Disable Google Chrome’s Windows 11 Compatibility Check on Your PC

As the support for Windows 10 nears its conclusion, Google Chrome has commenced evaluations of your PC’s compatibility with Windows 11. This initiative is primarily a research endeavor rather than an upgrade prompt, but it does expand Chrome’s overall data collection capabilities. If you prefer to keep this information away from Chrome’s grasp, you have the option to block these compatibility checks. In this guide, we will explore two effective methods to prevent Chrome from accessing your system’s hardware specifications.

Understanding Chrome’s Method for Assessing Windows 11 Compatibility

Beginning July 4, each time you launch Chrome for the first time on a Windows 10 machine, the browser will execute a hidden check to ascertain if your hardware meets Windows 11 requirements. This check is conducted once and determines your PC’s eligibility status. Subsequently, this information—alongside various telemetry data—will be sent to Google.

The check focuses on essential criteria specified by Microsoft, which include:

Details about the CPU vendor and model, including its generation.
Amount of RAM and the available free disk space.
Status of Secure Boot (enabled or disabled).
Support for Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.

If your machine complies with these specifications, Chrome generates an internal flag termed “IsWin11UpgradeEligible” with values indicating yes or no (0 or 1).To prevent Chrome from collecting this information, you will need to undertake these steps either on a fresh Chrome installation or on a PC that hasn’t run Chrome since July 4, 2025.

Modify the Chrome Shortcut to Turn Off the Compatibility Check

To completely halt these checks, you can utilize Chrome’s built-in command-line arguments. When you open Chrome using a modified shortcut, the compatibility check will be skipped. Here’s how you can do this:

First, right-click on your Chrome desktop shortcut and select Properties. Note that this method will not work with pinned shortcuts, so it’s important to use a desktop shortcut or the executable located in File Explorer.

In the Target field of the Properties window, append the following line to the end:

--disable-features=IsWin11UpgradeEligible

Chrome properties with target field appended

Ensure there is a single space separating the original text and the newly added command. After making the changes, click Apply and launch Chrome. This modification ensures that no compatibility checks will be made, thereby stopping any data transmission to Google.

Disabling Chrome’s Anonymous Telemetry

By default, Chrome collects anonymous data regarding your device and usage patterns to help improve the browser. This encompasses user preferences, system information, crash reports, and, notably, data from the Windows 11 compatibility assessment.

If you’re installing Chrome for the first time, you can simply uncheck the option labeled “Help make Google Chrome better”on the download page. This choice will install Chrome without enabling anonymous telemetry.

Chrome download page with telemetry disabled

For those who already have Chrome installed, disabling telemetry from within the browser can be precarious, as Chrome might send telemetry data while it is running. Therefore, managing this through the Windows Registry provides a safer alternative. Follow these steps:

Begin by searching for “registry”in Windows Search to access the Registry Editor. Next, navigate to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies

Right-click on the Policies folder, select New -> Key, and name it Google. Then, within the Google folder, create another new key and name it Chrome.

With the Chrome key selected, right-click in the right panel, choose New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Creating new DWORD value in Windows Registry

Rename this new value to MetricsReportingEnabled, then double-click on it and set the value to 0.

Once these steps are completed, you can open Chrome safely without the risk of sharing Windows 11 eligibility information with Google. However, it’s important to note that this data may still be logged, and if telemetry is re-enabled later, it can be shared.

Interestingly, there exists the option to provide inaccurate information to Chrome regarding secure boot and TPM 2.0 compliance. Nonetheless, upgrading to Windows 11 remains the most effective way to eliminate these checks, even on unsupported devices.

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