I remember the moment vividly. I was queuing up for a Cash Cup, warmed up, mentality locked in, ready to grind for that Victory Royale. Then, the error message popped up. It wasn’t a server issue or a bug; it was a hard stop. My PC didn’t meet the new security requirements.
If you saw that same message, don’t panic. You aren’t banned, and your PC isn’t broken. Epic Games has dropped a major announcement: Fortnite competitive players will now need Secure Boot and TPM enabled to play tourneys.
This is a massive shift in the competitive landscape, echoing the moves Riot Games made with Vanguard. As someone who has spent years tinkering with PC settings for that extra 1% FPS gain, I know how intimidating BIOS settings can be. But trust me, this is a necessary evolution for competitive integrity. Let’s break down what this means for your rig and how you can get back into the lobby without breaking a sweat.
Before we start clicking buttons, we need to understand what Epic is actually asking for. This isn’t just a random update; it’s a move to standardize hardware security in the esports scene.
TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is essentially a tiny, secure cryptoprocessor on your motherboard. Think of it as a digital vault for your encryption keys. It ensures that your hardware hasn’t been tampered with while you were away.
Secure Boot is a feature of your PC’s UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). Its job is simple: it makes sure that your computer boots using only software that is trusted by the PC manufacturer. It prevents “rootkits”—nasty malware that loads before your operating system—from taking over your PC.
The goal is simple: kernel-level anti-cheat. Cheaters have become increasingly sophisticated, using drivers and kernel-level exploits to bypass standard anti-cheat software. By forcing players to enable Secure Boot and TPM, Epic ensures that the environment the game is running in hasn’t been compromised at the root level.
It’s similar to the requirements for playing Valorant, and honestly, I think it’s a step in the right direction. No one wants to lose a high-stakes match to someone using hardware hacks.
I’ll be honest—when I first heard about these requirements, I groaned. I build my own PCs, and I hate anything that feels like it restricts my control over my hardware. I worried about compatibility issues or whether my dual-boot setup would break.
But after playing in lobbies plagued by “spin botters” and hardware ID spoofers, my perspective changed. There is a genuine satisfaction in knowing that everyone in the lobby is playing on a level playing field. The anxiety of “is that guy just good, or is he cheating?” diminishes significantly.
When I play in a tournament environment now, I feel more focused. It’s not just about the game mechanics; it’s about the integrity of the competition. It makes that Victory Royale taste that much sweeter.
This is the part most guides skip over. They tell you to do it, but not how. I’m going to walk you through it step-by-step. Don’t worry, it’s safer than it sounds.
You might already have these features enabled without knowing it.
tpm.msc and hit Enter.msinfo32, and look for “Secure Boot State.”This is where the magic happens.
Pro Tip: You can also spam the Delete or F2 key right when you turn your PC on, but the Windows method is much easier.
Every motherboard is different, but here are the common locations:
For TPM:
For Secure Boot:
Press F10 to Save & Exit. Your PC will restart. Once you are back in Windows, run tpm.msc and msinfo32 again to verify. You should now be cleared for competitive play!
This change didn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s part of a broader wave of updates Epic has rolled out recently. In the latest patch notes, Epic mentioned that they are upgrading their anti-cheat systems to require stricter hardware verification.
This specifically targets players using “driver exploits”—cheats that run at the kernel level. By requiring Secure Boot, the system ensures that only signed, validated drivers load. It effectively kills a huge chunk of the cheat market that relies on unsigned drivers.
If you want to stay updated on these changes, I highly recommend checking our guide on Fortnite anti-cheat updates regularly.
While we are talking about security, let’s not forget the fun stuff. Enabling these settings doesn’t get you free skins, but playing in secure tournaments certainly gives you a better shot at winning those prize pools!
Since you are prepping your PC for ranked play, here are a few codes for creative maps to warm up your aim once you’ve fixed your BIOS settings:
If you are looking for more ways to optimize your setup for these maps, check out our guide on the best Fortnite aim assist settings.
If you are still struggling or getting error messages, here are a few advanced tips I’ve picked up from troubleshooting my own rig:
No. Secure Boot and TPM are hardware-level security features. They do not run in the background while you are playing, so they have zero impact on your framerate. I tested this myself—my FPS was identical before and after enabling them.
Yes, but you must have the features enabled. Windows 10 supports TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot just fine. However, Windows 11 makes these requirements mandatory for installation, so the transition is smoother for Win11 users.
If your CPU is too old, you unfortunately won’t be able to participate in Fortnite tournaments. You can still play public matches, but the competitive side will be locked. It might be time to look into upgrading your CPU.
Absolutely. It is a standard security feature designed by Microsoft and PC manufacturers. It actually makes your PC safer against malware.
Ensure your CSM (Compatibility Support Module) is disabled in BIOS. Secure Boot will often not work correctly if CSM is enabled. Also, verify you are booting in UEFI mode, not Legacy.
Navigating BIOS settings can feel like defusing a bomb if you aren’t used to it, but these new security measures are a win for the community. I believe that a secure competitive environment is worth the minor hassle of tweaking a few settings.
Once you’ve got TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled, you can queue into that next Cash Cup with confidence, knowing you’re competing on a secure, level playing field. Good luck getting that Victory Royale!
