What is TPM (Trusted Platform Module)? Here’s how to enable it for Windows 11

When Microsoft unveiled its latest Windows 11 desktop operating system in 2021, it drew a new surprising line in the sand. Windows 11 would only run on computers containing a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip. This restriction would apply to existing and new systems, meaning millions of older computers would be forever ineligible to upgrade to the latest desktop operating system. Fast forward a few years later and that restriction hasn’t proven as disruptive to the average PC user, but it’s still worth asking: what is a TPM and why does it matter?

What is TPM and what does it do?