Windows 11 still needs TPM 2.0, but Microsoft quietly changed who provides it on new AMD and Qualcomm PCs without explaining why
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Starting with silicon released in 2026, Microsoft’s Pluton security processor will no longer serve as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on AMD and Qualcomm PCs. Windows 11 will instead rely on the chipmakers’ firmware TPM (fTPM) or a discrete TPM, a model already used on Intel platforms. Existing devices built on 2025 or earlier AMD and Qualcomm silicon that use Pluton as the TPM will continue to receive updates, and all Windows 11 security features such as BitLocker and Windows Hello remain functional. Microsoft added the change to its “Pluton as TPM” documentation on September 16 but gave no rationale or a clear definition of which 2026 chips are affected. The shift moves responsibility for TPM bug fixes from Microsoft to the hardware vendors while retaining Pluton for other security tasks inside the processor.
💡 Why It Matters
- · By delegating TPM maintenance to AMD, Qualcomm and Intel, Microsoft reduces its direct control over a critical root‑of‑trust component, potentially creating divergent security update timelines across PC brands.
