One of the best features of Windows 11 is that it makes your overall PC experience safe and secure by default. However, for enhanced protection, you must have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip on your PC. If you have no idea about TPM chips, follow our detailed explanation on what exactly TPM is and why it is essential for Windows 11. In this guide, we will focus specifically on how to check if your Windows PC has TPM. a TPM chip and activate it. Chances are your computer already comes with this TPM security module. So without wasting time, let’s get to the tutorial.
Check and Enable TPM Chip on Your Windows PC (2021)
If you encounter the issue This PC cannot run Windows 11 with a TPM error after running the Windows 11 compatibility test, go through our guide and check whether your PC comes with a TPM chip or not. We will also explain how to enable TPM chip on Windows 10 in this article.
How to check if your PC has a TPM chip for Windows 11
Before upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10, I suggest you check the TPM support on your Windows 10 PC. This way you will be sure that after signing up for Windows Program Dev Channel Insider, you’ll receive the first preview build of Windows 11. Also, if you’re using an Intel 4th Gen (2014) processor or an AMD Ryzen 2500 (2017) processor and higher, then in all likelihood your PC comes with with a TPM security chip. Here’s how you can confirm it.
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Method 1: Using the TPM Manager
1. Press the Windows keyboard shortcut ” Windows+R to open the Run window on your PC. Here, type tpm.msc and press Enter.
2. A new window will open. Now under ” Statuscheck whether the TPM chip is available or not. If available, the status will indicate: “The TPM is ready to use. » Just below you can also find the TPM version.
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Method 2: Using Device Manager
Another way to check if your PC supports the TPM security chip is to use Device Manager. It’s a simple two-step process, so follow the instructions below:
1. Press “Windows + X” shortcut and open ” Device Manager“.
Here, expand the ” Security device“, and you will find TPM with version information. For example, my HP laptop has TPM 2.0, but your PC may include TPM 1.2, which is also compatible with the next Windows 11 update.
Method 3: Using Windows Security
Finally, there is another way to check for the presence of the TPM module on a Windows PC.
1. Open “ Windows Security using the Windows search bar and navigate to the “Device Security” tab.
2. Then click on Contact details of the “security processor”, and you will find all the information about the TPM chip on your computer. You will also see if your PC supports TPM 1.2 or TPM 2.0 here.
How to Enable the TPM Chip on Your Windows PC
Some laptops do not allow you to enable the TPM chip unless you set a “Supervisor” or “Administrator” password in the BIOS settings. So you need to set the password first, only then you can activate the TPM chip. Needless to say, you need to remember the password, otherwise you won’t be able to access the BIOS and make any firmware-level changes in the future. With that said, let’s take a look at the steps to enable TPM on your PC:
1. First, you must boot into BIOS or UEFI interface from your computer. You can do this by continuously pressing the start key while your computer is booting up.
To note: For HP laptops, this is the “Esc” or “F10” key. As with other laptops and desktops, you need to find your computer’s startup key on the Internet. Also, if you are using a custom desktop, the startup key depends on the motherboard manufacturer. It would be one of them – F12, F9, F10, etc.
2. Once you are in the BIOS/UEFI interface, find the “TPM” option or Trusted Platform Technology under the “Security” tab. It is also labeled PTT (Platform Trust Technology) on some Intel-based machines. On AMD machines, you can find the “PSP”, “fTPM”, or “PTP” option in the BIOS menu.
To note: If you cannot find the TPM located under Security Settings in your PC’s BIOS interface, look around and go to Advanced Settings. However, make sure it is enabled or available. There may also be a TPM status, so go ahead and enable it.
3. Now, press “F10” and press Enter to save and exit. F10 is usually reserved for “Save and Exit”, but the key may differ for your computer. We suggest you check it in the BIOS/UEFI footnote.
Activate the TPM chip to install Windows 11 on your PC
So here are the ways to check whether your PC has TPM or not, and in case it is not found, you can enable it from BIOS/UEFI menu. I highly recommend enabling TPM not only to make your PC compatible with Windows 11, but to provide an isolated hardware authentication system. This will protect all your passwords and personal information on your PC. If you want to see a list of Windows 11 compatible processors that come with the TPM chip, see our linked article. Anyway, it all comes from us. If you have any questions, comment below and let us know.
