Which CPUs can run Windows 11? Here’s the list

A new operating system incompatible with older hardware—that’s surely another MacOS announcement, right? Not this time. Windows users could soon find themselves in the same boat as Apple fans: Following close behind the official announcement of Windows 11 was the reveal of much stricter hardware compatibility for Windows 10’s successor.

Unlike previous generations of the operating system, Windows 11 tacks on tougher security requirements, like the presence of a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 and the ability to use Secure Boot. In a mild surprise, Microsoft has already named specific processors that are cleared for the next era of Windows.

Much remains to be explained—such as the criteria for getting the green light, though we’ve sniffed out some strong clues about processor security features—but for now, if you’re curious whether your chip made the cut, you can check. To make it easier, we dug in and pulled out the most commonly found CPUs on the list, which you’ll find below.

Is your processor not called out as compatible? Keep in mind that we’re still not far past the initial announcement of Windows 11. Absence from the list may not be the ultimate restricting factor for installing Windows 11 on your system. We’ll update with more info here and in our Windows 11 coverage guide as we learn more.

Update August 27, 2021: Microsoft has announced a slight loosening of its minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. It has also added new processors to its list of compatible processors—you’ll find the information below.

Intel CPUs compatible with Windows 11

Gordon Mah Ung

At the moment, Intel processors compatible with Windows 11 date back to mid-2017 and no earlier. Think 8th-generation CPUs and beyond. Microsoft has the full rundown on its site, which includes Pentium, Celeron, and Xeon chips. For ease of scanning, we’ve culled that list to a handful of the common mainstream consumer processors from each generation.

Update 8/27/2021: Microsoft has announced the addition of Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series, and the Intel Core 7820HQ (found in the Microsoft Surface Studio 2) to its compatability list. We’ve added the specific Core X models below.

Intel 8th generation (Coffee Lake, Whiskey Lake, Amber Lake)

Desktop

• Core i3-8100
• Core i5-8400
• Core i5-8600
• Core i5-8600K
• Core i7-8700
• Core i7-8700K
• Core i7-8086K

Mobile

• Core m3-8100Y
• Core i5-8200Y
• Core i3-8130U
• Core i3-8145U
• Core i3-8100H
• Core i5-8250U
• Core i5-8250U
• Core i5-8400H
• Core i7-8650U
• Core i7-8665U
• Core i7-8750H

Intel 9th generation (Coffee Lake Refresh)

Desktop

• Core i3-9100
• Core i5-9400
• Core i5-9600
• Core i5-9600K
• Core i7-9700
• Core i7-9700K
• Core i9-9900
• Core i9-9900K

Intel 10th generation (Comet Lake, Ice Lake, Amber Lake, Cascade Lake)

Desktop

• Core i3-10100
• Core i5-10400
• Core i5-10600
• Core i5-10600K
• Core i7-10700
• Core i7-10700K
• Core i9-10900
• Core i9-10900K

Mobile

• Core i3-10100Y
• Core i3-10100U
• Core i5-10210U
• Core i5-10200H
• Core i5-10400H
• Core i7-10510U
• Core i7-10710U
• Core i7-10750H
• Core i7-10850H
• Core i9-10980HK

Core X (Enthusiast Desktop)

• Core i9-10900X
• Core i9-10920X
• Core i9-10940X
• Core i9-10980XE

Intel 11th generation (Tiger Lake, Rocket Lake)

Desktop

• Core i3-11100
• Core i5-11400
• Core i5-11600
• Core i5-11600K
• Core i7-11700
• Core i7-11700K
• Core i9-11900
• Core i9-11900K

Mobile

• Core i3-1115G4
• Core i5-1135G7
• Core i5-11300H
• Core i7-1165G7
• Core i7-1185G7
• Core i7-11375H

AMD CPUs compatible with Windows 11

Gordon Mah Ung

Currently, AMD processors approved for Windows 11 date back to 2018. For the most part, that covers 2nd gen Ryzen (Zen+) CPUs and beyond. Microsoft has the full list on its site, which includes Athlon and Epyc chips, but for ease of scanning, we’ve culled it down to the most common mainstream consumer processors from each generation.

We did find a few curious omissions from the full rundown. At the time of publication, the 3300X, 4600HS, and 5900H were missing.