There are users who are still not sure if they will be able to install the latest Microsoft operating system on their computers and users who manage to install Windows 11 on a Raspberry Pi 4. Do you want to know how? We tell you everything in case you dare to do so.
Windows 11, Microsoft’s next operating system
Microsoft announced what will be its next operating system, Windows 11 . And the truth is that at the design level it looks really good. It is true that you can find a similarity with existing proposals such as macOS, ChromeOS, etc., but it is the usual controversy that it does not contribute anything. So you have to stay with the idea that if the user experience improves, then the similarities are welcome.
However, what the new version of Windows has generated the most headlines are the technical requirements for its installation. It seems that not even Microsoft itself is able to clarify on which computers it can be installed or not, if it will need a processor of a certain generation from now on that is too current or will give room for maneuver to older equipment that still performs well today. But let’s hope that for the final version everything is clearer.
While there are users who have begun to fiddle with the installation files to see if they are able to put Windows 11 on devices that a priori we would not have imagined could make use of it and one of them, how could it be otherwise , is the Raspberry Pi.
Windows 11 on a Raspberry Pi 4
Installing Windows 11 on a Raspberry Pi 4 is not something new, with previous versions with support for ARM architecture it had already been achieved. But that does not mean that managing to install, start and enjoy acceptable performance on a computer like the Raspberry Pi is something that is surprising.
At Tom’s Hardware they have managed to do this and show how the whole process is so that whoever has one of the latest boards from The Raspberry Foundation and wants to mess around can successfully complete the installation of Windows 11.
The process basically consists of taking the Windows 11 image made available to Insiders so that they can test the system. Once with it, some files are modified to achieve a compatible image and that can be installed in the same way as any other system for Raspberry Pi is installed: copying it to a microSD card or, if possible, to an SSD that will allow better performance. within the hardware’s own capabilities.
Thus, to list what you will need, we have:
- Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB or 8GB preferably of RAM. Also valid for the Raspberry Pi 400
- 16GB or more SSD or micro
- MicroSD with the latest operating system (Raspbian) for Raspberry Pi
- Windows 10 PC to create the modified image
- USB to Ethernet or WiFi adapter because neither the ethernet port, nor WiFi, nor Bluetooth nor GPIO connector work after installing Windows 11
- USB Bluetooth adapter if you need it
- Keyboard, mouse and HDMI cable along with a monitor and power supply for the Raspberry
