It receives commands, it returns responses, and it can also store and regurgitate information. The TPM works like a miniature computer in its own right. If you can’t find an option to turn it on, you might need to look for a different name: AMD’s integrated TPM system is called the Firmware Trusted Platform Module (fTPM) while Intel’s is called Platform Trust Technology (PTT). If the Windows 11 installer (opens in new tab) complains you don’t have a TPM, it might be that the feature simply needs enabling in your BIOS. In fact, nowadays the full set of TPM functions can be integrated into the CPU firmware – as is the case with every processor on the Windows 11 (opens in new tab) supported hardware list, from both AMD and Intel (opens in new tab). The specification doesn’t require that the TPM be implemented as a physical chip, however.

So why has Microsoft decided to make TPM 2.0 a requirement? To understand, let’s look more closely at what a TPM is and what it does. If you take this route however then your computer will be officially classed as unsupported, meaning it’s not guaranteed to receive future updates. Microsoft even provides a simple hack (opens in new tab) that lets you install its latest operating system (OS) (opens in new tab) without a TPM. Windows 10 (opens in new tab) didn’t require a TPM, and it’s perfectly possible to use Windows 11 (opens in new tab) without one. That’s been a controversial decision, partly because it seems arbitrary. With Windows 11 (opens in new tab), however, the mood has changed: Microsoft has declared that the latest edition of its operating system will only be supported on systems where TPM 2.0 is present (opens in new tab) and enabled.

It’s been up to computer manufacturers whether they’ve chosen to include one in their designs, and up to users whether they want to enable or disable it in their BIOS settings. Despite its ubiquity, the TPM has always been an optional component.

Tpm in cpu