Microsoft to block hardware bypass command in Windows 11 install

The Windows 11 operating system is attracting significant interest from users worldwide, but its hardware requirements can be a challenge for some owners of older computers.

An eighth-generation Intel processor or second-generation Zen+ AMD, TPM version 2.0, UEFI mode, and 4GB of RAM are necessary for the system to function correctly. This means that Windows 11 can only run on computers manufactured no earlier than 2018.

This is the theory because, during installation, one can enter the command "/product server," which bypasses the hardware requirements verification process. This solution is helpful for users with sufficiently powerful computers that do not meet all the requirements, such as not supporting TPM 2.0. Moreover, this trick still works in the latest official version of Windows 11 24H2.

This may change soon. Bob Pony discovered that Microsoft blocked the "/product server" command in Windows 11 in the test version Insider Build 27686 (Dilithium). The famous trick no longer allows bypassing the TPM 2.0 module verification process. It’s likely only a matter of time before the block is also introduced in the official version of Windows 11.

In such a situation, there will no longer be a way to bypass the security checks. Users will have to upgrade their hardware (in some configurations, an external TPM 2.0 module can be purchased) or stick to an older version of Windows 10. The installation block may also contribute to an increase in electronic waste. According to analysts, as many as 200 million computers may end up in landfills in the coming years.

This is yet another restriction for installing Windows 11. It is worth noting that the manufacturer previously blocked a popular method of bypassing the login requirement for a Microsoft account.