The day has come! Microsoft has begun the necessary process of kicking out PCs that do not support Windows 11 out of the Insider program, informing these users that they are not eligible for the OS.
Instead, they should go back to Windows 10.
Users have been enjoying Windows 11 on unsupported machines via the Windows Insider Program, as this is one of the easiest ways for these folks to get their hands on the upcoming operating system. Even if their underlying hardware was not up to snuff with the minimum system requirements.
However, they will be unhappy to know that Redmond has started kicking out such configurations.
People running the OS on non-compliant computers are now seeing the following notifications via Windows Update:
“Your PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. Your device is not eligible to join the Windows Insider Program on Windows 11. Please install Windows 10 to participate in the Windows Insider Program in the Release Preview Channel.”
Presumably, this also means that these folks will also not be able to receive the next Windows 11 Insider preview builds due to their machines being unsupported.
None of this is entirely unexpected.
When Microsoft unveiled Windows 11 on June 24, it announced that while everyone is invited for the time being, PCs not meeting the minimum hardware requirements for the OS will not be eligible for preview builds on both the Beta and Release Preview channels.
Meanwhile, Dev channel users would only be allowed to receive builds until the general availability of Windows 11, which we now know is set for October 5.
These users would have to go back to Windows 10, the process of which has now begun.
Now, while Microsoft may be removing unsupported hardware from the Insider Preview, it is interesting to note that the company has left an entry path open for enthusiasts. A loophole of sorts allows an update to Windows 11 using ISOs, though this is not officially supported by the software titan.
