[Explained] Can Surface Pro 4 Upgrade to Windows 11?

Since the release of Microsoft’s latest OS Windows 11 in 2021, many users have faced issues upgrading their devices to Windows 11 including Surface Pro users. More specifically, Surface Pro 4 users are annoyed because it cannot be upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations. 

The only Surface devices that can run Windows 11 are the ones released after 2017. Meaning, Surface devices that are 3 years older or more, including Surface Pro 4, cannot run Windows 11.

However, there are ways to install Windows 11 on Surface Pro 4. Here we will be discussing how you can install Windows 11 on Surface Pro 4.

Can Surface Pro 4 Upgrade to Windows 11

Which Surface Devices Can Be Upgraded to Windows 11?

As stated before, only 2017 and later Surface devices support Windows 11. Here is a list of those Surface devices that are compatible to upgrade to Windows 11:

ProductsRelease Date
Surface Book 2 (on 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8350U or i7-8650U processor only)November 16, 2017
Surface Book 36 May, 2020
Surface Laptop 22 October, 2018
Surface Laptop 32 October, 2019
Surface Laptop 413 April, 2021
Surface Laptop Go1 October, 2020
Surface Go 2June 7, 2022
Surface Pro 6October 2, 2018
Surface Pro 7October 22, 2019
Surface Pro 7+October 22, 2019
Surface Pro X2 October, 2019
Surface Studio 22 October, 2018
Surface Hub 2S2019

The processors of the Surface Pro 3, 4, and 5 are not supported by Windows 11. Therefore, Surface Pro 3, 4, and 5 are not able to upgrade to Windows 11. But before installing Windows 11 on Surface Pro 3, 4, and 5, you should note the following concerns:

  • Windows 11 on unsupported company users will not receive the future update Microsoft, including but not limited to security updates.
  • Installation of Windows 11 on unsupported CPUs needs to modify the registry. But Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor. It may require you to reinstall your operating system.

How Do You Install Windows 11 on Surface Pro 4?

Even though Windows 11 was not officially released for Surface Pro 4, you can still install it via other methods. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow if you want to install Windows 11 on Surface Pro 4:

Step 1: Add the Key to The Registry

Here are the steps to add the key to the registry:

  • Open the Registry Editor by clicking the Start menu and typing Registry.
  • Then navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup. If there is no MoSetup folder, come back to this after installing all updates for Windows 10.
  • After completion, navigate to MoSetup and copy the following name – AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU.
  • Now, in the MoSetup Folder, Right-click and select New. Create a DWORD (32bit) Value. 

Paste the name that you copied and set the Value Data to 1. Click OK and then restart your Surface Pro 4.

Step 2: Create Windows 11 Installation Media

Here’s what you need to follow after adding the key:

  • Go to Microsoft’s website and download Create Windows 11 Installation Media.
  • Open the Downloaded Media Creation Tool.
  • Go through the prompts, choose a USB flash drive, and make sure you use a black blank flash drive because all things on it will be erased.
  • Insert the USB flash drive into the Surface Pro 4, click Next, and select the flash drive you just connected.
  • Click on Next and wait for the Windows 11 downloads.
  • Next, we can install Windows 11 on Surface Pro 4. Open the flash drive and run Setup and then click on Next.
  • The installer will restart automatically. You need to pass the check since we changed the registry.
  • After accepting, you will see a warning which says you are not recommended to install Windows 11 on Surface Pro 4 because you will damage your device due to lack of compatibility. Click on the Accept button.
  • Then, you are going to install Windows 11 to keep all files and apps. And then you just need to wait for Windows 11 to install it on your Surface Pro 4.

And that’s it. Windows 11 is now installed on your Surface Pro 4.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is It possible to upgrade Surface Pro 4?

No, RAM and the internal SSD are non-upgradable. However, you can put a micro-SD card in a slot to increase its storage capacity.

Can I upgrade to Windows 11 if my processor is not supported?

If you have a computer with unsupported hardware, you may upgrade to Windows 11, but not through Windows Update. Instead, you will have to use a bootable USB flash drive or ISO file to perform a clean install or in-place upgrade manually.

Conclusion

In brief, you can not upgrade your Surface Pro 4 to Windows 11 through an official Windows Update. But people have found other ways to do it. We hope we were able to help you install Windows 11 on your Surface Pro 4. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us in the comments section.

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