PC builds / Windows AI hardware

Copilot+ PC requirements checklist

Check the exact PC configuration, rather than an “AI PC” label.

The starting values are an example, not a scan of your computer.

Use the NPU rating alone. Do not add CPU or GPU TOPS.
Drive capacity, not free space. Features need additional space.

Your next step

Confirm the exact PC

The example meets the numeric and component-type checks. Confirm the exact Windows 11 PC and its supported processor with the maker.

  • NPU: 40 TOPS or more
  • Memory: 16 GB or more, DDR5/LPDDR5
  • Storage: 256 GB or more, SSD/UFS
  • Maker confirmation: still needed

This checks the specifications you enter. It does not inspect hardware or certify feature availability.

Last updated 30 October 2026

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What does a Copilot+ PC need?

Microsoft sets a separate hardware baseline for Copilot+ PCs: a supported processor with an NPU rated at 40+ TOPS, at least 16 GB of DDR5/LPDDR5 memory, and at least 256 GB of SSD/UFS storage. The PC must also meet Windows 11 requirements. Check the full Microsoft system requirements against the exact configuration on the seller’s page.

Passing one threshold is not enough. A machine with a high NPU rating but too little memory still misses the baseline. A familiar processor family name also does not prove that every chip in that family qualifies. Ask for the full model number and the maker’s specification sheet.

Read the NPU number, not a combined TOPS claim

TOPS means trillions of operations per second. For the Copilot+ threshold, read the figure for the neural processing unit itself. A total that combines CPU, graphics and NPU performance is a different number. Enter only the NPU figure in this checklist.

A worked example: an NPU rated at 12 TOPS misses the 40-TOPS check even if the PC has 32 GB of memory and a 1 TB SSD. More memory does not change the chip’s NPU rating. These example numbers illustrate the rule; they are not specifications for a named product.

Microsoft’s Copilot+ developer guide explains that software must be written to use the NPU. A high peak rating alone does not establish how quickly a particular app will run. Check app support as well as hardware before paying more for an AI label.

Copilot, Copilot+ and local AI are different checks

The Copilot app and the Copilot+ PC hardware category are different things. Microsoft’s Windows PC comparison separates the Copilot experience from features that require Copilot+ hardware. Finding a Copilot app or key on a keyboard does not establish that the PC belongs to that category.

Feature requirements can include Windows updates, accounts, languages, regions and extra hardware. Check the particular feature you want before buying. Do not assume that “on-device AI” means every feature works offline, or that a PC outside the Copilot+ category cannot run any local AI software.

Before you buy: keep a configuration checklist

  1. Copy the complete PC model and configuration code from the listing.
  2. Find the processor’s full model number and separate NPU TOPS specification.
  3. Confirm the installed memory capacity and type, plus storage capacity and type.
  4. Look for the maker’s explicit Copilot+ designation for that configuration.
  5. Check your intended apps, peripherals and required Windows features.

Print your result and keep it with the specification sheet. If a field is unknown, ask the maker rather than copying a specification from a similar model. A retailer may sell several configurations under one product name.

For the rest of the purchase, use our Windows laptop buying guide. If you already own a compatible machine and need installation media, see the Windows installation guide.

Common Copilot+ questions

Can this checklist detect my hardware?

No. It compares the figures and answers you enter. Read them from the exact PC’s maker specifications. The starting example is not a measurement of your device, and a positive result is not a hardware certification.

Does a gaming GPU satisfy the NPU requirement?

A graphics card’s AI performance is not the NPU specification this checklist asks for. Keep the two figures separate. A GPU may be useful for supported local AI apps without establishing that the whole machine is a Copilot+ PC.

Does the result guarantee Recall or another feature?

No. Use the result to identify missing specification checks. For a named feature, read its current Microsoft requirements and the maker’s support information. Availability can depend on more than the hardware thresholds shown here.

Are my answers stored?

The checklist does not save your answers to an account or local storage. Your browser may restore form entries when you revisit the page. Reset example restores the example. Print checklist gives you a copy of the entered specifications and result to keep with your purchase notes.

Verdict: verify the exact configuration

Use the NPU rating to screen a listing, then confirm the full PC. Choose hardware around the Windows features and apps you will use, with the maker’s specifications beside the result. For a custom build, start with our PC build planner before choosing parts.