How to Create a Windows 11 Virtual Machine on VMware with TPM and Secure Boot support

Although Microsoft did not enforce the security requirements for installing Windows 11 during the development process, you may not be able to install the operating system on the VMware Workstation virtual machine due to the lack of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and safe boot at the end. In this guide, I’ll show you How to create a Windows 11 virtual machine on VMware with TPM and Safe Boot Support. After following the steps, you are ready to install Windows 11 on VMware with TPM and Safe Boot.

What is a TPM Chip?

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a small chip on the motherboard of the computer that can carry out security-related activities at the hardware level. It’s essentially a tamper-proof cryptographic processor that can perform tasks like creating encryption keys and providing a combination of hardware and software-based authentication.

If you plan to install Windows 11 on VMware Workstation, the application includes TPM and secure boot options. Since this is virtualization, you don’t need to have the components on your computer.

What is the difference between TPM 1.2 and TPM 2.0?

“The TPM 1.2 standard only allows the use of RSA and SHA1 hashing algorithms,” said Microsoft. “TPM 2.0 offers more flexibility in encryption by being able to better adapt the encryption algorithms,” the document goes on to say. TPM 2.0 offers improved algorithms that can improve drive signature and key generation performance. “

Simply put, TPM 2.0 technology is newer than TPM 1.2, which has been in use since 2011. Cryptography is stronger, more secure and can better support new algorithms. And as with most engineering disciplines, the newest is better. Click here to learn more about TPM.

Enable TPM and Secure Boot on the VM to install Windows 11

To enable TPM and Secure Boot on VMware, do the following:

Step 1. Encrypt the virtual machine

  • First, start VMware Workstation, and tap on that virtual machine.
  • Then tap the VM Menu and click on that the settings Possibility.
  • Then go to the Options and tap on that Access control and select the option in the “Encryption” section Encrypt Button.
  • Now select an encryption password and tap on the Encrypt Button.
Encrypt the virtual machine
Encrypt the virtual machine

Step 2. Enable Secure Boot for the virtual machine

  • After encrypting the virtual machine, the next thing you should tap is Advanced Possibility.
  • In the Firmware Type section, tap the UEFA Option and check the Enable safe boot Option (if applicable).
Enable Secure Boot for the virtual machine
Enable Secure Boot

Note: Changing the firmware type can cause problems. If you don’t already have the VM with UEFI, your best bet is to create a new virtual machine instead.

Step 3. Add TPM to install Windows 11

  • After enabling the safe boot option, tap on the hardware Tab.
  • Then click on the Add and choose the Trusted platform module Option to install Windows 11.
  • Tap that Finished and click on OK Button.
Add a Trusted Platform Module to install Windows 11
Adding TPM to Windows 11 Installation

After following the steps above to enable TPM and Secure Boot on the VM to install Windows 11, your computer should now have the necessary security components to pass the Windows 11 installation requirement test.

Create a Windows 11 virtual machine on VMware with TPM and Secure Boot support

If you want to install Windows 11 on VMware with TPM and Secure Boot, you must first create a virtual machine that supports TPM and Secure Boot for Windows 11. To do this, you can follow the steps below:

Step 1. Select a guest operating system and name it

  • First, start first VMware workstation. If you don’t have VMware installed on your PC, you can download it here.
  • Next, tap that file Menu and select the New virtual machine Possibility.
  • Then tap Next and select the latest virtual machine hardware compatibility option.
  • Press the Next and choose the I will install the operating system later Possibility.
  • Click the again Next and select the option in the “Guest Operating System” section Microsoft Windows Possibility.
  • Now select the option in the “Version” section Windows 10 x64 Possibility. (If available, select the Windows 11 option)
  • Tap the Next Button, select a name for the Windows 11 VM, and then specify the location for the virtual machine.
Select a guest operating system and name it
Select and name a guest operating system

Step 2. Enable Secure Boot for the Windows 11 VM

  • After naming and specifying a location for your virtual machine, tap the Next Button.
  • In the “Firmware Type” section, select the option UEFA Possibility.
  • Now just check that out Safe startup process Possibility.
Enable Secure Boot for the virtual machine
UEFI> Safe Boot

Step 3. Specifying Cores and RAM for Windows 11 VM

Specifying Cores and RAM for Windows 11 VM
Specify processor cores and RAM
  • After enabling the Secure Boot option, tap on the Next Button.
  • Now select the number of processor cores (two or more).
  • Next, tap that Next Button and in the next window enter the amount of RAM (4 GB or higher).

Step 4. Specify a hard drive type and a hard drive capacity for Windows 11 VM

  • After specifying the processors and RAM for the virtual machine, tap the Next Button.
  • Next, choose your preferred network connection and tap the Next Button.
  • Then use the default setting I / O controller types Option and click the Next Button.
  • Now select the option for the virtual disk type. (NVMe is usually recommended if available.)
  • Choose Create a new virtual hard disk Option and click the Next Button.
  • Now enter the hard drive size in gigabytes (64 GB or higher).
Specify a hard drive type and a hard drive capacity for Windows 11 VM
Specify a hard drive type and a hard drive capacity

Step 5. Go to Standard with the rest of the settings.

  • After specifying the hard drive capacity, use the default settings for the rest of the settings unless you choose to use other options.
  • Tap that Next Button.
  • Tap that Next Button again.
  • Tap that Finished Button.

Step 6. Encrypt Windows 11 VM and add TPM

  • After creating a virtual machine for Windows 11, open VMware
  • Select the virtual machine and click VM Menu and then select the the settings Possibility.
  • Next go to the Options and tap on that Access control Possibility.
  • Then, in the Encryption section, tap the Encrypt Button and create an encryption password. Press the Encrypt Button.
  • Next go to the hardware Tab: tap the Add and choose the Trusted platform module Possibility.
  • Press the Finished Button.
Encrypt the Windows 11 VM and add a Trusted Platform Module
Encrypt VM and add TPM

last words

How to create a Windows 11 virtual machine on VMware with TPM and Secure Boot support. After following the steps above, you can install Windows 11 on VMware with TPM and Secure Boot with the following steps:

  • Start the VMware software
  • Go to the Windows 11 VM window and tap Power on this virtual machine.
  • And then just follow the instructions.

The Windows 11 installation process is simple and similar to Windows 10. Just follow the instructions and go through the basic settings. Enjoy Windows 11 on VMware!


Also read:

  • How to install Windows 11 on M1 Macs with a virtual machine
  • How to install Windows 11 on VirtualBox in Windows 10
  • How to show and hide the Recycle Bin in Windows 11
  • How to turn off notifications on your Windows 11 PC and laptop