Your channel options will be limited Windows Insider error

Some Windows Insiders may see the message stating Your channel options will be limited because your PC does not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11 even though you have verified your computer does meet all the requirements. This post offers suggestions to help you resolve this issue regardless of whether your PC meets the requirements or not.

Your PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. Your channel options will be limited.

This notification indicates that your system does not support Windows 11 because the hardware is not suitable for running Windows 11. However, the problem could also occur because TPM version 2.0 is inactive, resulting in an error message. The error simply means that the Dev, Beta, or Release Preview Channel modes and features will not be available for you because your computer does not meet the hardware requirements.

Your channel options will be limited – Windows Insider

If on the Insider Preview settings page, you see the Your channel options will be limited message because your PC does not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11, then the suggestions provided below should help you resolve this issue and have your PC upgraded to Windows 11.

Verify the PC meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11
Enable TPM and Secure Boot in BIOS
Enable the Dev, Beta, or Release Preview Channel using REG file
Report the issue using the Feedback Hub

Let’s look at the description of the process as it relates to each of the mentioned fixes above.

1] Verify the PC meets the minimum requirement for Windows 11

The first step in your attempt to resolve the Your channel options will be limited message on your Windows 10 computer is to verify the PC meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11 of which most modern computers have these hardware features, the problem is with older computers.

The CPU must have a minimum of two cores with a processing power of 1 GHz.
The Minimum RAM required to run Windows 11 is 4 GB.
The system should have a TPM 2.0 chip.
The minimum resolution of the display is 720p.
The graphics card should support DirectX 12 and WDDM 2.0.

If you verify your PC meets the minimum requirements based on the information above, then you can skip to the next suggestion. Else, you can follow the instructions in the guide on how to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware or processor. Another option for PC users that are running Windows 10 on devices that are not eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade is to continue using Windows 10 on the device as is until the end of support which is October 14, 2025 – and after which, can upgrade to a new PC with Windows 11 pre-installed.

Read: What to know about Windows 11 before upgrading

2] Enable TPM and Secure Boot in BIOS

One of the many features a TPM enhances is Secure Boot. This feature prevents malware from running when you first start up your computer by only allowing software that’s cryptographically signed to run when the feature is enabled on the computer. Enabling the TPM and Secure Boot in the BIOS of the computer will allow the installation of Windows 11. This method will only work on computers with an inactive TPM chip and will not work on computers with no TPM chip.

To enable TPM 2.0 in the BIOS to allow for Windows 11 installation or upgrade, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Under the Advanced startup section, click the Restart now button.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the UEFI Firmware settings option.
Click the Restart button.
Click the advanced, security, or boot settings page, depending on the motherboard.
Select the TPM 2.0 option and choose the Enabled option.

If you are running an AMD processor and the motherboard doesn’t have a TPM chip, it may be that the module is built into the processor, in which case, you will see the option listed as fTPM (firmware-based TPM 2.0) or AMD fTPM switch. If the device is an Intel-based system, TPM 2.0 will be available as Platform Trust Technology (PTT). If your PC is custom build and does not have the TPM option, you may be able to purchase a module to add the support, but you will need to visit the MOBO manufacturer’s website to confirm that the support exists.

Read: How to Install Windows 11 on unsupported PC without TPM

After you complete the steps above, the Windows 11 check should pass, allowing you to upgrade the computer to the new OS. But since Secure Boot is required, you can first verify whether Secure Boot is enabled on the computer by following these steps:

Open Start.
Search for System Information and click the top result to open the app.
Click on System Summary on the left pane.
On the right pane, check the Secure Boot State information and confirm the feature is turned On.

If the feature is disabled, you need to enable Secure Boot manually by repeating the steps above for TPM, and then at the security page, select the Secure Boot option and choose the Enabled option. Almost every device with UEFI firmware will include Secure Boot, but if this is not the case, you can either upgrade the system or get a new computer that meets the Windows 11 requirements.

After you must have enabled both TPM and Secure Boot features, you should now be able to in-place upgrade or clean install Windows 11. Note that, if applicable, you will have to convert the MBR drive to GPT if your computer is using the legacy BIOS. After the conversion, you can then switch to UEFI mode and enable Secure Boot – otherwise, the computer won’t boot after you enable Secure Boot. However, there’s no need for the conversion if you intend to clean install Windows 11 on the device, but if you plan to in-place upgrade from the Windows 10 desktop, you must do the conversion.

Read: Bypass TPM and Secure Boot during Windows 11 Installation or Upgrade

3] Enable the Dev, Beta, or Release Preview Channel using REG file

Assuming your hardware is unsupported by Windows 11. you can enable the Dev, Beta, or Release Preview Channel using REG file to modify the Windows Registry. Since this is a registry operation, it is recommended that you back up the registry or create a system restore point as necessary precautionary measures. Once done, you can proceed as follows:

Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box, type notepad and hit Enter to open Notepad.
Copy and paste the code below into the text editor for the Channel you want:

Enable Dev Channel

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability]
"BranchName"="Dev"
"ContentType"="Mainline"
"Ring"="External"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection]
"UIBranch"="Dev"
"UIContentType"="Mainline"
"UIRing"="External"

Enable Beta Channel

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability]
"BranchName"="Beta"
"ContentType"="Mainline"
"Ring"="External"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection]
"UIBranch"="Beta"
"UIContentType"="Mainline"
"UIRing"="External"

Enable Release Preview Channel

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability]
"BranchName"="ReleasePreview"
"ContentType"="Mainline"
"Ring"="External"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection]
"UIBranch"="ReleasePreview"
"UIContentType"="Mainline"
"UIRing"="External"

Now, click the File option from the menu and select Save As button.
Choose a location (preferably the desktop) where you want to save the file.
Enter a descriptive name with a .reg extension (eg; EnableDevChannel.reg).
Choose All Files from the Save as type drop-down list.
Double-click the saved .reg file to merge it.
If prompted, click on Run > Yes (UAC) > Yes > OK to approve the merge.
You can now delete the .reg file if you like.
Restart PC.

Read: Can’t switch Windows Insider Channel on Windows 11 – Dev or Beta

4] Report the issue using the Feedback Hub

You should also report this issue via the Feedback Hub app on your Windows 10 computer. Microsoft will then acknowledge your issue and will fix your issue. You can go ahead with this option provided you know your device is supported per the official requirements as provided by Microsoft.

I hope this helps!

Why can’t I install Windows 11 even though I meet the requirements?

If you can’t install Windows 11 on your device even though you meet the requirements, first, make sure your PC is up to date by installing all the latest updates from Microsoft before trying to install Windows 11. You can use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB or DVD installation media. If you’re running an older version of Windows, you may need to upgrade to a newer version before you can install Windows 11.

How do I bypass Windows Insider Program?

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program, and then choose Stop Insider builds. Follow the instructions to opt-out your device. Now, when you leave the Windows Insider Program, your device will not receive Windows 11 preview builds. If you want to get a stable version of Windows 11, you need to clean install Windows 11 on your device.

Read: How to Switch from Insider Preview to Stable Build of Windows 11

Can I run Win 11 without Secure Boot?

Yes, you can install Windows 11 without Secure Boot. However, running Windows 11 without Secure Boot may result in instability on the system and you may not receive updates from Microsoft. An important point to note, unlike TPM, which is more or less a physical component installed on your motherboard, Secure Boot is built into the UEFI firmware.