How to check if your PC has a TPM (trusted platform module)

When Microsoft announced Windows 11, the hardware requirements for it seemed rather basic, which is a good thing since it means more computers can run it, but the company also later revealed that one of the requirements is that your computer have a TPM, a trusted platform module.

If you’re hearing this for the first time, you’re not alone, and if you’re unsure if your computer has a TPM, don’t worry because we’ll show you how to check for it.

What is a TPM?

A TPM is a tiny chip that resides on your computer’s motherboard. This is where your system can check as to whether or not the boot up process of your computer has been tampered with. It is also used to store encryption keys, and it is also used by applications like Windows 10’s BitLocker to help encrypt and decrypt the hard drive.

Basically it is a small piece of hardware that is designed to help better protect your computer against security threats.

How to check if your computer has a TPM

1. Press the Win key + R
2. Type in “tpm.msc” and press Enter
3. You should now see a Window that confirms if you have a TPM, or you might also see a “Compatible TPM cannot be found” error message
4. If you encounter the former and your TPM is confirmed, you don’t have to do anything, but if you get the second message, you might still have a TPM chip that needs to be enabled

How to enable your computer’s TPM

Now, if you encountered the error that says a compatible TPM cannot be found, don’t worry. While on one hand it could mean that your computer really does not have a TPM, there is also a chance that your computer could have it but it might have been disabled, so you’ll have to enable it manually.

The bad news is that you’ll have to enter your computer’s BIOS to make the changes, and since each BIOS is laid out differently from manufacturer to manufacturer, it’s hard to say where the settings can be found.

Usually it should be under Advanced or Security, but if your BIOS allows you to search, then do a search for TPM. Alternatively if nothing shows up, you can also search for “PTT” for Intel based computers or “FTPM” for AMD. Once you’ve enabled it, boot back to Windows and you should be all set.

Windows 11 will be a free upgrade for those coming from Windows 10 and is expected to begin rolling out towards the end of the year during the holiday season.