Windows 11: Microsoft extends annoying watermarks

Microsoft seems to be expanding the overlay of watermarks in Windows 11. Soon Windows 11 will probably always show an indication of insufficient hardware.

Previously, this was only the case on selected computers. In February 2022, the first indications emerged that Windows 11 would show a watermark on the bottom right of the desktop above the clock in the taskbar on computers that do not meet the hardware requirements specified by Microsoft. It says that the computer does not meet the system requirements. Functionally, however, this had no effect, users can still use Windows 11 to its full extent. However, at the time it was an A/B test, i.e. it was not displayed on all affected computers. In addition, this A/B test only runs on test versions of Windows 11 that are used by Windows Insiders. So the watermarks don’t appear in the final Windows 11 version yet!

But Microsoft’s approach now appears to be changing, according to IT news site Windowslatest. Accordingly, all Windows 11 Insider test versions for the Release Preview Channel should now display this notice if the PC does not meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11. Apparently nothing significant has changed in the appearance of the watermark: The notice appears on the bottom right of the desktop above the clock in the taskbar. If you click on it, you end up in the Windows settings. There the user is told again that his PC does not meet the system requirements. However, the annoying notification has no effect on the functionality of Windows.

How to remove the watermark

The IT news site Windowslatest also has a tip on how to remove the watermark:

After restarting, the watermark should be gone.

Windows 11: Watermark annoys users of unsupported PCs