method is Windows Update.
Open:
Settings > Windows Update
and check for updates.
Microsoft also provides other official installation methods, including the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, installation media, and Windows 11 ISO.
You can find them on Microsoft’s official Download Windows 11 page.
Back up important files before performing a major operating-system upgrade.
What If Your PC Doesn’t Meet Windows 11 Requirements?
First determine which requirement failed.
Problems involving disabled TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot may be solvable through UEFI/BIOS configuration.
Insufficient RAM or storage may be solved with a hardware upgrade if your PC supports it.
An unsupported processor or older motherboard can be much more difficult to address and may require significant hardware replacement.
Also note an important change from older guides: standard free support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025.
Microsoft has additional options for eligible Windows 10 users who need more time, including the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Check Microsoft’s current support information rather than relying on older guides that recommend simply remaining on Windows 10 indefinitely.
Should You Install Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC?
Microsoft provides information about installing Windows 11 on hardware that doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, but it does not recommend doing so.
Unsupported devices can encounter compatibility problems and aren’t entitled to receive updates in the same way as supported systems.
For a primary computer, it’s generally safer to resolve the failed requirement or use hardware that officially supports Windows 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PC Health Check free?
Yes. PC Health Check is a free Microsoft utility.
Where can I download PC Health Check?
Use Microsoft’s official download:
Avoid unofficial installers when the application is available directly from Microsoft.
Is PC Health Check the official Windows 11 compatibility checker?
Yes. Microsoft recommends PC Health Check as a straightforward way to determine whether a Windows PC meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11.
How do I run PC Health Check?
Open Start, search for PC Health Check, launch the app, and click Check now in the Windows 11 section.
Why does PC Health Check say my PC can’t run Windows 11?
Common reasons include an unsupported CPU, TPM 2.0 being unavailable or disabled, Secure Boot problems, insufficient RAM or storage, or an incompatible firmware configuration.
Can I check TPM 2.0 without PC Health Check?
Yes. Press Windows + R, enter tpm.msc, and press Enter. Look for Specification Version 2.0.
Can I check Secure Boot without PC Health Check?
Yes. Run msinfo32 and look for Secure Boot State and BIOS Mode.
Do I need PC Health Check after upgrading to Windows 11?
You don’t need it solely for upgrade eligibility after you’re already running Windows 11, although PC Health Check can provide other device-health information.
Conclusion
The PC Health Check app is Microsoft’s official and easiest option for checking whether a computer meets the requirements for Windows 11.
Download the app directly from Microsoft, install it, and select Check now to run the Windows 11 compatibility test.
If your PC fails, don’t immediately assume you need a new computer. Check the reason first. TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot may simply be disabled, while RAM and storage can sometimes be upgraded.
If the CPU or other core hardware isn’t officially supported, your options are more limited.
Most importantly, use Microsoft’s current compatibility information before upgrading. Windows 11 requirements and supported-hardware information should be checked against Microsoft’s documentation rather than old compatibility guides.