Install Windows 11 VM on vmWare ESXi

Installing a Windows 11 VM under the free version of ESXi is currently somewhat difficult, as Windows 11 requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0.
Those who use a vCenter Server and the client can use the built-in Key Provider to provide a virtual TPM, the same applies to VMware Workstation.
Since there is no such option in the free version, you have to find another way. We will show you how to bypass the TPM check of Windows 11:

Download Windows 11 ISO file and create VM

Download the Windows Media Creation Tool and use it to create a Windows 11 image. Then upload this image to your ESXi host and create a VM as usual. Select Windows 10 as the guest operating system. Continue with the installation until the message “Windows 11 cannot be run on your PC” appears.

Open and adjust the registry

When the message is displayed, use the key combination SHIFT + F10 to open the console.

The command regedit opens the registry, here you now navigate to the folder:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetup
Now create the new folder “LabConfig” in this directory by right-clicking on “Setup” and then selecting the “Key” option under “New”.

In it, create the DWORD (32bit) entry:
BypassTPMCheck
To do this, right-click again in the empty field on the right side and select the “DWORD (32-Bit) Value” option under “New”. Give the entry the name mentioned above. Assign the value “1” to the entry by right-clicking on it and selecting “Modify”.

After that, you can close the windows. Then cancel the installation and restart it.

Install Windows 11 with a local user

If you want to create a local account directly during the installation instead of setting up a Microsoft account, proceed as follows:
Carry out the installation until you are prompted to create a Microsoft account. Then edit the VM settings and disconnect the network adapter by unchecking “Connect” and saving the settings.

Then go back to the Windows installation and click the arrow in the top left to go back one step. After that, you can create a local user and continue the installation with it.

Conclusion

For productive systems, this solution is not ideal, but it can be used for testing purposes. It shouldn’t take too long for the new ESXi versions to support Windows 11.
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