How to update Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2 on unsupported PC?

Updating from Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2 introduces several enhancements that improve user experience, system performance, and security. However, it requires bypassing Windows 11 system requirements. You can achieve it by changing the registry entries.

Indeed, Windows 11 24H2 has strengthened the system requirement check. For old PCs like yours that do not have TPM 2.0 and CPU that does not support it, the official will not push updates, so you can only upgrade manually. However, you don’t need to do a clean installation. You can completely upgrade Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2 in-place. As long as you use the right method, your data and software can be retained.

Here is a command line method to bypass restrictions. No third-party tools are required. You can directly use Microsoft's official Windows 11 24H2 ISO for upgrade installation.

Step 1: Download Windows 11 24H2 ISO

• Visit Microsoft's official page and download the latest Windows 11 24H2 ISO (you can use the F12 console to disguise as Linux to get a direct link).
• After the download is complete, right-click the ISO file, select Mount, and then write down the drive letter of the virtual optical drive, such as D:.

Step 2: Modify the registry to bypass TPM and CPU restrictions
    Win + R Enter regedit and press Enter to open the registry editor.

• Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup

Right-click in the blank space on the right → Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value and name it:

AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU

Double-click it, change the value to 1, and then close the registry.

Step 3: Start the upgrade using the command line
Win + X, open Terminal (Administrator mode) or PowerShell (Administrator).
Enter the installation directory of Windows 11 24H2 ISO (assuming the virtual optical drive is D:):

D:
cd setup

Directly run the upgrade command that bypasses hardware detection:

setup.exe /product server /compact ignore /noreboot /auto upgrade /dynamicupdate disable

Here /auto upgrade allows it to keep files and software, and /dynamicupdate disable allows it to check system requirements without connecting to the Internet and upgrade directly.

This method successfully bypasses TPM 2.0 and CPU restrictions by modifying the registry + command line installation, and upgrades Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2 in-place, without lossy upgrades, without USB, and without third-party tools. In this way, you can keep your old PC using the latest Windows 11 version, saving the trouble of reinstalling, safe and clean!

The hardware is pretty cheap now and you can buy used parts to meet all the system requirements demanded by Windows 11. One good example is:

• CPU: Intel i5-12400F
• Motherboard B660M-MORTAR WIFI II
• RAM: DDR4 16GB×2 (6000MHz)
• SSD:  PCIe 4.0 NVMe 1TB

By the way, there are a couple of things you should pay attention to after you have updated Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2. This will have a more smooth experience with Windows 11 24H2 on unsupported hardware.

1. Update device drivers: Visit the motherboard/graphics card manufacturer's website to download 24H2-compatible drivers. Use DDU tool to uninstall the old NVIDIA/AMD driver and install the new version.

2. Activate Windows 11: If the original hardware supports 22H2 but not 24H2, you need to purchase Windows 11 Professional/Enterprise . 

3. Performance optimization: Disable unnecessary startup services in msconfig. Use dxdiag to check if the GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (new in 24H2).

It becomes more challenging to upgrade Windows 11 on an unsupported hardware because of new hardware requirements. You can use the DISM command to do that.

1. Get the latest Windows 11 24H2 ISO file from Microsoft official website.

2. Use the official tool to make the ISO into a USB boot disc (select USB device→ISO file→Partitioning mode select GPT+UEFI).

3. Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start menu → Windows Terminal → Administrator).
Execute the following command to repair the system:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
DISM /Online /Apply-Package /PackagePath:C:\sources\install.wim /Index:1

4. Ensure that the computer is connected to the Internet (you need to download the update package). Enter the following command to force the deployment of the 24H2 system files:

5. Wait for the progress to complete (may take more than 30 minutes depending on the network speed).

6. When finished, type exit to exit the command prompt and the system will reboot automatically.

After entering the Windows installation interface: Select language → Next → 'Keep files and upgrade'.

This is a very simple to upgrade or update Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2 on unsupported PC. Please backup your data first!

If you're thinking about updating Windows 11 from 22H2 to 24H2 on an unsupported PC, there are definitely some things to keep in mind to avoid turning your upgrade into a headache. Here’s what I learned from my own experiences (and some that I’ve seen others go through):

1. Check if your hardware really can handle the new stuff. Unsupported PCs might run into compatibility issues that could lead to crashes or weird bugs. 
2. If your PC is on the unsupported list, the update might make it chug along a bit slower than it used to. I remember feeling like my PC was starting to play a game of sluggish hide-and-seek after an update where it struggled to keep up with the new demands. Be ready for that possibility!
3. After upgrading Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2, your existing drivers might go haywire. This happened to me—my graphics card driver went rogue, and I faced massive display issues. Make sure to have a backup of your drivers or know where to download the latest versions in case things go sideways post-update.

Steps to Upgrade Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2 on Unsupported Hardware:

1. Download Windows 11 24H2 ISO:
Visit the Microsoft website or a trusted third-party source to download the Windows 11 24H2 ISO file.

2. Modify the ISO:

• If you want to bypass hardware checks, you may need to edit the ISO file. You can use tools like Rufus or NTlite to modify the ISO when creating a bootable USB stick or just extract it.
• Alternatively, after mounting the ISO, navigate to the sources folder within the ISO and locate the appraiserres.dll file. Replace it with a modified version (you may find a pre-modified one online, but be very careful where you download from).

3. Mount the ISO:
Right-click on the downloaded ISO file and select "Mount."

4. Run Setup.exe:

• Navigate to the mounted ISO drive in File Explorer.
• Locate and run setup.exe.

5. Choose Upgrade Option:
When the setup begins, choose the option to keep personal files and apps. Follow the prompts presented by the setup wizard.

6. Complete Upgrade Process:
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. The system will restart several times during this process.

7. Post-Installation Checks:

• After you update Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2, check that all your applications and files are intact.
• Review any issues or errors that may arise due to the unsupported hardware.