Intel’s i7-6700 is not compatible with Windows 11 operating system. We look at the options available for Windows 10 computers running on i7-6700 Intel processors.
Salient points about i7-6700 and Windows 11
- Intel i7-6700 is a processor from the i7 family of core Intel processors
- Intel i7-6700 is a processor of 6th generation
- Only 8th generation or higher generation processors from Intel i7 family are compatible with Windows 11.
- For i7-6700 processors, you could choose to run Windows 10 until October 14, 2025. Windows 10 becomes end of life on 14 October 2025.
- To continue using Windows 10 after October 2025 with i7-6700, you can enroll in the ESU program for Windows 10. Pricing information for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates can be referred to for more information.
- For a list of Intel core processors compatible with Windows 11, see this Microsoft page.
If you are running Windows 10 on i7-6700 based computer, you may read the latest updates about Windows 10 becoming end of life on 14 October 2025 below.
Windows 10 Extended Security Updates are free for retail consumers in Europe, except for people in Switzerland and United Kingdom. For people outside Europe, you could get 1 year of free access to Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 by encashing Microsoft reward points or backing up your computer’s settings to OneDrive. Detailed instructions can be read here.
- Windows 10 became end of life on 14 October 2025.
- You could get access to Extended Security Updates for Windows 10. This would allow access to the latest security updates released for Windows 10 after 14 October 2025.
- If you do not have access to the Extended Security Update program of Windows 10, the last security update for your computer is KB5066791. It was released on 14 October 2025.
- You must deploy this security update, KB5066791, on the Windows 10 computer. By doing so, your computer’s security will have been updated to the recommended status as of 14 October 2025.
- KB5068781 is the first extended security update released for Windows 10 version 22H2. ESU key is required to install this security update on your Windows 10 computer. ESU key can be had by encashing 1000 Microsoft reward points. Or, you could buy for $30 a year. Or, you could setup Backup of computer settings to Microsoft’s cloud to get free access to the ESU program for Windows 10 between October 2025 to October 2026.
About Intel i7-6700 Processors
Intel i7-6700 processor was first released in Q3 or Quarter 3 of 2015. It is an active processor as Intel continues to supply it. The processor is part of the ‘Skylake’ family of processors.
i7-6700 is a 4 core Intel processor with processor base frequency of 3.40 GHz and Turbo frequency of 4 GHz.
If you have a system running on i7-6700, there are chances that you are running Windows 10 operating system.
Will my Windows 10 computer stop working after October 2025?
No, your Windows 10 will not stop working after 14 October 2025. However, you will not get any security updates for Windows 10 after 14 October 2025.
Any new security threats or vulnerabilities detected in Windows 10 operating system will remain unpatched. Therefore, Windows 10 computers will be prone to being exploited by hackers and threat actors after October 2025.
To use Windows 10 after October 2025, you are being offered an option of the ESU program for Windows 10.
What is the ESU program for Windows 10?
The ESU program for Windows 10 is the Extended Security Update program for Windows 10. The main features of the ESU program are:
- The ESU program for Windows 10 is a paid program
- Your Windows 10 computer will get Extended Security Updates from Microsoft for a period between 1 to 3 years.
- The subscription for ESU program for Windows 10 will be made available for a minimum period of 1 year and maximum period of up to 3 years.
- Your Windows 10 computer needs to be on Windows 10 version 22H2 to participate in the ESU program. However, this is a simple requirement. You can move from one type of Windows 10 edition to another.
More details about the ESU program are on this page.
The pricing details for end users and business users for Windows 10 extended security updates have been announced by Microsoft.
Should I install Windows 11 on i7-6700 computer?
Microsoft has made it technically possible to install Windows 11 on i7-6700 computers. We do not recommend installing Windows 11 on an unsupported processor because of the following reasons:
- Installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware may cause your system to malfunction
- You may run into software incompatibilities
- Access to security updates for Windows 11 is not guaranteed for i7-6700 systems
Therefore, the best option is to either enroll in then Windows 10 ESU Program or get a new computer with pre-installed Windows 10.
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