Windows 11 can be tricked to run on older PCs, but that seems a pointless endeavour because Microsoft is refusing to guarantee access to feature and security updates.

But if you have a modern PC and choose to run an older operating system, then you can first get a free Windows 10 upgrade and use that to then jump to Windows 11. If you run Windows 7 / 8 it is highly unlikely your computer meets all these requirements.

Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver.

Security: Enable TPM 2.0, UEFI firmware and Secure Boot capable on your PC.

CPU: 1 GHz or faster with two or more cores.

Our stories may contain affiliate links for products/apps where Neowin is paid an affiliate fee if you complete a purchase via those links. According to Microsoft, those keys can only be used on the original hardware on which they were sold. Update: We have updated the article to remove mention of OEM license stickers. You can download free Windows 11 virtual machines from the official Microsoft website. After that, Microsoft will release a newer version, giving everyone an option to keep using Windows 11 on a VM for free.

The current version of the official virtual machines from Microsoft will operate without prompting you to enter a license key until February 7, 2023. They are available for free and can work for several months without activation. Those using other operating systems and wanting to try what Windows 11 offers can try the official virtual machines supplied by Microsoft. Enter your Windows 7 key and wait for Windows 11 to activate.Go to System > Activation and click Change Product Code.Once everything is set up and ready, connect your computer or virtual machine to the Internet and launch the Settings app.

Click 'I do not have a key' to skip this step (you may get an error when using a Windows 7 key on this step). Windows 11 will prompt you to enter a license key before installing.Create a Windows 11 bootable drive using Rufus or the Media Creation Tool and install the OS locally or on a virtual machine.

Windows 7 upgrade key