HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Readies Windows 11 Watermark for Incompatible Hardware

Microsoft Readies Windows 11 Watermark for Incompatible Hardware

Users running Windows 11 without incompatible hardware will start seeing a watermark warning them the OS is unsupported.

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is now on tens of millions of devices, but a relatively large number do not meet the requirements has set. Of course, where there is a will there is a way to have Windows 11 on a machine. Although, that means running Windows 11 unsupported without security updates. Microsoft is now continuing to warn users about using the platform on incompatible hardware.

In an update, Microsoft is adding a watermark on the desktop wallpaper. Furthermore, that is now a warning also on the Settings app landing page. You may remember last month that we reported on Microsoft starting to test this new addition.

It is now available on the Release Preview on the Inside. That means the update is ready to reach general release, which should happen sometime this week. It is worth noting the relevant update release notes do not mention the watermark. However, testers confirm that they are visible on the OS.

As for the message on the desktop wallpaper, it reads: “System requirements not met. Go to settings to learn more.”

Windows Requirements

The company already uses a watermark if Windows has not been activated. While less obtrusive, the new unsupported hardware watermark is similar. Of course, if you have a device compatible with Windows 11, this message will not appear.

Microsoft's full hardware requirements for Windows 11 are:

  • A modern 64-bit processor. Windows 11 is only a 64-bit platform, with no 32-bit version.
  • 1Ghz clock speed
  • 2 cores
  • 64GB drive
  • 4GB RAM
  • UEFI, Secure Book capable & TPM 2.0
  • 9-inch display with 1366×768 resolution
  • DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x

Users must also have a Microsoft Account to install the platform. This was originally only necessary for Home users but Microsoft recently decided to extend the requirement to Pro versions too.

Tip of the day: When or Windows 11 has issues, it's not rare to run into startup problems. Corrupted Windows files, incorrect system configuration, driver failure, or registry tweaks can all cause this issue.

Using Windows startup repair can fix boot issues caused by the most prevalent issues. Though it may seem that all is lost when you run into startup problems, it's important to try a Windows boot repair so you can at least narrow down the source of the issue. If it doesn't work, you may have to reinstall the OS or test your hardware.

Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

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