Microsoft reduces the number of CPUs on the Windows 11 compatibility list

Microsoft has recently released a list of Central Processing Units (CPUs) that are compatible with Windows 11 24H2. This announcement tells Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that if they were planning to use older Intel CPUs, specifically those that came out before the 11th generation, they will not be able to do so. It is important to note that this information is mainly relevant to OEMs, not to everyday users or businesses.

Windows 11 24H2 has been accessible to consumers for several months now, yet Microsoft’s February update emphasized that builders should use Intel’s 11th generation or newer processors when designing new PCs to run this latest version of their operating system. The company stated that these newer processors meet essential security, reliability, and minimum system requirements for Windows 11.

Intel’s 11th generation processors were launched in 2020 and were phased out last year. Therefore, it would be quite unusual for OEMs to create new devices using older, unsupported chips. Many of these pre-11th generation processors have already been moved to a “legacy software support model” by Intel, making Microsoft’s decision to exclude them from the supported list very reasonable.

However, some users might find this change concerning. Just recently, processors from earlier generations were included in the supported CPUs for previous versions of Windows 11, specifically 22H2 and 23H2. This change to the list of supported CPUs raises questions about the hardware compatibility of slightly newer devices in users’ organizations and whether they will soon be outdated as well.

At the moment, the answer seems to be that older CPUs will still work fine with Windows 11. Microsoft has a detailed list of hardware compatibility requirements that users can refer to, and this list has not changed dramatically since it was made public, despite the negative reactions when the initial requirements were announced. Back in 2021, many people were unhappy to learn that upgrading from Windows 10 would not be an option for countless perfectly operational computers. Nevertheless, Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th generation processors are still deemed acceptable, provided that other criteria, like having a TPM 2.0 chip, are satisfied.

Although Microsoft has addressed several other questions, it has not yet provided a clear answer regarding whether this recent announcement might indicate an impending limitation on CPU support or if it is merely information for OEMs. The company has changed hardware requirements in the past, so many users are left hoping that no additional changes will be made in the future.