Microsoft Explains Which Surface PCs Can Upgrade to Windows 11

As part of the countdown to Windows 10’s end of support date in October, Microsoft is documenting which Surface PCs can be upgraded to Windows 11. And which can’t.

“Newer Surface devices are compatible with Windows 11 and come with it already installed,” the Microsoft Support site explains. “Other Surface devices can be upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Learn which Surface devices can be upgraded and what you can do if your Surface can’t run Windows 11.”

If you understand the Windows 11 hardware requirements, none of this will be surprising. But many Surface users, whether in businesses or as individuals, are mainstream customers who don’t understand these things. Many probably don’t even know which processor is in their PC.

For the most part, any Surface PC with an 8th-generation Intel Core (or equivalent) or newer processor is compatible with Windows 11. This includes the Surface Book 2 (with an Intel Core i5-8350U or i7-8650U processor only), Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, Surface Laptop 2, Surface Laptop 3, Surface Laptop 4, Surface Laptop Go, Surface Pro 6, Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro 7+, Surface Pro X, and Surface Studio 2, plus Surface Hub 2S.

Surface PCs that are incompatible with Windows 11 include Surface Book (1st Gen), Surface Book 2 (with 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7300U processor only), Surface Go (1st Gen), Surface Laptop (1st Gen), Surface Pro (1st Gen), Surface Pro 2, Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro (5th Gen), and Surface Studio (1st Gen).

If you have a Windows 11-compatible Surface PC but are still running Windows 10, Microsoft recommends upgrading, of course, and it notes that you can use the PC Health Check app to make sure the PC is configured correctly before doing so. If your Surface PC can’t upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft recommends a new PC.

Yes, that sounds cynical. But as it explains on its Windows 10 end of support FAQ, these PCs don’t have to end up in landfills: You can trade it in with Microsoft or one of its PC maker partners when you buy a new PC. You can save some money doing this, too: My 2017-era Surface Book 2 is worth a paltry $85 if I trade it in with Microsoft normally, for example. But if I put it towards a new Surface PC, I will get $255. That’s not horrible.