On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, Microsoft released the first public cumulative updates for the recently launched Windows 11 operating system. While computers with supported hardware had no issues getting those updates (except for AMD-based PCs, where the patches significantly reduced performance), the real question was the fate of users with Windows 11 running on unsupported hardware. As it turned out, old computers with specs that do not match Windows 11 minimum hardware requirements received the first cumulative updates for Windows 11 without issues.
The situation is quite confusing, considering the official documentation from Microsoft says computers with unsupported hardware running Windows 11 "will no longer be supported and won't be entitled to receive updates." In a typical Microsoft fashion, the same document adds even more bewilderment by saying that old computers will no longer "be guaranteed to receive updates, including but not limited to security updates." In other words, Microsoft cannot say for sure whether your old PC will receive security and feature updates or not.
We need to wait for approximately a year to see how Microsoft will treat unsupported computers in terms of feature updates for Windows 11. Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 is on track to receive only one "big" update per year.
As for security updates, fixes, patches, and improvements, the latest Patch Tuesday revealed that Microsoft is willing to provide software support for old computers with Windows 11. At least, for now. If you use Windows 11 and do not experience compatibility issues or downgrades in performance, you can rest assured that your system will receive software support from Microsoft.
You can read more about what is new in the first cumulative updates for Windows 11 in our dedicated article.
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Thanks Sergey but I think users should act with caution here. The ones already on Windows 11, nothing much to lose if M$ decides to switch off updates for unsupported devices, as they were warned and knew about the risk.
The ones on Windows 10 like me should only upgrade, in my opinion, only after officially hearing from M$ about confirmed continued support for unsupported devices.
Yep. It is not known when they’ll stop updates for such PCs.
I installed Win 11 on one old laptop. I’ll see how it goes. I have other computers so I’m not worried about it right now. And Yes, it did get the updates.
Legalise uses very specific words for very specific reasons.
M$ worded it in such a way that absolves them from the maximum amount of possible liability for their software, that they badly want you to have on your PC, no matter what hardware your using.
Do you think their definition of “supported hardware” was decided by technicians or software programmers? Hell no, lawyers came up with it with the goal of minimizing M$’s liability.