Windows Hardware Certification Requirements (PDF)
Use these requirements to build and certify your Windows-compatible devices, systems, and filter drivers across all Windows platforms.
These Hardware Certification requirements are the result of collaboration with our partners and focus on customer scenarios. They are organized by feature and correspond to the tests validated in the Windows Hardware Certification Kit.
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Hardware Certification Requirements for Windows 8.1 Preview
Hardware Certification Requirements for Windows 8
Windows 8 Requirements: Blackline version downloads
Publication history
Downloads of Windows Hardware Certification Requirements were made available on the following dates:
| Requirements history | Change |
| June 26, 2013 | Windows 8.1 original publication |
| September 18, 2012 | Updated Windows 8 terminology and branding. Technical update to a small number of requirements. |
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Hardware Certification Requirements for Windows 8.1 Preview
Windows 8.1 System Requirements
Requirements for certifying Windows 8.1 systems.
File name: windows8-1-hardware-cert-requirements-system.pdf
2.5 MB
Updated: June 26, 2013
Adobe Portable Document Format file
Windows 8.1 Device Requirements
Requirements for certifying a stand-alone device (integrated or external).
File name: windows8-1-hardware-cert-requirements-device.pdf
6.0 MB
Updated: June 26, 2013
Adobe Portable Document Format file
Windows 8.1 Filter Driver Requirements
Requirements for certifying and signing Windows Filtering Platform drivers (WFP), file systems filter drivers, antivirus filter drivers, and Early Launch Anti-Malware (ELAM) filter drivers.
File name: windows8-1-hardware-cert-requirements-filter-driver.pdf
801 KB
Updated: June 26, 2013
Adobe Portable Document Format file
Hardware Certification Requirements for Windows 8.0
Windows 8 System Requirements
Requirements for certifying Windows 8 systems.
File name: windows8-hardware-cert-requirements-system.pdf
2.036 MB
Updated: September 18, 2012
Adobe Portable Document Format file
Windows 8 Device Requirements
Requirements for certifying a stand-alone device (integrated or external).
File name: windows8-hardware-cert-requirements-device.pdf
5.94 MB
Updated: September 18, 2012
Adobe Portable Document Format file
Windows 8 Filter Driver Requirements
Requirements for certifying and signing Windows Filtering Platform drivers (WFP), file systems filter drivers, antivirus filter drivers, and Early Launch Anti-Malware (ELAM) filter drivers.
File name: windows8-hardware-cert-requirements-filter-driver.pdf
672 KB
Updated: September 18, 2012
Adobe Portable Document Format file
Windows 8 Requirements: Blackline version downloads
A set of Windows 8 blackline versions, showing the delta from the original and each subsequent set of published requirements, are available on the following page:
