Why Windows 11 Requires A Tpm - And How You Can Get Around It

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 When Microsoft introduced Windows 11 successful 2021, its new, stringent hardware compatibility trial included checking for nan beingness of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) -- specifically, 1 that meets nan TPM 2.0 standard.

What is simply a TPM?

The elemental reply is that a TPM is simply a unafraid cryptoprocessor, a dedicated microcontroller designed to grip security-related tasks and negociate encryption keys successful a measurement that minimizes nan expertise of attackers to break into a system. Windows uses that hardware for a assortment of security-related features, including Secure Boot, BitLocker, and Windows Hello.

Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 - 2 free options

The TPM performs nan basal mathematical chores that make it imaginable to encrypt and decrypt data, make random numbers, and validate integer signatures. It's besides a unafraid spot to shop integer certificates, encryption keys, and authentication information successful a measurement that can't beryllium tampered with.

But nan afloat reply is, arsenic pinch thing related to machine security, somewhat much complicated.

The TPM architecture is defined by an world modular (formally known as ISO/IEC 11889) created by nan Trusted Computing Group much than 20 years ago. The modular deals pinch really different cryptographic operations are implemented, pinch an accent connected "integrity protection, isolation and confidentially [sic]."

A TPM tin beryllium implemented arsenic a discrete spot soldered onto a machine motherboard, aliases it tin beryllium implemented wrong nan firmware of a PC chipset aliases nan CPU itself, arsenic Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm person done complete nan past decade. Even Microsoft has gotten into nan act, pinch its Microsoft Pluton information processor, which is integrated straight into SoCs from AMD and Qualcomm; it tin beryllium utilized arsenic a TPM aliases arsenic a information processor alongside a discrete TPM. If you usage a virtual machine, you tin moreover build a virtual TPM spot into it. 

Why do you request a TPM?

A December 2024 station connected Microsoft's Windows IT Pro Blog made nan lawsuit that TPM 2.0 is "a non-negotiable modular for nan early of Windows." In nan firm world, astatine least, that modulation has already happened. Microsoft's Windows Hardware Certification Program required that immoderate PC sold pinch Windows 10 had to incorporate a TPM 2.0; business-class PCs from arsenic early arsenic 2007 typically included a TPM 1.2. As a result, nan overwhelming mostly of Windows PCs successful usage coming support this standard, and nan only ones that don't are PCs designed for nan user marketplace that are much than 10 years old. 

In Windows, nan TPM useful pinch nan Windows Secure Boot feature, which verifies that only signed, trusted codification runs erstwhile nan machine starts up. If personification tries to tamper pinch nan operating strategy -- to adhd a rootkit, for illustration -- Secure Boot detects that nan codification trying to tally doesn't lucifer nan measurements stored successful nan TPM and prevents nan unauthorized codification from executing. (Chromebooks person a akin characteristic called Verified Boot, which besides uses nan TPM to guarantee that a strategy hasn't been tampered with.)

The TPM besides enables biometric authentication pinch Windows Hello, and it holds nan BitLocker keys that encrypt nan contents of a Windows strategy disk, making it astir intolerable for an attacker to break that encryption and entree your information without authorization. For a elaborate method explanation, you can read this primer. Today's high-end business PCs commencement pinch a TPM 2.0 and different hardware to alteration firmware protection and precocious personality verification, blocking galore communal information threats. 

Does your PC person a TPM?

So, does your PC person a TPM? If it was sold pinch Windows 10 preinstalled successful 2016 aliases later, nan reply is almost surely yes. That's nan twelvemonth Microsoft began requiring manufacturers to vessel PCs pinch TPM 2.0 disposable and enabled by default. Intel CPUs from that era see a TPM 2.0 that's embedded successful firmware (Intel calls this characteristic Platform Trust Technology, aliases PTT). Also successful 2016, AMD began incorporating a firmware-based TPM 2.0 called fTPM.

If your PC is older than that, it still mightiness incorporate a TPM. Intel started including nan characteristic successful its 4th Generation Core processors (Haswell) successful 2014, but successful general, that exertion was only disposable and enabled successful PCs built for nan business market. Computers built successful 2013 aliases earlier mightiness see discrete TPMs that are abstracted from nan CPU; for nan astir part, pre-2014 TPMs followed nan TPM 1.2 standard, which is not officially supported by Windows 11.

Also: Windows 10 PC can't beryllium upgraded? You person 5 options - and must enactment now

To complicate things moreover more, your PC mightiness person a TPM that's abnormal successful nan BIOS aliases firmware settings. That's definite to beryllium nan lawsuit connected a PC that's been configured to usage a Legacy BIOS alternatively of UEFI. You tin cheque nan configuration of your Windows PC by utilizing nan System Information instrumentality (Msinfo32.exe). To alteration aliases disable a TPM, you request to set nan PC's UEFI settings.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 initialize and return ownership of nan TPM arsenic portion of nan installation process. You don't request to do thing typical to group up aliases usage a TPM beyond making judge it's enabled for usage by nan PC. And it's not conscionable a Windows feature. Linux PCs and IoT devices tin initialize and usage a TPM arsenic well. 

Apple devices usage a different hardware creation called nan Secure Enclave, which performs immoderate of nan aforesaid cryptographic operations arsenic a TPM and besides provides unafraid retention of delicate personification data.

Also: Windows 11 upgrade not working? Try my 4 favourite troubleshooting tricks

The other level of information that a TPM enforces successful tamper-resistant hardware is simply a very bully thing. To spot specifications astir nan TPM successful your Windows PC, unfastened Device Manager and look nether nan Security Devices heading.

The workaround

On a PC moving Windows 10 that includes immoderate type of TPM, you tin upgrade to Windows 11 by making a elemental alteration to nan registry, moreover if nan CPU isn't officially supported. If your PC doesn't see a TPM, you'll request to usage an unofficial hack to bypass nan hardware compatibility checks and instal Windows 11. The easiest measurement to do this is pinch nan thief of a free, open-source inferior called Rufus. For details, spot "How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11."