Because of these restrictions, many older CPUs simply can’t run Windows 11.

Windows 10 has finally reached its end of its life and users looking to buy a new or second-hand computer need to be careful.

Any PC without Windows 11 support will no longer receive updates, leaving it exposed to security risks and compatibility problems. Provided you’re running a good antivirus and anti-malware program that won’t be too much of an issue short term, but it will be down the line.

Windows 11 introduced stricter hardware requirements than any previous version of Microsoft’s operating system. This includes needing TPM 2.0 support, Secure Boot compatibility, and built-in security mitigations.