MW4 TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot Error on PC: 6 Fixes That Work

The Short Version

If Modern Warfare 4 refuses to launch and throws a TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot error, it's because Activision now requires both features enabled at the hardware level — the game checks your PC's security state before it will even open the menu. This isn't a bug. Both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required to play. The MW4 pre-order pages spell it out directly: TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced.

Here's the part nobody tells you up front: your motherboard probably supports TPM 2.0 already. It's just switched off in BIOS, or the firmware is out of date. Fixing it takes about 15 minutes.

Pro tip: Before you touch anything, press Win + R, type msinfo32, and hit Enter. If Secure Boot State says Off and BIOS Mode says Legacy, that's your whole problem right there. Screenshot it so you know your starting point.

Quick-Fix Checklist (Try In This Order)

1. Confirm the actual state — run tpm.msc and msinfo32 to see what's really on.
2. Enable TPM 2.0 (fTPM/PTT) in BIOS — the most common single fix.
3. Enable Secure Boot in BIOS — the second half of the requirement.
4. Full shutdown, not restart — forces the game to re-read your system state.
5. Update your BIOS/motherboard firmware — fixes the "I enabled it but it still errors" case.
6. Run Activision's Secure Attestation Wizard — official tool to verify you're compliant.

Work down the list. Most players are fixed by step 3.

Fix 1 & 2: Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in BIOS

Verdict: this is the fix for 80% of you.

Restart your PC and mash the BIOS key as it boots — usually F2, F10, DEL, or ESC depending on the board. Once you're in:

• For TPM: find the Security, Advanced, or Trusted Computing tab. On Intel boards look for PTT (Platform Trust Technology). On AMD look for AMD fTPM or fTPM switch and set it to the firmware TPM option.
• For Secure Boot: go to the Boot or Security tab. You may need to disable CSM first, then set Secure Boot Mode to Standard and enable it. Some boards also want you to Install default Secure Boot keys.

Save and exit. Boot back into Windows and re-check with msinfo32 — BIOS mode should be 'UEFI' and Secure Boot State should be 'ON'.

Why both? Many modern anti-cheat drivers verify the integrity of your boot chain and security processor before games will launch. That means two things must be true on your PC: Secure Boot is enabled and TPM 2.0 (on AMD, "fTPM") is present and up-to-date.

Pro tip: Enabling Secure Boot can hide your OS drive if Windows was installed in Legacy/MBR mode. If your PC won't boot to Windows after enabling it, don't panic — flip Secure Boot back off, boot normally, convert your drive to GPT with the mbr2gpt tool, then re-enable Secure Boot. Enabling it on a fresh Windows 11 install is painless; retrofitting an old Windows 10 setup is where people get burned.

Fix 3: Do a Full Shutdown, Not a Restart

Already enabled everything and MW4 still nags you? This one's dumb but it works. Shut down the PC completely and then turn it back on (do not use Sleep or Hibernate). This forces the game to re-read your system state and solves most TPM detection errors.

A normal Windows "restart" uses fast startup and can carry over a stale security state. A cold boot doesn't.

Fix 4: Update Your BIOS Firmware

Verdict: this is the fix for the "it's enabled and it STILL errors" crowd.

This is the frustrating one. Plenty of players report TPM showing as on, Secure Boot showing as on, and the game still blocking them. The culprit is usually old firmware reporting an outdated fTPM version. As one AMD guide puts it, for AM4 users the system may show TPM attestation errors (e.g., 0x80070490) or game launch issues — you need to update the fTPM firmware via a BIOS (UEFI) update.

Go to your motherboard manufacturer's support page, download the latest BIOS for your exact model, and flash it (most boards have a built-in flash tool like EZ Flash or Instant Flash). Note the gotcha: sometimes after a BIOS update Secure Boot resets to default settings, so even when it says it's enabled, turn it off, save, boot, then go back into BIOS and enable it again. That reset dance clears the error for most people.

Reality check: some older CPUs simply aren't on the compatibility list. Ryzen 1000 and Ryzen Threadripper 1000 series processors are not included in the list of compatible processors for Windows 11. If you're on ancient hardware, no BIOS update fixes that.

Fix 5: Run the Official Attestation Wizard

Activision ships a first-party tool for exactly this. On their TPM support article you can run the latest Call of Duty Secure Attestation Wizard, which provides a quick way to verify that your PC meets the security requirements. If the wizard passes but the game still blocks you, that points to a firmware issue (back to Fix 4) rather than a settings issue.

Confirmed Fix vs. Workaround

Confirmed by Activision:

• TPM 2.0 + Secure Boot are hard requirements — players without TPM 2.0 enabled may receive an in-game notification indicating their system does not meet the new security requirements.
• The Secure Attestation Wizard and BIOS-update guidance are official.

Community workarounds (unofficial, but widely reported to work):

• The disable/re-enable Secure Boot toggle after a BIOS flash.
• Full cold shutdown to force a re-read.

The Method at a Glance

Pros of enabling TPM 2.0 + Secure Boot:

• It's the only way to play MW4 on PC — no way around it.
• Genuinely raises the cheater barrier, which is what the playerbase asked for.
• One-time setup; once done, BO7, Warzone, and future titles all work too.

Cons:

• Retrofitting Legacy/MBR installs can temporarily brick your boot until you convert to GPT.
• Old BIOS firmware causes false "not enabled" errors that need a flash.
• Some pre-Windows-11 CPUs are left out entirely.

If Nothing Works

If you've enabled both features, updated the BIOS, done a cold boot, and the wizard still fails, escalate:

• Check server/known-issue status and support articles at support.activision.com/mw4 (linked directly from the game's own pages).
• Read Activision's dedicated TPM/Secure Boot article at support.activision.com/tpm.
• Contact your motherboard manufacturer — a surprising number of these are firmware bugs they have to patch, not something you can fix in software.

Be warned: player experiences with support have been mixed. One frustrated user summed it up after getting bounced between parties — Activision answers by referring you to their webpage, then says contact the manufacturer. Have your msinfo32 and tpm.msc screenshots ready so you're not going in circles.

Bottom Line

The MW4 TPM 2.0 / Secure Boot error looks scary but it's almost always a two-toggle BIOS fix plus, occasionally, a firmware update. Get it sorted once and you're set for the whole modern Call of Duty lineup.

Once your PC is actually launching MW4, the real grind begins — maxing weapons and camos still eats dozens of hours of matches. If you'd rather skip the slog and jump straight to the good stuff, our MW4 weapon leveling servicefrom $4.99 handles the progression for you while you enjoy a game that finally boots.