Why My PC can't be upgraded to Windows 11 25H2?

If your PC does not meet Windows 11 system requirements, it won't be able to upgrade to the latest Windows 11 25H2 normally. Fortunately, the following is a very reliable workaround to help you run Windows 11 25H2 on almost all computers in a couple of minutes.

https://www.weboftips.com/upgrade-to-windows-11-25h2-on-any-pc

How to solve the problem of "Can't upgrade to Windows 11 25H2"? Such as the "SetupDiag" compatibility shim bypass. This method uses a hidden compatibility troubleshooting tool from Microsoft to create a "shim" that tricks the installer.

1. Download the Official ISO:
Get the official Windows 11 25H2 ISO from Microsoft's website. Use the Media Creation Tool to extract it to a folder on your desktop (e.g., C:\Win11_25H2).
2. Download and Run SetupDiag:

• Go to the official SetupDiag GitHub page and download the latest version. It's a standalone tool from
• Microsoft used to diagnose why setup fails.
• Run SetupDiag.exe from a Command Prompt (as Administrator). By default, it will analyze previous setup logs. Let it run.

3. Create a Custom Configuration File:

• SetupDiag works by reading a rules file. We can create a custom one. In the same folder as
• SetupDiag.exe, create a new text file and name it SetupDiag.exe.config.
• Paste the following XML content into it. This creates a custom rule that always reports a "compatible" status.

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <configuration> <configSections> <section name="SetupDiag" type="SetupDiag.SetupDiagSection, SetupDiag"/> </configSections> <SetupDiag> <Rules> <add name="ForceCompatCheckPass" type="SetupDiag.Rules.Bypass.CompatibilityBypass, SetupDiag" /> </Rules> </SetupDiag> </configuration>

4. Run the Upgrade from the Folder:

• Navigate to the C:\Win11_25H2 folder (or wherever you extracted the ISO).
• Right-click on setup.exe and select "Run as administrator".
• With SetupDiag and its custom config in the background, the Windows Setup process may inherit the "bypass" rule and skip the hardware compliance check, allowing the upgrade to proceed.

TPM 2.0 is also required for Windows 11 25H2. Fortunately, you can easily skip CPU and TPM 2.0 check by using a customized AutoUnattend.xml file.

AutoUnattend.xml is an XML script read automatically by Windows Setup during boot from installation media. It defines instructions for each setup phase. For example, which edition to install, product key, partition settings, user accounts, and regional preferences.

If placed in the root of a Windows installation USB and named AutoUnattend.xml, Windows Setup will detect it and follow the scripted responses instead of prompting the user. This is one the best ways to fix this PC can't be upgraded to Windows 11 25H2 issue.

How to use:

1. Create a Windows 11 USB (official ISO + Rufus or MediaCreationTool output).
2. Put the file below named autounattend.xml (exact name) in the root of the USB drive (not in any folder).
3. Boot the target PC from the USB and run setup — the file runs during Windows PE phase and writes the registry entries that skip the checks.
4. After install, confirm everything works and apply drivers/updates as needed.

Win11-Req-Bypass, an open-source PowerShell script on GitHub that automates registry and system tweaks to let Windows 11 install and receive some updates on machines Microsoft considers "unsupported." It’s basically an installer/updater bypass tool. It explicitly checks for hard CPU requirements (SSE4.2 / POPCNT / x86-64-v2 features) and will exit if the CPU lacks them as it cannot fake CPU microinstructions.

If the PC can't upgrade to Windows 11 25H2, then you can use this one line powershell command to this pc does not currently meet windows 11 system requirements error:

iwr -useb Win11_Bypass.ps1" | iex

Restart the computer and the pc will be upgraded to Windows 11 25H2 for sure.

Note: The script also tries to prevent Windows Updates from restoring blocked registry values by disabling automatic tasks. This should help ensure that major version upgrades continue to install normally. However, if Microsoft introduces new restrictions or makes major changes, I'll try to update the script accordingly.

The "23H2" version was the last to officially support your 7th-gen CPU with bypass methods. Starting with 24H2, Microsoft implemented a stricter hardware compliance check that is much harder to bypass for updates, which is why you can't upgrade to Windows 11.

You likely installed 24H2 using one of the bypass methods (like a registry edit or using a Media Creation Tool at the time which was less strict). Microsoft has now closed many of those loopholes for the in-place upgrade from 24H2 to 25H2 via Windows Update. Since the standard Windows Update path is blocked, you will need to use a clean installation method. Recommend: Use a Third-Party Tool.

1. Download the Windows 11 25H2 ISO file and the professional third-party software.
2. Run software, select your USB drive, and select the downloaded ISO.
3. A new window will appear. In the "Windows User experience" section, It has checkboxes to "Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account" and, most importantly, "Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0". Ensure this second box is checked.
4. Proceed to create the USB. When you boot from it, the hardware checks will be automatically bypassed.

Installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is considered an "unsupported" scenario by Microsoft. While it generally works fine, there is a non-zero chance that a future update could fail or cause instability. Your i5-7400 and 16GB RAM are perfectly capable of running Windows 11 well, so this is a relatively low-risk procedure if you can't upgrade to Windows 11 25H2, but it's crucial to be aware of the caveat.

Windows 11 25H is being rolled out as an final release package over Windows 11 version 24H2, rather than as a wholesale replacement. Because 25H2 shares the same "platform release" as 24H2, it doesn’t introduce major new features in many cases. However, there are some tightened rules around drivers and compatibility. For instance, kernel-mode drivers now have to be scanned by CodeQL to pass certain system checks.

As far as I know, Windows 11 25H2 requires processor with the following models:

Intel: Windows 11 officially supports Intel Core processors from the 8th generation and newer, including select Atom, Celeron, and Xeon W chips.

AMD: Windows 11 supports AMD Ryzen 2000 series (Zen+) and newer, as well as select EPYC and Athlon PRO processors.

Clearly, this cpu (Intel i5 7400) is not supported. This is why your PC can't be upgraded to Windows 11 25H2. You'd apply some workaround to fix this issue.

Your PC can't upgrade to Windows 11 25H2 primarily because of hardware compatibility requirements set by Microsoft for Windows 11. Based on the information you provided, the most significant factor is the absence of TPM 2.0, which is a key requirement for Windows 11 updates, especially for newer feature updates like 25H2.

Possible Solutions if can't upgrade to Windows 11 25H2:
1. Check Windows Update Settings:
    Sometimes, updates are rolled out gradually.
    You can use the Windows Update Troubleshooter or manually check for updates.
2. Use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant:
    Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
    It can force the upgrade, but it will still check for hardware compliance.
    If your PC is blocked due to hardware, the tool might still warn or prevent installation.
3. Bypass Hardware Checks (Not Recommended):
    Advanced users sometimes modify registry or use tools to bypass TPM and CPU checks.
    Risks: Potential instability, security issues, and unsupported scenarios.
    Method: Use scripts or modify registry keys like AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU.
4. Add a Fake TPM 2.0:
    Some users add a virtual TPM or modify the registry to trick Windows into thinking TPM 2.0 exists.
    This is complex and can cause security issues.

I think that's because of the TPM 2.0, it is a hard requirement for Windows 11 25H2. Also, the 8th Gen Intel or newer version is needed for full compatibility. Recheck the required configuration.