9 Things to Try If Windows 11 Installation Has Failed

Plus a list of upgrade requirements

Does your PC display a “Windows 11 installation has failed” error when you try upgrading to Windows 11? This error can be caused by outdated or corrupt graphics drivers, insufficient storage space, or interference from third-party software.

Your computer will also display this error if it doesn’t meet Windows 11 upgrade requirements. Before we highlight potential troubleshooting fixes for this error, let’s run you through Windows 11 software and hardware requirements.

Windows 11 Upgrade Requirements

If you’re running Windows 10, use the PC Health Check to access your PC’s compatibility with Windows 11. The app checks all Windows 11 requirements except for graphics card and display compatibility. Here’s a brief rundown of important Windows 11 system requirements:

How to Use the PC Health Check App

Download and install the PC Health Check app from Microsoft’s website. Launch the app and select theCheck nowbutton on the dashboard.

The PC Health Check app will run a quick scan to verify that your computer’s hardware and software configuration meets Windows 11 system requirements. If there are Windows 11 requirements your PC doesn’t satisfy, you’ll see them in the scan results.

SelectSee all resultsto view the requirements your PC meets.

Running the PC Health Check scan can help narrow down troubleshooting areas when dealing with Windows 11 installation failures.

1. Unplug External Devices

Leaving USB drives connected to your PC can interrupt the Windows installation process. If any storage devices are connected to your computer, unplug them and try installing Windows 11 again.

2. Update Windows

Your computer must be running at least Windows 10, version 2004 to install a Windows 11 update. Microsoft recommends having all driver and security updates installed on your PC before upgrading to Windows 11.

First, make sure your PC is connected to the internet. Go toSettings>Updates & Security>Windows Updates, and selectCheck for updates. Install any update available on the page, and then try installing Windows 11 again.

3. Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Software

Some third-party antivirus apps have components that can interfere with Windows 11 installation. If you have any non-Windows antivirus tools on your PC, remove them and reattempt the Windows 11 installation or upgrade.

Refer to our article onuninstalling Avast, AVG, and other antivirus softwarein Windows 10.

4. Uninstall Old and Non-Essential Apps

Microsoft also warns that old oroutdated software can interrupt the Windows 11 upgradeprocess.

Restart your computer after removing non-essential apps and retry the Windows 11 upgrade.

5. Free Up Storage Space

Windows 11 requires at least 64 GB of storage (see–How Much Space Windows 11 Uses). The “Windows 11 installation has failed” installation error may pop up if your PC’s storage is less than required. We recommend having 70–90 GB of free storage, however, just to be on the safe side.

If your PC has less than 64 GB of storage, check out15 ways to free up hard drive space in Windows 10. You’ll also find this tutorial oncreating more hard disk space in Windows 10helpful.

6. Update Your Graphics Card Driver

A corrupt or outdated graphics driver can also mess up Windows 11 installation. Update your PC’s graphics card driver to the latest version and re-attempt the Windows upgrade.

Note that automatically updating a driver requires an internet connection. So, make sure your PC is connected to a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.

7. Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

Trusted Platform Moduleversion 2.0 (TPM 2.0) is an essential requirement for running Windows 11. The TPM 2.0 component offers privacy and security-related features (Windows Hello, BitLocker, etc.) on Windows devices. It also protects against malware and stores security credentials like encryption keys, certificates, passwords, etc.

On the other hand, Secure Boot is a Windows security feature that stops malicious software from loading when your PC boots up.

You can’t install Windows 11 if TPM 2.0 andSecure Boot are disabledon your computer. Or if your PC doesn’t support TPM 2.0.

Although TPM is always enabled by default in Windows, it’s sometimes disabled on motherboards used tobuild custom PCs. Follow the steps below to verify the TPM compatibility status of your Windows 10 computer.

According to Microsoft, most PCs released in 2017 or later can support TPM 2.0. Here’s how to check if your device supports the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version required to run Windows 11:

Alternatively, typedevice securityin the Windows Search bar and select theDevice security“System settings” option.

If you don’t see a “Security processor” section, your PC either doesn’t support TPM, or the module is disabled. Check the following section to learn how to enable TPM on your PC.

You can also check TPM compatibility from Trusted Platform Module Management software–a standalone app for customizing and managing TPM in Windows.

PressWindows key+R, typetpm.mscin the dialog box, and pressEnter.

Expand theStatusmenu and make sure it reads, “The TPM is ready for use.” You should also expand theTPM Manufacturer Informationmenu to check your PC’s TPM “Specification Version.”

If TPM is disabled, proceed to the next section to learn how to turn the module back on. But if your PC uses TPM version 1.2, upgrade to a TPM v2.0 computer to use Windows 11.

If you don’t find the “UEFI Firmware Settings” option on the page, your PC isn’t TPM-enabled.

If TPM is disabled, pressEnter, selectEnabledusing your keyboard arrow keys, and pressEnteragain.

Try installing the Windows 11 update again when your computer comes back on.

8. Troubleshoot or Clear Your PC’s TPM

Depending on your PC’s hardware configuration, you may need to clear its TPM before installing a new operating system. Performing a TPM reset ensures that the new OS (i.e., Windows 11) can correctly deploy all TPM-related functionalities. Reset your PC’s TPM if all troubleshooting recommendations

Note:Clearing your PC’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM) can result in data loss. All data and keys (e.g., BitLocker recovery key, sign-in PIN, etc.) encrypted in the TPM are removed. We don’t recommend clearing the TPM of a work PC, school computer, or devices you don’t own. Also, make sure youback up data encrypted by the TPM.

Windows has a dedicated app for customizing and managing the Trusted Platform Module Management app. Here’s how to use the app to reset your PC’s TPM:

9. Bypass TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot Checks

If the “Windows 11 installation has failed” error persists, bypass the TPM and Secure Boot checks for Windows 11 installation. Head to the Windows Registry and configure your PC to skip TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot verifications.

Note:Deleting essential system files in the Windows Registry can break your computer. We strongly recommendbacking up your PC’s registrybefore making changes to the registry.

Get Professional Support

If the error persists, tryinstalling Windows 11 using a bootable USB driveinstead. You should also try using theWindows 11 Media Creation Tool. Contact Microsoft Support or your PC’s manufacturer if you still can’t install Windows 11.

Sodiq has written thousands of tutorials, guides, and explainers over the past 4 years to help people solve problems with Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows devices. He also enjoys reviewing consumer tech products (smartphones, smart home devices, accessories, etc.) and binge-watching comedy series in his spare time.Read Sodiq’s Full Bio

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