If you used the free tool that tells you why your PC can’t run Windows 11 and TPM is found to be one of the limitations, this in-depth guide will help you understand the security chip in detail.
- What is TPM and What Is Its Use?
- Why is TPM Essential for Windows 11?
- Which Processors Have Built-in TPM Support?
- How to Enable TPM in BIOS/ UEFI to Run Windows 11?
- How to Check If You Windows 10 PC Has a TPM Module?
- Can We Add TPM Module To Laptop/ Desktop Motherboard?
- Advantages and Disadvantages of TPM
What is TPM and What Is Its Use?
In basic terms, TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a hardware chip that’s responsible for protecting your PC from ransomware or any other kind of hacks and malware. It’s a cryptoprocessor that holds keys to sensitive information, including your PC’s PIN or password, Windows Hello authentication data, encryption keys for Bitlocker, security-critical keys, and more.
Why is TPM Essential for Windows 11?
There is no denying the fact that Windows computers are favorite among hackers and sophisticated attackers. It’s largely because of how easy it’s to install programs from the web or automate a script on Windows that ends up infecting the whole system. Remote execution is another favorite method of hackers to exploit a vulnerable PC. Gone are the days when low-threat viruses blocked Task Manager, and you would have to run an antivirus program to make things right again.
The TPM module generally comes built-in with the CPU, but for custom-built PCs, you will find a TPM header on the motherboard where you can attach a compatible TPM module. At least since 2014, almost all the processors have come with the TPM module onboard. Intel started integrating TPM on its chips with the Haswell architecture (2013, 4th-Gen) except for the K-series, which got the integrated Trusted Platform Module with 6th-Gen (2015).
First, you need to boot into the BIOS or UEFI interface of your PC. You can do this by pressing the boot key continuously while your computer starts up.
Now, press “F10” and hit enter to save and exit. F10 is generally reserved for “Save and exit”, but the key may differ for your computer. We suggest you check it on the BIOS/ UEFI footnote.
- Method 1: Using TPM Manager
- Once you have enabled TPM in the BIOS/ UEFI menu, just use the “Windows + R” keyboard shortcut to open the Run window. Here, type tpm.msc and hit enter.
Method 1: Using TPM Manager
- Method 2: Using Device Manager
Another way is to check TPM availability through Device Manager. Press the “Windows + X” shortcut and open “Device Manager“.
Method 2: Using Device Manager
Finally, there is one more way to check the TPM module on your Windows 10 PC. Open “Windows Security” and move to the “Device Security” tab. Here, click on “Security processor” details, and you will find all the information regarding the TPM chip on your computer.
As I have mentioned above, if you bought a laptop in the last 5 to 6 years, your laptop likely comes with the TPM module. All you need to do is enable it from the BIOS. In case your laptop is running an older CPU, then sadly, you can’t add a TPM chip since laptop motherboards don’t come with a TPM header. Plus, Microsoft will allow certain OEMs to bypass the TPM requirement for commercial purposes. Image: Rainer Knäpper, Free Art License
As I have discussed above, the advantages of enabling TPM are that it brings overall safety, security to your sensitive information, and integrity to the OS. Here, let’s take a look at what are the disadvantages of this security chip. For general users, let me clarify that TPM won’t stop malware and other kinds of sophisticated attacks on your PC. But what it does is that it blocks malwares from stealing your most private and confidential data. In that sense, TPM is not a one-stop solution for safety and security on Windows. You will still need to be careful while dealing with files downloaded from the web.
Coming to the technical aspect, people who usually dual-boot Windows and Linux might face some issues. While TPM support (known as TCG on Linux) has been added to Linux since version 3.20, there have been some driver issues. You need to separately check your Linux distro and how it plays with the TPM chip. Otherwise, there are not many issues you are going to face with the TPM chip enabled on Windows 11.
