Windows 11 came with some relatively demanding hardware requirements at the time of its release, especially the need for TPM 2.0, which essentially locked Intel CPUs older than 8th Gen from getting the update. And now, with Windows 10 nearing its end of life, you’d expect Microsoft to adjust its system requirements to accommodate the large percentage of users still on Windows 10.

But you’d be wrong. Microsoft is doing the opposite. The company has updated its list of supported Intel CPUs for the Windows 11 24H2 update, and this time, it’s bad news for hardware manufacturers.

Microsoft drops Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen CPUs from new Windows 11 devices

Microsoft has published a new list of supported Intel processors for the Windows 11 24H2 update, and according to the list, Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen chips, all of which support TPM 2.0, are not eligible to run the update. However, before you start worrying, the new list is for OEMs, not regular users. This means that if you have one of those “older” processors, you can still update to the latest version of Windows 11.

“These processors meet the design principles around security, reliability, and the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Subsequently released and future generations of processors which meet the same principles will be considered as supported, even if not explicitly listed.”

For the full list of compatible CPUs, see the Microsoft website

For OEMs, the list is guidance from Microsoft on which Intel processors to use when building new systems with the Windows 11 24H2 update. The removal of Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen CPUs simply means that Windows device makers will now need to use at least Intel’s 11th Gen chips to launch new systems with the update.

Now if you have a PC with any Intel’s 8th, 9th, or 10th Gen processors, the updated list should be of no concern to you. You can still upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 if you haven’t already. In other words, the minimum system requirement hasn’t changed for Windows 11 24H2.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.