How to fix trusted platform module has malfunctioned on Windows 10
Modern PCs come with with a chip called the TPM chip or the trusted platform module chip. It basically makes your system more secure. If your system as a TPM chip, the OS you install on it e.g., Windows 10, will be able to utilize it and prevent system tampering.
Fix trusted platform module has malfunctioned
The TPM chip, up until Windows 10, was an optional bit of hardware to have. Come Windows 11, you must have the chip or you won’t be able to install the newer OS. If you have a TPM chip but it has suddenly stopped working, try the fixes below.
1. Uninstall Health check app
Windows 11 is not out yet but plenty of people have rushed to install the Health check app which wasn’t really ready to be used. Microsoft has since pulled it but the app has caused the TPM chip to malfunction. If you’ve installed the Health Check app, uninstall it.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs>Uninstall a program.
- Select Windows PC Health Check and click the Uninstall button.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, you may have to reinstall or reset Windows 10. If you never installed the Health Check app, you can try the other fixes.
2. Clear TMP chip
You can clear the TPM chip and reset it to its default settings. That said, you should be very careful with this fix. It can result in data loss and Microsoft strongly recommends that users backup data before they use it.
- Open Windows Defender.
- Click Device Security.
- Click Security processor details.
- Click Security Processor troubleshooting.
- Click Clear TPM.
- Your system will restart.
3. Prepare TPM
The TPM malfunction may be fixed by preparing the TPM.
- Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
- In the run box, enter
tpm.msc. - Click the Prepare the TPM option in the column on the right.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Note: The Prepare the TPM option may be greyed out/unavailable. This means the TPM is in use and enabled. You will have to clear it in this case.
4. Disable Hyper-V
If you do not need to run virtual machines, you can afford to disable Hyper-V. Doing so can fix the TPM malfunction.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs>Uninstall a program.
- In the column on the left, click Turn Windows features on or off.
- In the window that opens, uncheck Hyper V.
- Click Ok.
- Restart the system.
Conclusion
The TPM chip is important and newer versions of Windows will not run in its absence. As such. the malfunction isn’t something you should ignore. If the above fixes do not work, it may be worth having the hardware on your system checked for problems.
