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PC health check says I'm eligible for windows 11 but update doesn't
I know windows 11 has a very strict hardware requirements so I ran the official PC Heath Check app and it tells me this PC is eligible to run Windows 11. When I went to the Windows update and it does not show any option for Windows 11 upgrade. My PC has a Intel 8th Gen CPU, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. How can I fix the PC health check says I'm eligible for windows 11 but Windows update doesn't issue?
8 Replies
I never paid attention to that. I just checked and found the same thing.
This is a common issue and you can follow some guide to upgrade to Windows 11 successfully.
You are not the first person to encounter this error "PC health check says i'm eligible for Windows 11 but Windows update doesn't ", don't worry. Adjusting Group Policy settings can sometimes help in scenarios where your PC is technically eligible for Windows 11, but Windows Update isn't offering the upgrade. This method is more advanced and typically used by IT professionals, but here's a simplified overview:
How to Use Group Policy if PC health check says i'm eligible for Windows 11 but Windows update doesn't:
1. Open Group Policy Editor:
Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Windows Update Settings:
Go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Windows Update for Business.
3. Configure the Policy:
Look for the setting called Select the target Feature Update version.
Double-click it and set it to Enabled.
In the options, specify the version you want, e.g., 21H2 or the specific Windows 11 version number.
4. Force the Update Check:
After applying the policy, run gpupdate /force in Command Prompt to refresh policies.
Then, check Windows Update again to see if the upgrade prompt appears.
Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 upgrades in phases, even to eligible hardware. Your PC might be in a later "wave." There could also be a minor driver or firmware conflict that the Health Check didn't catch, but Windows Update's more comprehensive scan did. This is the reason why you got this mistake of "PC health check says i'm eligible for Windows 11 but Windows update doesn't."
Your Best Action Plan: Registry Modification to Enable the Offer
This tells Windows Update your device is ready for Windows 11 and often triggers the upgrade offer.
Important: Create a system restore point before proceeding.
Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade
If the OSUpgrade key doesn't exist, right-click on WindowsUpdate → New → Key and name it OSUpgrade.
Right-click in the right pane → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name it AllowOSUpgrade and set its Value data to 1.
Right-click → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value again.
Name it ReservationsAllowed and set its Value data to 1.
Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.
Your PC hardware appears to meet the general requirements for Windows 11, and the PC Health Check tool confirms eligibility. However, it's common for Windows Update to not immediately offer the upgrade due to various reasons. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue if PC health check says i'm eligible for windows 11 but Windows update doesn't:
1. Ensure Windows is Fully Updated: Make sure your current Windows 10 installation is fully up to date. Sometimes, pending updates can delay the upgrade offer.
2. Check for Compatibility Updates: Microsoft periodically updates the PC Health Check app and compatibility requirements. Ensure you have the latest version.
3. Use the Installation Assistant: Microsoft offers a Windows 11 Installation Assistant tool that can help manually upgrade your PC. You can download it from the official Microsoft website.
4. Create a Bootable USB or ISO: If you prefer a clean install or the upgrade isn't appearing, you can create a bootable Windows 11 installer using the Media Creation Tool and install it manually.
5. Wait for the Update Rollout: Sometimes, the upgrade is phased and not immediately available to all eligible devices. Patience might be necessary.
6. Check for Specific Hardware Considerations: Despite passing the PC Health Check, certain features or firmware settings (like TPM or Secure Boot) might need to be enabled in BIOS.
Important: When PC health check says i'm eligible for windows 11 but Windows update doesn't. Make sure to back up your data before attempting any major upgrades or installations.
Some computer hardware does not support Windows 11, but there are ways to work around this limitation. While such workarounds can enable installation on inherently unsupported hardware, the system update functionality may become unusable due to known unresolved issues, resulting in updates being blocked.
Install all available updates
- Open Settings > Update Security > Windows Update, then click Check for updates.
nstall all available updates (including optional driver updates), and restart your computer as prompted.
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Locate the Windows Update troubleshooter and run it, applying any detected fixes.
Manually clear the update cache
Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following commands sequentially:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
- Then restart and check for updates again.
Advantages: Requires no third-party tools; leverages built-in system functions and commands to repair update caches and resolve common blocking issues. Low operational cost and high security.
Disadvantages: Only effective for system-level update failures. If the issue stems from hardware bypass restrictions or underlying driver conflicts, it cannot fully resolve update failure problems.
When PC Health Check says I'm eligible for Windows 11 but Update doesn't, restricted updates could result from some critical settings not meeting the necessary criteria. Please check each of the following items.
- TPM 2.0 is enabled: Press Win+R, type tpm.msc, and ensure “The TPM is ready for use” is displayed with “Specification Version” set to 2.0.
Secure Boot enabled: Press Win+R, type msinfo32. Secure Boot State must show On.
Sufficient storage space: At least 64GB of available space required (for a 512GB SSD, ensure sufficient free space on Drive C:).
UEFI firmware mode (not Legacy BIOS): In the msinfo32 window, “BIOS Mode” must display “UEFI”.
If any of the above conditions are not met, press F2/Del/F10 during startup to enter BIOS/UEFI settings. Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, then retry the upda
It’s a common, annoying problem: PC Health Check says I'm eligible for Windows 11 but Update doesn't. Your setup (Intel 8th gen processor, 16GB RAM, SSD) fully meets the criteria, but Windows Update has held off on the upgrade thanks to system policies, driver flagging, or phased rollouts. Fortunately, you can skip the wait and force the upgrade with an official Microsoft tool.
Visit the official Windows 11 download page.
Under the Windows 11 Installation Assistant section, click Download Now.
Run the downloaded Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file.
Accept the licence terms. The assistant will automatically verify your hardware (which should pass smoothly as the health check has already confirmed eligibility), then proceed to download and install Windows 11 directly.
This method serves as the official solution for scenarios where upgrade eligibility exists but the update feature is disabled. It offers the swiftest procedure while ensuring a secure upgrade process.
