In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has reversed its decision to enforce the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 requirement for installing Windows 11. This policy, recently defended just a week ago, sparked widespread frustration as millions of otherwise capable systems were arbitrarily deemed incompatible, leaving many users feeling alienated.
This backpedaling showcases yet again how Microsoft’s lofty ambitions for Windows 11 clash with the realities of user resistance. However, the move appears less about listening to feedback and more about ensuring as many users as possible abandon Windows 10 and migrate to Windows 11, even if it means softening their stance slightly to achieve that goal.
In a blog post titled “TPM 2.0 – a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11,” Microsoft doubled down on its claims about the importance of strict hardware requirements. Despite this recent concession, the post reiterates that the company remains committed to its long-term strategy: pushing users toward Windows 11 before Windows 10 reaches its official end-of-life in October 2025.
The TPM requirement for Windows 11 came as a surprise when it was first announced in 2021. However, today, almost every modern PC comes with built-in support for TPM 2.0. This hardware-level chip or firmware feature plays a crucial role in encrypting and decrypting data, verifying digital signatures, and supporting various cryptographic operations to enhance system security.
While TPM 2.0 sounds like a beneficial security feature in theory, its implementation left many PC users frustrated, particularly those with older systems lacking the necessary hardware. As a result, some consumers resorted to purchasing TPM modules for their existing hardware, while others turned to customized Windows 11 ISOs that bypassed the TPM requirement entirely.
Many questioned the necessity of such stringent security measures, with the prevailing belief that it was simply another tactic by Microsoft to push users toward upgrading under the guise of safety as Microsoft themselves sell prebuilt devices.
Windows 11 has garnered significant criticism for being the most unstable and intrusive operating system Microsoft has ever released. With even more aggressive data collection practices, the implementation of software like AI Copilot and Recall alongside frequent updates that often break functionality, disrupt workflows, and cause compatibility issues or system corruption, many users view it as a step backward.
In contrast, Windows 10 remains a stable, reliable choice, and is arguably the best-performing operating system for modern hardware, fully supporting the latest gaming and productivity applications and APIs without a headache.
Yet Microsoft is relentlessly steering users toward the upgrade, despite widespread reluctance.
Microsoft’s motives are clear: they are pushing to migrate as many users as possible to Windows 11, with the goal of establishing a unified ecosystem that could eventually resemble a live service.
This strategy appears less about enhancing the user experience and more about consolidating control over the PC landscape. In an effort to force legacy systems into their grasp, Microsoft has backtracked on the previously “non-negotiable” TPM 2.0 requirement, softening their stance to encourage wider adoption.
With less than 11 months until Microsoft ends support for Windows 10, nearly 62% of users remain on the older version, while 34.94% have made the switch to Windows 11, according to StatCounter.
However, Valve’s Steam Hardware Survey shows a stark contrast, with Windows 11 leading among PC gamers at 54.87%, while Windows 10 is now the minority, holding just 44.85% of the share. That said, I’m hesitant to fully trust the accuracy of Valve’s survey, as the inclusion of a large number of diskless systems in internet cafes across Asian countries like China artificially skew these numbers in favor of Windows 11 and selective NVIDIA GeForce hardware.
Each login on such machines is treated as a new system, potentially leading to irregular and frequent survey prompts.
Microsoft’s reversal on the TPM 2.0 requirement however is arguably a win for consumer choice, expanding the potential user base and native hardware support for Windows 11. However, this change does little to address the broader issues still plaguing the operating system.
In official support documents, Microsoft strongly advises against installing Windows 11 on devices that do not meet the minimum system requirements. The company warns that such installations could lead to compatibility issues, device malfunctions, and other operational problems, despite the fact that even systems that meet these requirements are experiencing ongoing issues with every new update Microsoft pushes for Windows 11.
Much like Windows 7, Windows 10 supports modern APIs such as DirectX 12 and Vulkan, yet Microsoft is seemingly more focused on ensuring consumer compliance with its roadmap rather than addressing the stability of its OS. As we approach 2026 and beyond, the prospect of new hardware being arbitrarily tied to Windows 11 could leave gamers with little choice but to upgrade or risk missing out on newer titles.
This is despite the fact that game development has stagnated, with innovation and quality on the decline.
For many, the writing is on the wall: With Windows 10’s end-of-life deadline quickly approaching, Microsoft’s strategy is clear: force as many users as possible onto Windows 11, even if it means backtracking on certain policies. As the countdown to October 2025 begins, users are left questioning whether sticking with a stable, reliable OS like Windows 10 is worth the risk of no longer receiving security updates and how long until hardware vendors like Intel, AMD and NVIDIA will follow suit, phasing out Windows 10 support as they did during Microsoft’s previous push to phase out Windows 7.
