A flurry of inflammatory headlines this week insisted that Microsoft had 'raised the white flag' and would allow customers to upgrade old Windows 10 PCs to Windows 11. That's not true. Here's how the comedy of errors unfolded.

Microsoft’s minimum requirements for Windows 11 cover several hardware components, including having enough RAM and a powerful enough microprocessor. But the most contentious issue is whether a PC contains or supports a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), specifically version 2.0, released in 2014.

Microsoft says you can install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware but does not guarantee a stable experience.

Microsoft is planning to add watermarks and settings notifications on unsupported PCs running Windows 11 due to a lack of TPM 2.0.

Microsoft cites enhanced security and AI readiness as key reasons for maintaining strict hardware requirements in Windows 11 despite the potential user backlash.

With the end of Windows 10 support looming, Microsoft reiterates that the TPM 2.0 hardware requirement 'is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity' for security.

Several reports have indicated Microsoft is finally allowing Windows 11 to be installed on unsupported PCs. Unfortunately, those reports are false, and you will still need workarounds to bypass the hardware checks in the Windows 11 installer.

Microsoft has updated its list of deprecated features in Windows 11. The latest addition is Windows 11's "suggested actions" menu, which appears when you copy a phone number or date.

Microsoft now lets you install Windows 11 on unsupported devices, despite its previous insistence on the TPM 2.0 requirement.