Windows 11 22H2 is on the exit ramp and everything indicates that it will be next week when Microsoft will publish the general availability edition. It will be the final, stable, version of what is considered to be the first major system update it will also be the version that will be pre-installed by manufacturers on new computers that will be marketed starting this fall.
The final version will not be very different from the RTM delivered to OEMs weeks ago except for bug fixes and security patches. If like many users you have continued using Windows 10 to see if Microsoft achieved the necessary stability, added the promised features or improved parts of the interface less successful (see the start menu or taskbar), maybe it’s time to give it a try.
If you are sure that your PC will be able to run the version you just have to follow the guide that we prepared to advance the installation of this Windows 11 22H2 with the available RTM, compilation 22621. If you do not know if your PC will be compatible with the required hardware you can take a look at the following.
Windows 11 22H2 Requirements
The minimum hardware requirements to be officially met are the same as those of the original Windows 11. They apply to both physical and virtual machines and are as follows:
- Processor: 64-bit CPU with 2 or more cores, included in this listing.
- RAM: 4 GB.
- Storage: 64 GB.
- Graphics chip: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver.
- Firmware: UEFI compatible with ‘Secure Boot’ function.
- TPM: Secure Platform Module version 2.0.
- Display: 9 inches with HD resolution.
- Internet connection for Windows 10 Home.
- Windows 10 version 2004 (for upgrades)
Detailed hardware requirements:
Motherboardone of the minimum requirements of Windows 11 affects the firmware of your computer, which must be a UEFI compatible with Secure Boot. If you remember, Secure Boot ran riots when it was implemented a few years ago and blocked the installation of Linux systems and even earlier Windows systems like 7. It has to be supported on board and enabled. There is little to do here except change the motherboard.
TPM. The secure platform module is perhaps the most controversial component, although it is a classic. Widely used (almost by default) in enterprise equipment, it is a physical chip dedicated to security tasks, authentication, cryptographic key generation and in general to maintain the integrity of the system. The required version 2.0 was introduced in 2015 and although it is not yet present, it can be installed additionally if the board has a free connector for it. Or activate the fTPM firmware-based mode on the motherboard. You can check all this in the special we dedicated to motherboards and CPUs for Windows 11.
RAM and disk space. Little to say about RAM and storage. Any current mid-range computer upwards has quite a bit more installed and it is really necessary to get a minimal experience from the system and applications. Increasing memory and storage (especially in the jump to SSD) are upgrades that any user has in mind. RAM has dropped in price and the same can be said for basic solid state drives.
CPU. Although the requirement for 64-bit CPUs with 2 or more cores is quite minimal, Microsoft incomprehensibly requires certain models included in this list where processors with plenty of power to run Windows 11 22H2 are left out.
DX12. The upgrade to Windows 11 also required a component that was less talked about than TPM, but also left out many computers, especially with older integrated graphics. The minimum requirement here is a graphics card that supports DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.x, the version of the multimedia libraries Microsoft uses to control the PC gaming industry as Windows monopolized the desktop.
Software. If you are going to use Windows 11 to upgrade older systems you must do it on Windows 10 version 2004 or higher. Using the ISO images will allow you to upgrade other versions or perform clean installations.
Other recommended requirements. Display requirements are trivial because Windows 11 calls for 9-inch diagonal panels with 720p resolution. Others (recommended) range from audio systems to webcams and microphones for video conferencing; IR camera for Windows Hello; Wi-Fi 6E for the latest in wireless Internet connectivity; an NVMe SDD for DirectStorage; a 5G modem or support for HDR. These are optional requirements.
Does your PC meet the requirements?
Microsoft’s initial chaotic management of its own requirements encouraged third-party developers to publish applications to check your computer’s compatibility for Windows 11. The best one is âWhyNotWin11.exeâ Free, Open Source and as easy to use as downloading it from GitHub and running it to get the results:
Microsoft also has its own application. That launched, withdrew and again published. It is called ”PC status check” that Microsoft has published.
What if your PC does not meet the requirements of Windows 11 22H2?
Officially, you will not be able to install Windows 11. Microsoft has adopted a pragmatic attitude because it cannot control the immense Windows ecosystem and, in addition, it is in its interest that the adoption of the system (until now lower than expected) goes up.
So much so that Microsoft itself has hacked its own requirements and all kinds of tools capable of bypassing the verification of compliance with the requirements of Windows 11 are running on the Internet. There are also available hacked versions of the official ISO images ready to install on almost any PC. It does not seem that the guys in Redmond are worried about it, although they did say that they will not support unofficial versions and will not be responsible for them.
What if you are not interested in the new version of Windows 11, at least for now?
Many users delay system updates until they check their stability. Microsoft has improved both the distribution of updates and the quality of the software, but bugs continue to arrive unchecked and randomly. Delaying updates is still a mandatory technique for professionals or users who use their computers for production tasks.
And if you are using Windows 10 and don’t want to jump to Windows 11, the same technique applies. There are ways to defer major version updates, quality updates or feature updates without affecting security updates that will continue to be installed through monthly patches or extraordinary patches if necessary. Remember that Windows 10 will have official support until October 2025. There is time for migration and if you want to try other things also alternatives to this Windows 11 whose new version will be available soon.