Hopefully, in light of the Windows 11 requirement, most motherboard makers will issue firmware updates for their motherboards, adding the feature. Some lower-end or gaming-focused motherboards may lack the option because they aren’t aimed at business customers.

In some cases, despite your CPU having a firmware TPM feature, your motherboard may lack the option to toggle it on. However, since each motherboard brand and model may be different, you should check your motherboard manual for specific instructions on how to activate your firmware TPM. Usually, by default, motherboard makers disable firmware TPM functionality but then allow you to switch it on manually in your BIOS or UEFI menu. Major notebook makers - including Dell, HP and Lenovo - often include software applications that will help users access TPM features.This is where things can become a little complicated. IT departments often manage TPM chips in enterprise devices. If you buy a PC with a TPM chip, you can enable its encryption to protect your data by accessing the BIOS.

Microsoft announced that Windows 11 will make TPM 2.0 a requirement, this shouldn't present an issue for most users as it has been present on laptops and CPUs since around 2016, but some will need to either update their hardware or upgrade to a new laptop if they want to make the switch to Windows 11. While originally targeted at enterprises or larger companies looking to secure their data, TPM chips are now becoming a requirement for all laptops and desktops to ensure security for all users. TPM chips in network-connected set-top boxes enable digital rights management, so media companies can distribute content without worrying about theft. TPM chips also provide safe storage of encryption keys, certificates and passwords used for logging in to online services, which is a more secure method than storing them inside software on the hard drive.

Tpm chip windows 11