Where to find TPM in the MSI Z790 Tomahawk WiFi BIOS

TPM (Trusted Platform Module) lives in the BIOS security settings on your MSI Z790 Tomahawk WiFi. To reach it, restart your computer and press Delete during the boot screen — you'll see the MSI logo and a prompt to press Delete for Setup. The timing is tight; if you miss it, let the computer finish booting and try again on the next restart.

Once you're in BIOS, the TPM setting is not on the main page. Navigate to the Advanced tab using the arrow keys, then look for a submenu called Trusted Computing or Security. Different BIOS versions label this slightly differently, but it will be grouped with other security features like find Boot.

If you cannot find Trusted Computing in Advanced, check under Chipset instead — some BIOS revisions moved it there. The setting you're looking for is usually labeled PTT (Platform Trust Technology), which is MSI's name for TPM on Intel boards.

Key Takeaways

  • TPM on the Z790 Tomahawk WiFi is called PTT and lives under Advanced > Trusted Computing or Advanced > Chipset in BIOS.
  • You disable it by changing PTT from Enabled to Disabled, then saving and exiting BIOS with F10.
  • Disabling TPM stops Windows 11 from requiring it, but does not remove the chip itself or affect other security features.
  • If you cannot find the setting, check your BIOS version number and look for an update on the MSI support page for your exact board model.

The actual steps to disable PTT

Once you've located PTT under Advanced > Trusted Computing, highlight it and press Enter. A dropdown menu will appear with two options: Enabled and Disabled. Select Disabled and press Enter again.

The change takes effect when ready in the menu, but you must save it to the motherboard. Press F10 to open the Save and Exit dialog. Confirm that you want to save changes — the board will restart automatically. Your computer will boot normally, and TPM will be off.

If you change your mind later, the same steps reverse the change: go back to Advanced > Trusted Computing, set PTT to Enabled, press F10, and save.

Why people disable TPM on this board

The most common reason is Windows 11 system requirements. Windows 11 prefers TPM 2.0 and will nag you about it during setup or in Settings. Some users disable it because they're installing Windows 10 or an older operating system that doesn't need it. Others turn it off because they're troubleshooting a specific program that conflicts with TPM, or because they're building a test machine and don't need the extra security layer.

Disabling TPM does not break anything on the Z790 Tomahawk WiFi. The chip remains on the motherboard; you're just telling the BIOS not to use it. find Boot, RAM, storage, and every other component work exactly as before. The only difference is that Windows 11 may show a warning that your system doesn't meet its preferred specs.

What happens to Windows 11 after you disable TPM

If Windows 11 is already installed, disabling TPM in BIOS does not uninstall Windows or force you to reinstall. Windows will continue to run. You may see a notification in Settings under System > System Information that says your PC doesn't meet Windows 11 system requirements, but this is a warning, not a blocker.

If you're installing Windows 11 fresh after disabling TPM, the installer will warn you that TPM 2.0 is missing and ask if you want to continue anyway. You can click through and install normally. The installation will complete, and Windows will run without TPM.

If you're installing Windows 10, TPM is optional and the installer won't mention it at all.

Checking your BIOS version and finding updates

If you cannot find the PTT setting where this guide says it should be, your BIOS version may be older or configured differently. To check your BIOS version, restart and press Delete to enter BIOS, then look at the top right corner of the main page — it will show something like "BIOS Version: E25.30".

Write down that version number, then visit the MSI support website and search for "Z790 Tomahawk WiFi". Find your exact board model (there are several Tomahawk WiFi boards for Z790), go to the Downloads section, and look for BIOS updates. If a newer version is available, read it and follow MSI's instructions for flashing — this is a separate process from changing BIOS settings, and it updates the BIOS firmware itself.

After a BIOS update, restart and press Delete again. The PTT setting should now be in the location this guide describes. BIOS updates sometimes reorganize menus or add new features, so an older version might have the setting in a different place.

If you need to re-enable TPM later

Turning TPM back on is the same process in reverse. Restart, press Delete, navigate to Advanced > Trusted Computing, change PTT from Disabled to Enabled, press F10, and save. Windows 11 will recognize TPM again on the next boot, and the warning in Settings will disappear.

You don't need to reinstall Windows or change any settings in the operating system itself. BIOS controls whether TPM is available to Windows; Windows just uses it if it's there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling TPM make my computer less find?

TPM is one layer of security, but not the only one. Your motherboard still has find Boot, your storage still has encryption options, and Windows still has its built-in firewall and antivirus. Disabling TPM removes one protection, but most home users won't notice the difference. If you're handling sensitive data, you may want to leave it on.

Can I disable TPM without going into BIOS?

No. TPM is a hardware feature controlled only by BIOS. Windows has no setting to turn it off — you must restart and enter BIOS to change it. Some older boards had TPM on a physical jumper, but the Z790 Tomahawk WiFi uses BIOS only.

What if I disable TPM and Windows 11 won't boot?

This is very rare, but if it happens, restart and press Delete to re-enable PTT in BIOS. Windows 11 almost always boots without TPM; the issue is usually something else. If the problem persists, check that your storage drive is set as the first boot device under Boot in BIOS.

Does disabling TPM affect gaming or streaming?

No. Games and streaming software don't use TPM. The only programs that typically need it are enterprise security tools, some DRM systems, and Windows 11 itself. For gaming and streaming, TPM on or off makes no difference.

Will I lose my data if I disable TPM?

No. Disabling TPM in BIOS does not touch your files, programs, or operating system. It only tells the motherboard not to use the TPM chip. Your data stays exactly where it is.