Any Surface system that is older than three years would possibly be in hazard of no longer being ready to offer a boost to to Home windows 11. Blame Microsoft’s new hardware requirements.

microsoft surface devices lineup june 2018

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About half of of Microsoft’s Surface lineup would possibly be ineligible to offer a boost to to Home windows 11, the firm confirmed Thursday after announcing the new working system.

When PCWorld requested which Surface devices would be eligible for Home windows 11, a Microsoft representative spoke back by ability of email with the names of factual 5 legacy devices, besides to essentially the most modern revisions of each and each of Microsoft’s Surface lineup. Up to now, Microsoft has shipped twenty-5 various Surface models, excluding the Surface Duo.

Microsoft didn’t comment on why it was excluding a host of its Surface devices from Home windows 11, however the reason probably corresponds with the minimum Home windows 11 hardware requirements listed earlier this day, and possibly the necessity for a TPM 2.0 coprocessor. 

Of the 25 Surface system families that Microsoft has shipped so a long way, completely 13 would possibly be eligible for Home windows 11. Most of Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablets received’t be eligible for an give a boost to. Microsoft didn’t list the Surface Hub or Surface Studio amongst those eligible for an give a boost to, both. Simply set, while you happen to comprise a Surface system that was shipped sooner than 2017, chances are your system received’t be eligible for the Home windows 11 give a boost to.

“The next devices meet the minimum hardware requirements to verify Home windows 11 by becoming a member of the Home windows Insider Program,” the Microsoft representative stated in an announcement. Possibilities can use the PC Smartly being Check app to search for if their system meets the minimum system requirements, she added.

The Surfaces that will per chance give a boost to to Home windows 11

In accordance with Microsoft, the Surface devices that are eligible to offer a boost to to Home windows 11 embody the next list. We’ve added each and each system’s free up date in parentheses.

  • Surface E-book 3 (Could possibly per chance moreover 2020)
  • Surface E-book 2: completely the models with eighth-gen Intel CPUs (Core i5-8350U or Core i7-8650U, no longer the Core i5-7300U) (Nov. 2017)
  • Surface Go 2 (Could possibly per chance moreover 2020)
  • Surface Computer computer 4 13.5” (Apr. 2021)
  • Surface Computer computer 4 15” (Apr. 2021)
  • Surface Computer computer 3 13.5” (Oct. 2019)
  • Surface Computer computer 3 15” (Oct. 2019)
  • Surface Computer computer 2 (Oct. 2018)
  • Surface Computer computer Go (Oct. 2020)
  • Surface Pro 7+ (Feb. 2021)
  • Surface Pro 7 (Oct. 2019)
  • Surface Pro 6 (Oct. 2018)
  • Surface Pro X (Nov. 2019)

Separately, PCWorld has begun attempting out our Surface devices readily available to search for whether they conform to the Home windows 11 requirements.

surface pro 3 fail windows 11 compatibility check microsoft Gordon Mah Ung / IDG

PCWorld’s Surface Pro 3 unit failed the Home windows 11 compatibility take a look at.

Gordon Mah Ung examined the Surface Pro 3, the system that set the Surface Pro lineup on the scheme, and chanced on that it did not pass Microsoft’s compatibility checker.

While Microsoft has implied that you just’ll wish to offer a boost to to Home windows 11 with these frigid, surprising Home windows 11 capabilities, it’s also implied that you just’ll maintain hundreds of time to support engaged on Home windows 10 while you happen to’d love. Home windows 10 will exit of fortify and into “retirement” in 2025. Tranquil, for a PC industry that thrives on supporting legacy devices, it’s disappointing—specifically while you happen to’ve invested in a top rate Surface system and hoped to catch some extra mileage out of it.

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As PCWorld’s senior editor, Brand specializes in Microsoft news and chip expertise, amongst various beats.