How to install a trusted platform module (TPM)
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A trusted platform module (TPM) uses its hardware to increase encryption strength and prevent tampering from unwanted outside sources, and they’ve been around for a while. They’re drawing more interest in the modern age since Microsoft has included a TPM requirement for enabling certain security features in Windows 11. We’re here to help you check your PC’s requirements and explain how to install a trusted platform module.
How to install a TPM
Enabling the TPM in your BIOS post-installation is a step you shouldn’t skip, as Windows may still not detect it, so follow the instructions carefully. Now you’re ready to use the latest security features of Windows 11 with TPM 2.0 as long as the rest of your hardware meets theofficial requirements, so go ahead and upgrade.
Choosing the right TPM
Youmustchoosethe right TPMto match your motherboard, so be extra careful when checking your brand and model to find the correct module. It’s not just a software incompatibility either, the modules physically differ in their pin placement, so you can’t plug an incompatible brand into the wrong board. Check your manual or the official website for a rundown of features for your motherboard to check for a TPM header and find a compatible module.
Though some Intel and AMD processors and even certain motherboards have TPMs built in, either as hardware or software, a dedicated module is a more efficient method of encrypting and protecting sensitive data. Luckily, TPMs are barely much longer than the pins on the motherboard itself, so they’re discreet and shouldn’t obstruct any other connections.
This ASRock TPM 2.0 matches ASRock motherboards using a 17-pin header; be sure to check your own board’s requirements.
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Ben is a Senior Editor at Windows Central, covering everything related to technology hardware and software. He regularly goes hands-on with the latest Windows laptops, components inside custom gaming desktops, and any accessory compatible with PC and Xbox. His lifelong obsession with dismantling gadgets to see how they work led him to pursue a career in tech-centric journalism after a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support.
