Microsoft Corrects Mistake on Windows 11 Support Stickers for Intels 8th to 10th Gen CPUs

Microsoft has acknowledged that it mistakenly limited its internal classification supporting Windows 11 for new PC builds featuring Intel processors from the 8th, 9th, and 10th generations from OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and ODMs (Original Device Manufacturers). The revised processor support list for Windows 11 24H2 now officially includes Intel CPU models from the 8th through 12th generations and newer, allowing PCs and laptops from manufacturers like HP and Lenovo to obtain certification stickers indicating Windows 11 compatibility.

On February 27, Microsoft updated the page to reflect the Intel processor models that meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. This update is aimed at OEMs and ODMs to make them aware that the listed CPUs can be utilized in new Windows 11 devices. An earlier update on February 13, 2025, contained incomplete information, which has since been corrected to include the addition of 8th, 9th, and 10th generation Intel processors, along with some reclassification of other models for Windows 11 support.

Previously, Microsoft had restricted the issuance of Windows 11 certification stickers for new PC builds with Intel 8th, 9th, and 10th generation CPUs from OEM and ODM manufacturers.

The company clarified that the lists of supported processors for OEMs are continuously updated to recommend newer processors, like those from the 12th generation, for building new PCs. This practice has also been seen with previous Windows versions such as 7, 8.1, and 10, and now for Windows 11. Microsoft stated that the core processor requirements have not changed and that they will not block the installation of Windows 11 24H2 on any device, even if it is not officially supported or recommended.

For users who already own PCs with older processors, there will be no issues with upgrading to Windows 11, provided they sign a waiver acknowledging any potential risks that may arise from installing the new operating system on older hardware. However, if manufacturers produce new PCs using older processors, including Intel chips from the 8th to 10th generations, those builds will not receive official support from Microsoft for the latest version of Windows 11.

Microsoft has indicated that Windows 11 will only support processors that ensure security and reliability. Users running Windows 11 on older hardware are encouraged to upgrade to more modern equipment to take advantage of updates, including moving to Windows 11 24H2 and future versions.

Starting with the test version of Windows 11 24H2 build 26080 (including server builds), a processor with full support for the SSE4.2 instruction set is required for installation. Previously discovered workarounds for installation on IoT Enterprise LTSC have also ceased to function. This essentially means that Windows 11 24H2 cannot be run on Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon processors (including AMD Opteron Barcelona with SSE4a support), requiring users to acquire new PCs.

In February 2024, with the new test build of Windows 11 24H2 build 26058, Microsoft confirmed the requirement for CPU support of the PopCnt instruction (Population count — which counts the number of bits set to 1, part of the SSE4.2 set for Intel or Advanced Bit Manipulation (ABM) for AMD), which is lacking in older CPUs. If a user attempts to boot Windows 11 24H2 on a PC with a processor that does not support the PopCnt instruction, the system fails to start and hangs on the Windows logo screen during boot.