Yesterday I reported on Windows 11 22H2 making its way to the Release Preview ring on the Inside. This provides a way to get a stable version of the next Windows update early. However, it seems Microsoft has also been rolling out the preview to devices that are not compatible with the operating system.
Reddit and Twitter have lit up over the last 48 hours with users saying they were able to install Windows 11 22H2 on PCs that are not officially supported. Hundreds of Insiders reported the issues, which allows them to upgrade Windows 10 devices even if they are not compatible with Windows 11.
Microsoft has faced a lot of negative feedback about the strict hardware requirements it has in place for Windows 11. Those requirements leave millions of Windows 10 devices unable to upgrade to the newer version of the platform.
It's a bug and the right team is investigating it. Thanks for notifying.
— Windows Insider Program (@windowsinsider) June 8, 2022
Requirements
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.
Microsoft says it is aware of the error and is currently investigating, calling it a bug. For those who accidentally installed Windows 11, it is possible to rollback to Windows 10. It is unclear how Microsoft will prevent those who want to keep Windows 11 on their unsupported device from doing just that.
Tip of the day: Windows Update downloads can often be frustrating because they are several gigabytes in size and can slow down your internet connection. That means your device may work with reduced performance while the update is downloading. In our guide, we show you how to limit bandwidth for Windows Update downloads, so they won't bother you again.
