With Raspberry Pi 4 you can really do everything but one of the most complicated “enterprises” is installing Windows 11 on this platform. We are not just talking about a fun project to try, but also something that opens up a world of possibilities in terms of making mini computers.

In this article, we will analyze how to bypass the requirements imposed by

Microsoft and install Windows 11 on your Raspberry Pi 4
. Not only that: you must know that everything can be done without too many commands or special technical skills.

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Windows 11 on a Raspberry Pi 4

Requirements for installing Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi

What are the hardware and non-hardware requirements to perform this type of operation? Here is the list of what you need:

  • Raspberry Pi 4 – Both 4GB and 8GB Pi versions are helpful to the cause (for a smoother experience, choose 8GB);
  • External SSD or USB flash drive – this is where you will physically install Windows 11 – we recommend using an external SSD as it will improve your system performance (the drive should be at least 64GB );
  • SD card – if you want to install Windows 11 directly from the Raspberry Pi, you will need a decent SD card to house the Raspberry Pi operating system;
  • USB keyboard, USB mouse, and HDMI monitor ;
  • Updated Raspberry Pi firmware ;
  • reliable internet connection, Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Update your Raspberry Pi to the latest firmware

To allow your Raspberry Pi 4 to boot from USB, you need to make sure it has the latest firmware. So first of all you will need to update your device to the latest firmware.

Open a Terminal window and enter the following commands, complete with entering between one and the other:

  • sudo apt update
  • sudo apt full-upgrade
  • sudo shutdown – r

This will update all installed packages to the latest version and restart the device.

Install Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi

You are now ready to begin the actual installation. There are two options when it comes to getting Windows 11 running on your Raspberry Pi 4, and we’ll break down both of them in the next few lines.

We will start with the procedure considered best for most users.

Method 1: from the Raspberry Pi operating system

Direct installation from the Raspberry Pi operating system is the easiest way to install Windows on such a platform. The only drawback is that the procedure is slower than installing from a PC. Here’s how to proceed:

  • WoR (Windows on Raspberry Pi) is a tool for installing Windows 11 on a USB drive. To get started, open Terminal, then go ahead and install WoR Flasher using the following command: git clone https://github.com/Botspot/wor-flasher ;
  • run WoR with the following command and press Y when prompted to complete the installation: ~ / wor-flasher / install-wor-gui.sh ;
  • in the WoR window that opens, select Windows 11 and Pi4 / 400 respectively, and then click Next ;
  • select a language, then choose where you want to install Windows 11 (make sure the USB drive is connected);
  • now choose the drive on which you want to install Windows 11 and then hit Next ;
  • on the next screen click on Flash ;

Be patient while WoR Flasher installs Windows. The time it takes will depend on the speed of your internet connection and the USB drive you are using. Keep the Raspberry Pi powered on throughout the installation process. Once the installation is complete, you can proceed further:

  • turn off the Raspberry Pi 4 and remove the SD card running the Raspberry Pi OS;
  • connect the USB drive already mentioned in the previous step to the Raspberry Pi via USB3 before turning it on;
  • after starting the Pi, use the Windows Setup Wizard to configure the operating system;
  • once the setup is complete, you will see the typical Windows 11 user interface.

Method 2: from another Windows PC

Installing Windows 11 on your Raspberry Pi 4 from another PC is much faster than using the Raspberry Pi OS method thanks to the more powerful processor you will presumably have available. This solution, however, especially for less experienced users, can be a more difficult thread:

  1. Go to the UUPdump site and enter Windows 11 arm in the search bar;
  2. now select your language and the version of Windows s want to install and click Next to proceed;
  3. select Download and Convert to ISO and click Create download package (a ZIP file will be downloaded to your PC);
  4. extract the ZIP file and run the uup_download_windows.cmd script as administrator: the script will download all Windows components and create a Windows 11 ARM ISO file ;
  5. download WoR imager and extract the files;
  6. run the WoR.exe file as administrator;
  7. select the language you prefer, then click Next ;
  8. now choose the Storage drive (the USB drive where you are flashing Windows 11) and the Device type (Raspberry Pi 4);
  9. select the Windows 11 ARM ISO file you created (you will find it in the UUPdump scripts folder);
  10. the Windows edition field below will be filled in automatically: click Next to proceed;
  11. select the drivers to install, then adopt the option Use the latest package available on the server, then read and accept the terms to proceed, then click on Next ;
  12. then, in the UEFI Firmware tab, select the Use the latest firmware available on the server option ;
  13. after downloading the drivers, click on Next ;
  14. on the next page, you will be shown an overview of the settings: click on Next to go further;
  15. at this point you will be directed to an operating system installation screen: click on Install to start the procedure (this process will take some time, depending on the speed of the drive);
  16. connect the USB drive to your Raspberry Pi 4 and then boot it – the Windows wizard will guide you through the Windows 11 installation process.

Once the installation is complete, you will be able to boot into Windows 11.

Note: The Windows setup process on a Raspberry Pi is pretty much the same as the Windows setup process on a PC.

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Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 11 on Raspberry

We conclude this guide with some potential questions you might ask yourself.

I only have 3GB of RAM available on my 4GB Raspberry Pi 4. What is happening?

A certain option may have been unintentionally enabled which is limiting RAM capacity. To solve the problem:

  • Revive your Raspberry Pi and keep pressing ESC (the Pi will boot into UEFI );
  • Click on Device Manager and then on Raspberry Pi Configuration ;
  • Select Advanced Configuration, then change the Limit RAM to 3GB setting to Disabled.

Can I install Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 2 and Pi 3?

Unfortunately, the Raspberry Pi 2 and Pi 3 cannot run Windows 11. Older generation devices don’t have the hardware power to run Windows 11. If you want to run Windows on Pi 2 and Pi 3, you can install Windows 10 IoT.

Can the Raspberry Pi 4 replace a PC?

While the Raspberry Pi 4 can’t match a high-end desktop system in terms of performance, it can be used as a mini PC. It is adequate for most of the tasks you would perform as far as work is concerned and is particularly suitable for scheduling.