For the past three years, Microsoft provided a workaround for installing Windows 11 on PCs without the required Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0. This method allowed users to bypass TPM 2.0 hardware restrictions, making it possible to run the latest OS on older systems with TPM 1.2. However, this workaround has quietly disappeared from Microsoft’s official help page.

When Windows 11 launched in 2021, the TPM 2.0 requirement left many capable PCs unable to run the new OS. In response, Microsoft published a guide offering a method to bypass this restriction by creating a registry key, although it still required TPM 1.2 to be present. This approach was particularly useful for users whose PCs were capable of running the new OS but lacked the necessary hardware for TPM 2.0.

Recently, the workaround was removed from Microsoft’s help page, with changes likely taking place between December 12 and 14, 2024. While the page still offers instructions for installing Windows 11 on machines with only TPM 1.2 through physical media, it no longer mentions the registry key workaround. The removal of the workaround reflects Microsoft’s continued stance on requiring TPM 2.0 for Windows 11 installations.

Another workaround, which involved bypassing TPM 2.0 checks through Windows Server 2025’s hardware requirements, has also been targeted. After Microsoft tightened this loophole in August 2024, third-party tools like Flyby11, which allowed installations without TPM or Secure Boot, faced increasing scrutiny. Microsoft Defender now flags Flyby11 as a potentially unwanted application, which could indicate an intentional block or a false positive.

These changes signal Microsoft’s firm position on TPM 2.0 as an essential security feature for Windows 11, making it clear that the company is discouraging any methods to bypass this requirement. Users hoping for future workarounds may find their options increasingly limited as Microsoft moves forward with enforcing stricter hardware requirements.