Yes, Windows 11 can run on Intel i3 processors. Not all i3 processors will support Windows 11 though. Microsoft has listed 50 processors from the Intel i3 family of processors that are compatible with the installation of Windows 11 operating system.

A simple rule to understand if your i3 processor based computer supports Windows 11 is to find if the processor is older than the eighth generation of Intel processors. If you are running on an i3 processor that is older than the eighth generation Intel processors, then your i3 processors is unlikely to be supported by Microsoft for a Windows 11 installation through the ‘Windows Update’ program.
Technically speaking, it is possible to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.
But, there are a few things you need to be wary about upgrading a non-supported Windows 11 computer to Windows 11:
- Microsoft does not recommend using the registry bypass process to go around the hardware eligibility requirements.
- There is no clarity about availability of security updates, servicing stack updates (SSU) and the monthly cumulative updates on unsupported computers.
- You are, basically, on your own if you still want to proceed with installing Windows 11 on unsupported computers. The risk is all yours.
Our take on the situation is that the registry bypass method may be used on non-business or non-critical systems only. It is not worth taking a chance with business and other important personal computers.
Intel i3 Processors compatible with Windows 11
The 50 processors from the Intel i3 family that support upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 are mentioned herein:
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1000G1 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1000G4 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1005G1 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10100 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10100E |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10100F |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10100T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10100TE |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10100Y |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10105 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10105F |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10105T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10110U |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10110Y |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10300 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10300T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10305 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10305T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10320 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-10325 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1110G4 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1115G4 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1115G4E |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1115GRE |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1120G4 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-1125G4 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8100 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8100B |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8100H |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8100T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8109U |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8130U |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8140U |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8145U |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8145UE |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8300 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8300T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-8350K |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9100 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9100E |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9100F |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9100HL |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9100T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9100TE |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9300 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9300T |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9320 |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9350K |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-9350KF |
Intel® | Core™ | i3-L13G4 |
The list of processors clearly suggests that Intel i3 processors that are older than the eighth generation of processors are not supported for a Windows 11 upgrade from Windows 10.
Microsoft has, however, released steps to bypass hardware requirements for installing Windows 11 on incompatible systems. We have already shared the detailed process above.
If your i3 processor is compatible with Windows 11, you can be reasonably sure that you will continue to receive Windows 11 updates until October 2025. You could keep your current system, until the time when you decide to buy a new system with Windows 11 operating system.
Summary
I3 Intel processors older than the eighth generation are not compatible with Windows 11 installation. Such systems will not get automatic updates from Windows 10 to Windows 11 through the Windows Update program. However, you could use an ISO image of Windows 11 that has been made available by Microsoft to install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC.
You may like to read the following Windows 11 content
- i7-7700K is not compatible with Windows 11
- Missing ‘Update’ option for Windows 11
- Can Windows 11 be installed on computers without TPM 2.0?
- How to find compatibility with Windows 11 without PC Health Check App
- Can Windows 11 run on Intel 7th generation processors?
- i7 6700K cannot run windows 11 – incompatible with Windows 11
Rajesh Dhawan is a technology professional who loves to write about Cyber-security events and stories, Cloud computing and Microsoft technologies. He loves to break complex problems into manageable chunks of meaningful information.