Windows 11: Microsoft still tightens the screw on compatible processors, here is the list
Microsoft has discreetly updated its processor compatibility list for Windows 11 24h2excluding Intel models prior to the 11th generation for manufacturers of new PCs. A decision that arouses questions about the future of the material support of the bone.
A predictable restriction, but which worries
Windows 11 24H2 has been available for several monthsbut Microsoft felt the need, in February, to specify that manufacturers will imperatively have to use 11th generation or more recent processors. Depending on the company, these chips respect its security and reliability requirements better.
If this limitation concerns only the new PCs sold with Windows 11, it reflects a broader trend: the progressive exclusion of old processors. The 11th generation intel chips were released in 2020 and have not been produced since last year. It would therefore be surprising that OEMs still use older models for freshly assembled machines.
Here are the intel processors compatible with Windows 11 24h2:
- 11ᵉ generation (Tiger Lake)
- 12ᵉ generation (Alder Lake)
- 13ᵉ generation (Raptor Lake)
- 14ᵉ generation (Meteor Lake)
Compatible AMD processors:
- Ryzen series 3000 and later
- 2ᵉ generation and subsequent Epyc series
Compatible Qualcomm processors:
- Snapdragon X Plus
- Snapdragon x Elite
A warning sign of future exclusions?
This change poses a wider question: must this machine owners equipped with older processors expect to be dismissed from future updates? For the moment, the configurations which met the criteria of Windows 11 22h2 and 11:2 p.m. still seem compatible. Microsoft maintains an official list material compatibility which has not been modified for existing users.
If Microsoft decides to downgrade certain processors in the next major updates, millions of computers could be pushed towards obsolescence faster than expected. Let us recall, at the same time, that Windows 10 support stop is still maintained for October 2025.
