Microsoft Drops Three Generations of Processors from Windows 11 Support List

According to official documentation published on Microsoft’s website, mobile Intel Ice Lake U and Y processors, along with Comet Lake (10th gen) and Coffee Lake (8th and 9th gen) CPUs, have been removed from the list of supported hardware. At the same time, new models have been added, including Core UL and HL Raptor Lake (Series 1), Core 3 100U with an integrated IPU, and embedded Intel Atom processors.

Experts note that this move is somewhat controversial, especially considering that Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th generation processors support TPM 2.0 — a key requirement for Windows 11. Microsoft has yet to provide an official explanation for the decision, but speculation suggests it could be aimed at optimizing system performance on newer architectures or gradually tightening hardware requirements.

For owners of PCs and laptops powered by Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th gen CPUs, this news could be an unpleasant surprise. While existing devices will continue to receive security updates and patches for Windows 11, they will no longer be eligible for the 24H2 upgrade. This primarily affects new OEM devices shipping with preinstalled Windows 11, but users who have already installed the OS on older hardware may also face limitations on future updates.

It remains unclear whether this is a final decision or if Microsoft will reconsider its support list in the future. Some experts suggest that dropping older processors may be part of a broader strategy to optimize Windows 11 for emerging technologies like AI and machine learning, which demand more modern hardware. While this change could push many users toward upgrading their systems, it also raises questions about Microsoft’s long-term approach to hardware compatibility.