Before installing the new operating system, you should definitely check the Uefi setup on your computer. It depends on these settings.
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These UEFI settings are worth checking out.
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Windows 11 is a welcome reason to take care of the Uefi and its settings. In order for you to be able to install the new operating system without detours, the firmware of the computer must run in Uefi mode. Legacy Bios or CSM (Compatibility Support Module) boot modes do not work.
You do not need to go to the Uefi menu to find out how the firmware is currently set: Under Windows, check the mode by
in the Windows search bar to display the system information. On the first “System Overview” page you will find the information you are looking for in the “BIOS mode” line: “UEFI” must appear here, not legacy or previous mode.
Activate the correct Uefi mode
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Windows 11 can only be installed if the Windows system information confirms that the computer is running in Uefi mode.
If legacy mode is still active on your computer, you must call up the Uefi setup to switch it over: In most cases, you start the setup by pressing the F2 or Del key immediately after switching on the computer. Under Windows you can access the Uefi settings by going to the Windows settings “Update & Security -> Recovery” (Windows 10) or “System -> Recovery” and then selecting “Advanced start: Restart now”. After the reboot, click Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> UEFI firmware settings and restart the computer. A third way into the Uefi setup is via the command
which you type in the command prompt started with admin rights. In Uefi settings, the option to enable Uefi mode is mostly found in the “Boot” or “Start” menu.
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The easiest way is to access the Uefi setup directly from the Windows settings: To do this, use the “Advanced start” option in “Windows Update”.
Another requirement for installing Windows 11 is an activated TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module). This crypto chip is intended to ensure that no malware can manipulate the operating system before it starts. Under Windows, you can check whether TPM is available and active on your computer and which TPM version it is by entering tpm.msc in the Windows search window. Status should say The TPM is operational and TPM Manufacturer Information should say Specification Version: 2.0.
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Windows 11 also requires the security chip TPM 2.0: You can find out whether your computer is equipped accordingly in the TPM administration, which you call up with tpm.msc.
If, on the other hand, you see the message “No compatible TPM was found”, the next step is to call up the Uefi settings again. The entry for the TPM is usually in the “Advanced” or “Security” menu. Set the TPM option to Enabled.
According to Microsoft, the Uefi setting “Secure Boot” is also important for Windows 11, but not a prerequisite for the installation. Activating the Uefi mode is sufficient, since every Uefi firmware supports Secure Boot in principle. But if you are already in the Uefi menu for the other settings, it doesn’t hurt to set the status of “Secure Boot” to “Enabled”.
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Microsoft strongly recommends the Secure Boot setting before switching to Windows 11. You can activate this start setting for the operating system using an option in the Uefi settings.
There are Uefi updates for Windows 11 from some PC and board manufacturers. They were mostly made available around the launch of the new operating system in October 2021. In the corresponding change notes of the updates you can read, for example, that this version enables support for Windows 11. However, you cannot make a computer compatible with Windows 11 using only the Uefi update. In the examples mentioned, the only thing that matters is that the new firmware version already contains the appropriate settings for Windows 11 for Uefi mode, TPM and Secure Boot: The update only does the work for you, even in the Uefi settings to make the changes described.
How to make your PC fit for Windows 11 via Uefi
However, there is one way to make a computer fit for Windows 11 via a Uefi update: If your PC has a processor that Microsoft has not released for the new operating system, you can overcome this hurdle by replacing it with a new CPU. This usually also requires an update of the Uefi firmware so that the motherboard recognizes the new processor.
First check which CPU is currently working in the computer: You can do this using the Windows Device Manager, for example. There you will find the model name under “Processors”. Then check the Microsoft list of CPUs approved for Windows 11: The Intel models are here , for AMD processors this page is the right place to go.
If your processor doesn’t appear there, a CPU upgrade is an option: you have to research which processors your board generally supports. You can find this information by searching the motherboard manufacturer’s support pages for the exact model number of the board. Here you should not only find drivers and manuals for the board, but also a list of processor models that can be used with it. If this list includes both your current CPU and a model that Microsoft has approved for Windows 11, changing the processor makes the computer Windows 11 compatible. Also look out for an entry in the circuit board list that shows the Uefi version from which the new CPU is supported: You should install this firmware version before changing the CPU.
More about Uefi:
What you should know about the Uefi
BIOS & UEFI update fast and safe