This tutorial will show you how to remove the "System requirements not met" watermark on the desktop and message in Settings for your account or all users in Windows 11.
When Windows 11 is installed on a device that does not meet the minimum system requirements, Windows will notify you using a watermark on your Windows 11 desktop. You might also see a notification in Settings to let you know the requirements are not met.
If you're experiencing issues after upgrading to Windows 11 and your device does not meet the minimum system requirements, we recommend you go back to Windows 10. This option is only available for 10 days following your upgrade, after which time the files needed to perform this function will be removed to free up disk space on your device.
If you are not experiencing issues, you can hide these "System requirements not met" messages to no longer see them on your desktop and in Settings.
References:
Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum system requirements | Microsoft Support
Installing Windows 11 on devices that do not meet minimum system requirements is unsupported and is not recommended by Microsoft.
support.microsoft.com
Check if a device meets Windows 11 system requirements after changing device hardware | Microsoft Support
If hardware was changed on a Windows device in order to upgrade to Windows 11 and the system is not recognizing the change in a timely manner, this article explains how to initiate the assessment manually.
support.microsoft.com
Contents
- Option One: Hide or Show "System requirements not met" messages for Current User using REG file
- Option Two: Hide or Show "System requirements not met" messages for All Users using Local Group Policy
- Option Three: Hide or Show "System requirements not met" messages for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: "System requirements not met" watermark on desktop and message in Settings
1 Click/tap on the Download button you want below to download the file below.
Hide_System_requirements_not_met_watermark_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\UnsupportedHardwareNotificationCache]
"SV1"=-
"SV2"=dword:00000000OR
Show_System_requirements_not_met_watermark_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\UnsupportedHardwareNotificationCache]
"SV1"=-
"SV2"=dword:000000012 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
3 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
4 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
5 Restart the computer to apply.
6 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
Hide or Show "System requirements not met" messages for All Users using Local Group Policy
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Three to configure the same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
3 In the right pane of System in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Hide messages when Windows system requirements are not met policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (show) or step 6 (hide) below for what you want.
5 Show "System requirements not met" messages for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
6 Hide "System requirements not met" messages for All Users
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Do step 2 (show) or step 3 (hide) below for what you want.
2 Show "System requirements not met" messages for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Show_system_requirements_not_met_messages_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"HideUnsupportedHardwareNotifications"=-3 Hide "System requirements not met" messages for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Hide_system_requirements_not_met_messages_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"HideUnsupportedHardwareNotifications"=dword:000000014 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
