If you want to Install Windows 11 without TPM, you are not alone. With Windows 11, Microsoft made the decision that a TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) is mandatory, and because of this prerequisite Windows 11 could not be installed or upgraded on many older computers. In this guide we’ll look at what a TPM is, how to check if you have a TPM 2.0, and a proven way to Install Windows 11 without TPM anyway so your existing hardware does not go to waste.
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, it helps to understand why so many people search for a way to Install Windows 11 without TPM. Plenty of perfectly capable laptops and desktops ship with older firmware, a disabled security chip, or no module at all. Rather than buying new hardware, you can bypass the check during setup. Below you will find everything you need, from the background theory to the exact registry edits.
Table of contents
What is a TPM?
A TPM is a security module which is typically located on the motherboard. A TPM stores user data, biometric data for e.g. Windows Hello or other cryptographic keys. The TPM can also act as a processor for creating hardware-based hashes. It is almost impossible for attackers to access the data in the TPM, which is exactly why Microsoft made it a requirement. Knowing this trade-off is important before you decide to Install Windows 11 without TPM, because you are intentionally turning off a hardware security layer.
How can I check if I have a TPM 2.0
- Open a cmd and enter tpm.msc
- If you do not have a TPM, the window looks like this:
If you see this message, that is the clearest sign you will need to Install Windows 11 without TPM using the bypass method described later in this post. To get more information about the TPM, open a PowerShell window as administrator and type get-tpm
To find out the TPM version, run the following command in an administrative cmd:
wmic /namespace:\\root\cimv2\security\microsofttpm path win32_tpm get /value
You will see the version next to SpecVersion=. If the version is below 2.0, or if no module is present at all, the official upgrade path is blocked and you will want to Install Windows 11 without TPM instead.
How to Install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0
Disclaimer: You have to consider that by disabling the TPM check you may not have support for important security features and it is not guaranteed that Windows will work properly. The TPM is used for features such as Device Health Attestation, SecureBIO, System Guard and Windows Hello.
The approach below lets you Install Windows 11 without TPM by adding a few registry values during setup. It is simple, reversible, and works on most older machines. Follow each step carefully.
- Download the latest Windows 11 ISO from the official Microsoft site
- Create a boot stick (on Mac I use e.g. Etcher)
- Plug in the boot stick and start the installation
- Select the language and click start installation
- Press Shift + F10 to open a CMD
- Type regedit
- Navigate to:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup
- Right-click on the Setup key and select New > Key
- Name the key LabConfig
- Right-click and New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Name the value BypassTPMCheck
- Double-click on the value
- Set the value data to 1
- Click OK
- Create two more DWORD values
- Name: BypassRAMCheck
- Value: 1
- Name: BypassSecureBootCheck
- Value: 1
- Name: BypassRAMCheck
- Close the Registry Editor and the CMD window
- Press the back button in the upper left corner of your Windows 11 setup screen
- Install Windows 11
Final thoughts on how to Install Windows 11 without TPM
As mentioned before, the steps above are a reliable way to Install Windows 11 without TPM even if your machine has no compatible module, but be aware that you are giving up some important security features. For deeper background on the requirement straight from Microsoft, see the official Windows 11 system requirements on Microsoft Learn. If you manage devices at scale, you may also enjoy my other posts over on the jannikreinhard.com blog covering Intune and endpoint management.
That is the full walkthrough. Whether you are reviving an old laptop or testing in a lab, you now have a clean, repeatable method to Install Windows 11 without TPM. I hope this blog post was helpful.
Stay healthy, Cheers
Jannik