Bypass TPM on Windows 11 While Upgrading with Unsupported Hardware [Guide]

Microsoft introduced several hardware requirements with Windows 11, including TPM 2.0, supported processors, Secure Boot capability, and minimum memory and storage requirements. These requirements can prevent an older computer from upgrading through the normal Windows installation process.

If your computer works well but Windows 11 Setup stops because TPM 2.0 is missing or not detected, you may be able to bypass the TPM compatibility check during an upgrade. This allows Windows Setup to continue even though the computer does not meet Microsoft’s standard hardware requirements.

Before proceeding, it is important to understand what this method does. A TPM bypass does not install TPM 2.0 on your computer. Instead, it prevents Windows Setup from stopping the installation because it cannot detect the required TPM.

An unsupported installation can have limitations. Microsoft does not guarantee that unsupported devices will receive all future updates or support, and hardware compatibility can vary. 

Therefore, back up your important files before beginning the upgrade.

Bypass TPM on Windows 11 While Upgrading with Unsupported Hardware

To bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement during a Windows 11 upgrade, download the appropriate Windows 11 ISO and start setup.exe from within Windows. When Setup blocks the upgrade because of unsupported hardware, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup. Create a key named LabConfig, then create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named BypassTPMCheck and set its value to 1. Close Registry Editor and Command Prompt, then return to Windows Setup and continue the upgrade. 

This bypasses the TPM check but does not add TPM 2.0 to the computer.

Step 1: Check Whether TPM 2.0 Is Actually Available

Before bypassing TPM, check whether your computer already has a compatible TPM that is simply disabled.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type tpm.msc and press Enter.

The TPM Management window will open. If you see a message indicating that a compatible TPM cannot be found, your computer may not have TPM available, or TPM may be disabled in the UEFI firmware.

If Windows reports that TPM is available and shows Specification Version 2.0, your computer may already meet the TPM requirement. In that situation, a bypass may not be necessary.

You can also check the firmware settings of your computer for options such as TPM, Intel PTT, or AMD fTPM. The exact name depends on the processor and motherboard manufacturer.

Step 2: Check the Other Windows 11 Requirements

TPM is only one of the Windows 11 hardware requirements.

Open Microsoft’s Windows 11 compatibility information or use PC Health Check to determine why your computer is being rejected.

Check whether the problem involves TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, the processor, or another requirement.

This is important because bypassing TPM alone will not necessarily allow the upgrade if Windows Setup stops for another reason.

If your computer supports TPM 2.0 but it is disabled, enabling it in UEFI may be preferable to bypassing the requirement.

Step 3: Back Up Your Important Files

Before modifying Windows Setup or upgrading an unsupported computer, create a backup.

Copy important documents, photographs, videos, downloads, work files, and other personal data to an external drive or another secure location.

If the computer contains particularly important information, consider creating a complete system image as well.

Although an in-place upgrade is designed to preserve your files and applications when the appropriate option is selected, unexpected problems can occur. A backup gives you a way to recover important information if the upgrade does not complete successfully.

Step 4: Check Your Windows Edition and Activation

If you are upgrading an existing Windows installation, check your current edition before starting.

Open Settings > System > About and look at the Windows edition.

For example, your computer may be running Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.

You should also confirm that Windows is activated. On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Activation.

Knowing your existing edition is useful because you should normally install the corresponding Windows 11 edition during an upgrade.

Step 5: Download the Windows 11 ISO

For an in-place upgrade, obtain the appropriate Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s official Windows download source.

An ISO file contains the Windows installation files in a single image. You can use it directly from Windows without creating a bootable USB drive.

After the ISO has finished downloading, locate it in File Explorer.

Right-click the ISO file and select Mount.

Windows will create a virtual DVD drive. Open that drive and find the file named setup.exe.

Do not boot the computer from the ISO if your goal is an in-place upgrade that preserves your existing Windows environment. Start Setup from within your current Windows installation.

Step 6: Start Windows 11 Setup

Open the mounted ISO and double-click setup.exe.

Windows Setup will begin preparing the upgrade.

Follow the initial instructions until Windows checks your computer’s compatibility.

If your computer is rejected because it does not meet the TPM requirement, keep the Setup window open.

The next step allows you to open Windows’ administrative tools while Setup is running.

Step 7: Open Command Prompt During Setup

Press Shift + F10 on your keyboard.

A Command Prompt window should appear.

On some laptops, you may need to press Fn + Shift + F10, depending on the function-key configuration.

Command Prompt gives you access to Registry Editor while Windows Setup is running.

At the prompt, type:

regedit

Press Enter.

The Registry Editor window should open.

Registry Editor controls important Windows configuration settings, so avoid changing anything other than the entries described in this guide.

Step 8: Navigate to the Setup Registry Key

In Registry Editor, look at the navigation panel on the left.

Open the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup

Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then SYSTEM, and finally select Setup.

You should now see the contents of the Setup registry key in the right-hand pane.

This is where you will create a temporary configuration key for the Windows 11 Setup compatibility checks.

Step 9: Create the LabConfig Key

Right-click the Setup key.

Select New, then choose Key.

Name the new key:

LabConfig

Press Enter.

Select the new LabConfig key.

You will now create the value that tells Windows Setup to skip its TPM compatibility check.

Step 10: Create BypassTPMCheck

With LabConfig selected, right-click an empty area in the right-hand pane.

Choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Name the new value:

BypassTPMCheck

Press Enter.

Double-click BypassTPMCheck.

A small window will appear with a Value data field.

Enter:

1

Make sure Hexadecimal is selected under Base, then select OK.

The value of BypassTPMCheck should now be displayed as 0x00000001 (1).

This tells the Windows 11 installer to bypass its TPM compatibility check.

It does not create TPM 2.0, enable a missing TPM, or change the physical capabilities of your computer.

Step 11: Add Other Bypass Values Only When Required

If Windows Setup also reports that the computer fails another hardware requirement, additional compatibility checks may prevent the upgrade.

For example, if the installer specifically stops because of Secure Boot, you can create another DWORD under LabConfig named:

BypassSecureBootCheck

Set its value to:

1

If the installer specifically rejects the processor, another value sometimes used is:

BypassCPUCheck

Set its value to:

1

Only create these additional values when the corresponding requirement is preventing Setup from continuing.

Bypassing additional checks does not make the hardware officially supported. It only tells the installer not to stop at those particular checks.

Step 12: Close Registry Editor and Command Prompt

After creating the required registry value, close Registry Editor.

Then close the Command Prompt window.

You should return to the Windows 11 Setup screen.

There is normally no need to restart the computer at this stage. The purpose of making the registry change during Setup is to allow the installer to continue its compatibility process.

Step 13: Continue With the Windows 11 Upgrade

Return to the Windows 11 Setup window and continue the installation.

If the TPM check was the reason the upgrade was blocked, Setup should now be able to move beyond that particular requirement.

When Windows asks what you want to keep, carefully review the available choices.

If you want to perform an in-place upgrade, select Keep personal files and apps when that option is available.

Do not select an option that removes your applications or personal files unless you intentionally want a clean installation.

Before selecting Install, review the final installation screen carefully.

Step 14: Allow Windows Setup to Finish

Once the upgrade begins, leave the computer alone while Windows installs the new operating system.

If you are using a laptop, connect it to its power adapter.

The computer may restart several times. This is normal during a Windows upgrade.

Do not manually turn off the computer or disconnect its power while Windows is installing.

The amount of time required depends on your computer’s processor, storage device, existing Windows installation, and the amount of data that needs to be migrated.

Step 15: Verify Windows 11 After the Upgrade

After Windows 11 starts, allow it a few minutes to finish its initial setup.

Press Windows + R, type:

winver

and press Enter.

The About Windows window should display the installed Windows version.

You can also open Settings > System > About to check your Windows edition and system information.

Test important hardware such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio, graphics, USB devices, printers, and external displays.

Unsupported computers can sometimes experience driver or compatibility issues after an upgrade, so checking these functions is worthwhile.

Step 16: Check Windows Update and Device Manager

Open Settings > Windows Update and check for available updates.

Then open Device Manager. You can do this by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager.

Look for devices with a yellow warning icon.

A warning icon may indicate that Windows does not have a suitable driver for that hardware.

If necessary, obtain drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s official support page.

Keep in mind that Microsoft does not provide the same support guarantees for Windows 11 installations on unsupported hardware as it does for supported configurations.

FAQs

Can I install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0?

Windows 11 officially requires TPM 2.0 for supported configurations. However, the Windows Setup compatibility check can sometimes be bypassed, allowing installation on hardware that does not meet that requirement.

Does BypassTPMCheck install TPM 2.0?

No. BypassTPMCheck only prevents Windows Setup from stopping because of its TPM check. It does not add TPM 2.0 hardware or create a virtual TPM.

Should I bypass TPM if my computer already has TPM 2.0?

Usually, no. If your computer has a compatible TPM that is simply disabled, check your UEFI settings and enable the appropriate TPM feature instead of bypassing the requirement.

Can I bypass the Windows 11 CPU requirement?

A processor compatibility check can sometimes be bypassed using the BypassCPUCheck registry value during Setup. However, doing this does not make the processor officially supported.

Will bypassing TPM delete my files?

The TPM bypass itself does not delete personal files. If you perform an in-place upgrade and select Keep personal files and apps, Windows Setup is designed to preserve them. Nevertheless, you should always back up important files before upgrading.

Will Windows Update work after bypassing TPM?

Windows Update may continue to work, but Microsoft does not guarantee update availability or support for Windows 11 installations on unsupported hardware. The behavior can vary between devices and Windows releases.

Can I use this method for a clean installation?

This guide focuses on an in-place upgrade from an existing Windows installation. A clean installation follows a different process and can remove applications, settings, and personal files.

What if Windows still says my PC is unsupported?

Check the exact requirement causing the block. If TPM is enabled and the bypass was created correctly, another requirement may be stopping Setup. Verify the registry path, the spelling of BypassTPMCheck, and that its value is set to 1.

Summary

The TPM 2.0 requirement can prevent older computers from upgrading to Windows 11 through the normal installation process. If the computer lacks TPM 2.0 or cannot meet the requirement, Windows Setup may sometimes be allowed to continue by creating the LabConfig registry key and adding the BypassTPMCheck DWORD with a value of 1.

The process involves checking your hardware first, backing up important files, obtaining the Windows 11 ISO, starting setup.exe from within Windows, opening Command Prompt with Shift + F10, launching Registry Editor with regedit, and creating the required registry entry.

If Secure Boot or the processor requirement also prevents the installation, additional compatibility values may be required. These should only be used when those specific checks are blocking Setup.

Most importantly, bypassing TPM does not make unsupported hardware officially supported. It only allows the Windows 11 installer to move past a compatibility check. 

After upgrading, check Windows Update, Device Manager, drivers, and your computer’s important hardware functions to make sure everything continues to work correctly.