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Microsoft reportedly blocks older PCs from Windows 11 preview

People with older PCs will still be able to download Windows 11 manually when it launches in October.

Dashia Milden Writer
Dashia is a staff writer for CNET Money who covers all angles of personal finance, including credit cards and banking. From reviews to news coverage, she aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their money. Dashia was previously a staff writer at NextAdvisor, where she covered credit cards, taxes, banking B2B payments. She has also written about safety, home automation, technology and fintech.
Dashia Milden
2 min read
Windows 11 screenshot.

Windows 11 is scheduled to be released on Oct. 5.

Screenshot by Josh Goldman/CNET

Some Microsoft users participating in the company's program to test Windows 11 are going to have to wait until October to spend more time with the new operating system. On Wednesday, Microsoft booted older PCs with unsupported hardware from the Windows Insider preview of Windows 11, reported PCWorld

Microsoft reportedly blocked users with older computers due to hardware and security requirements. The Windows Insider program participants received a message in their computer settings that their PC doesn't meet hardware requirements, according to PCWorld. They were reportedly given the option to install Windows 10 to stay in the Insider program. 

The announcement comes after Microsoft's blog post last week detailing Windows 11 requirements and the re-release of the PC Health Check app. If you have an older Insider PC, you'll still be able to download Windows 11 when it's released to the general public. However, you won't be entitled to security and software updates. According to Microsoft's announcement, older PCs are 52% more likely to crash, but newer computers reportedly have a 99.8% "crash-free experience." 

Watch this: Windows 11: Will your computer be able to run it? What to know

But if your computer meets the Windows 11 requirements and you're still getting the message that your computer doesn't meet those requirements, it could be for two other reasons. Microsoft noted that TPM 2.0, a security and encryption processor, may not be enabled or supported on your computer. Or it could be that your computer's processor isn't supported. If neither works, your computer may not be compatible after all. 

Windows 11 is scheduled to be released on Oct. 5. Microsoft will support Windows 10 until Oct. 14, 2025. 

Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Watch this: Windows 11 gets a release date, iPhone 13 could get emergency satellite connectivity