As the Windows 11 update continues to roll out globally, many users are encountering a new desktop watermark that says “System requirements not met.” The issue stems from the complex set of requirements that Microsoft established for Windows 11, including the need for TPM 2.0. This feature has caused problems for many PCs and laptops that would otherwise have been able to run Windows 11 without issue, resulting in some users being told that they cannot run the new operating system on their computers.

To work around this issue, many users have found ways to install Windows 11 on hardware that does not meet the minimum recommended requirements, often without TPM 2.0. However, Microsoft is now testing a new approach to discourage users from doing so by displaying a noticeable watermark on the desktops of PCs that do not meet the requirements. Although Microsoft is not yet blocking updates to these machines, some users may find the watermark annoying enough to upgrade their hardware.

However, this approach risks annoying users into spending money on new hardware, which is not a great way to win their support. Moreover, the fact that users have been using Windows 10 and Windows 11 without TPM 2.0 without any issues undermines Microsoft’s argument that the watermark is necessary to improve security.

Rather than using this approach, Microsoft could better highlight the importance of TPM 2.0-capable hardware or reconsider the Windows 11 requirements to enable more people to use the new operating system. Otherwise, many users will either ignore the watermark or find a way to remove it, while others may feel shamed about their current devices. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will include the watermark in future Windows 11 updates, and we will keep a close eye on the situation.