How to verify the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip in Windows

First, and when it comes to the hardware of a computer, users tend to see specifications such as: RAM, CPU, GPU. As well as the motherboard model and, if you are looking for hard drives instead of solid state drives, their speed and capacity. Also, a small hardware component that you may not know is the Trusted Platform Module chip. Also called TPM chip.

It will not make your PC faster, nor will it increase any performance benchmarks. The device basically makes your system safer, and is often advertised for commercial computers. So, here we show you how you can verify if you have this chip in place; the Trusted Platform Module TPM on your computer.

Check the Trusted Platform Module or TPM chip

First, to verify if you have the chip in question in your system, you must open the execution box with the keyboard shortcut Win + R. Similarly, in the execution box, enter the following:

tpm.msc

Now, press the Enter key and an application will open. This application is called “Trusted Platform Module Management”. In the "Status" section, check if TPM is ready to use. If the status section says you don't have this chip in your system, it may have been disabled from the BIOS.

Similarly, restart your system and access the BIOS or UEFI. Since they differ from one system to another, it is not possible to guide you to the exact place where you should verify the TPM chip configuration. That said, look for anything related to security. If you don't have a security tab, look for a hardware related tab or something related to encryption.

Once you find it, you must search for “Trusted Platform Module” and enable it. Similarly, if you can't find it, even after looking for it in areas where it doesn't necessarily belong, you may not have the chip.

However, it is very likely that the latest laptop models have it, but not everyone has it. Now, check the specifications for your laptop model. If you have a Trusted Platform Module chip, you will definitely read it there.

Without the Trusted Platform Module chip

Now, if your system does not have this chip, you still have the option to install one yourself. Installing a TPM chip is not as simple as buying and connecting a Bluetooth dongle to your PC. Similarly, your motherboard must be compatible and it is likely that the newer models of these boards do.

So, once you know that it is compatible, you can buy this chip. In addition, you can install it yourself. But if you've never manipulated the hardware before, let a professional do this work for you.