Do I Need Secure Boot for Battlefield 6
Yes. If you want to play Battlefield 6 on PC, EA requires Secure Boot to be enabled, including during the beta. If the game reports that Secure Boot is missing or turned off, treat that message as a real launch requirement rather than an optional Windows setting.
The confusing part is that Secure Boot is tied to your PC's boot mode. On some systems, you can't simply switch it on and restart. If Windows is installed in Legacy mode instead of UEFI mode, enabling Secure Boot may cause boot problems. That is why this error can involve more than one BIOS setting.
Does Battlefield 6 require Secure Boot on PC?
Yes. The supplied Battlefield 6 requirements indicate that PC players must run with Secure Boot enabled.
Secure Boot is a security feature built into modern PC firmware. Firmware is the software that starts before Windows, often called the BIOS or UEFI setup. Secure Boot checks the software loaded during startup and allows trusted software to run before Windows begins.
For Battlefield 6, this requirement is mainly meant to make it harder for cheats or other unwanted software to change the game at a low system level. That doesn't mean Secure Boot checks every file in the game. It works earlier, while the computer is starting.
The requirement applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. The Windows version alone won't decide whether you can launch the game. Your firmware settings and boot setup matter too.
So if you're asking, “Do I need Secure Boot for Battlefield 6?” the short answer is:
- PC: Yes, it is required.
- Windows 10: Secure Boot is supported and required for Battlefield 6.
- Windows 11: Secure Boot is supported and required for Battlefield 6.
- Console: This Secure Boot PC setting does not apply in the same way.
What Secure Boot does in Windows 10 and Windows 11
Secure Boot helps control what loads before Windows. During startup, the PC checks whether the boot software has a trusted digital signature. If it doesn't pass that check, the firmware can stop it from loading.
That matters because software that starts before Windows can be difficult for normal security tools to see. Secure Boot reduces the chance that untrusted startup software can load first and interfere with the system.
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, you usually manage Secure Boot in your motherboard or laptop's UEFI firmware settings, not in the normal Windows Settings app. You may see options such as:
- Secure Boot
- Secure Boot Control
- OS Type
- Windows UEFI Mode
- Standard or Custom Secure Boot keys
The names vary by manufacturer. A gaming desktop, a laptop, and a custom motherboard may all place the setting in different menus.
Enabling Secure Boot also depends on the way Windows was installed. A computer running Windows in UEFI mode is normally ready for this setting. A computer still using Legacy boot mode may need more work first.
Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, HVCI, and VBS: what appears to be required
Several security terms get mentioned together in Battlefield 6 troubleshooting. They are related, but they are not the same thing.
Secure Boot
This is the requirement that appears clearly established for Battlefield 6 on PC. You should expect the game to check that it is enabled.
TPM 2.0
TPM 2.0 is a security component that stores certain encryption keys and helps Windows confirm that the system has started in a trusted state. It can be a physical chip on the motherboard or a firmware-based feature built into the processor platform.
The available information points to TPM 2.0 as a possible Battlefield 6 requirement, alongside Secure Boot. However, the exact behavior may depend on the PC configuration and the checks used by the game.
If you're troubleshooting the launch error, check TPM 2.0 as well. On many systems, the setting is called one of these:
- Intel PTT
- AMD fTPM
- TPM Device
- Security Device Support
Don't change random firmware options if you aren't sure what they do. Check your motherboard or laptop instructions first, especially if encryption or other security features are already in use.
HVCI and Memory Integrity
HVCI, short for Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity, is a Windows security feature. In Windows, you may see the related setting called Memory Integrity.
It uses hardware-based protection to help stop unsafe drivers or code from running in protected parts of Windows. It can also affect compatibility with older drivers.
The available information does not show Memory Integrity as a confirmed mandatory Battlefield 6 requirement. You may not need to turn it on just because Secure Boot is required.
VBS
VBS, or Virtualization-Based Security, uses Windows virtualization features to isolate certain security functions from the main operating system.
VBS and HVCI can work together, but they aren't interchangeable with Secure Boot. One reported configuration check suggests that VBS does not appear to be mandatory, either.
That gives you a practical order for troubleshooting:
- Confirm Secure Boot first.
- Check TPM 2.0 if the game still reports a security requirement.
- Treat HVCI, Memory Integrity, and VBS as configuration-dependent rather than automatically required.
Requirements can change with updates, and different PCs can expose different firmware settings. Don't turn on every security option blindly. Start with the setting named in the error.
What to do when Battlefield 6 shows a Secure Boot error
Start by checking whether Windows sees Secure Boot as active. Press the Windows key, search for System Information, and open it. Look for:
- BIOS Mode
- Secure Boot State
For a typical working setup, BIOS Mode should show UEFI, and Secure Boot State should show On.
If Secure Boot State says Off, the feature may simply be disabled in firmware.
If BIOS Mode says Legacy, don't switch Secure Boot on immediately. Legacy mode is often the reason the option is unavailable or why Windows fails to start after the change.
You can also check TPM by opening the Windows security tools or searching for the TPM management console. The exact screen can differ between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but you're looking for evidence that a TPM is present and that it is version 2.0.
A few common causes of the Battlefield 6 Secure Boot error are:
- Secure Boot is disabled in UEFI settings.
- Windows is booting in Legacy mode.
- The system is using an older firmware configuration.
- TPM 2.0 is disabled or not detected.
- Secure Boot keys are missing or not set to the default values.
- Windows was installed in a way that does not match the current firmware mode.
If you recently changed motherboard settings, update firmware, or changed the Windows boot setup, restart the PC and check System Information again. The game needs Windows to report the correct state. Seeing a Secure Boot option in firmware does not always mean Windows is currently booting with it enabled.
How to check and enable Secure Boot for Battlefield 6
Before changing firmware settings, save your work and back up important files. Boot changes can cause trouble when the current Windows installation uses Legacy mode, disk encryption, or a custom boot setup.
1. Check your current Windows mode
Open System Information and find BIOS Mode.
- UEFI: Your PC is using the mode normally needed for Secure Boot.
- Legacy: Windows is using the older boot method, so you may need to convert the installation before enabling Secure Boot.
Also check Secure Boot State. If it says On, the setting is already active from Windows' point of view.
2. Enter UEFI firmware settings
You can usually reach firmware settings by restarting the PC and pressing a setup key during startup. The key depends on the manufacturer. Common choices include Delete, F2, F10, or Esc.
Some Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems also provide an advanced restart option that takes you to firmware settings. The wording differs by PC, so look for an option related to UEFI firmware or startup settings.
3. Find the Secure Boot setting
Look through menus named Boot, Security, Authentication, or Advanced. Set Secure Boot to Enabled.
If you see an operating system type option, choose the Windows or UEFI option rather than a Legacy or “Other OS” mode. Some firmware only makes Secure Boot available after the system is set to UEFI.
If the firmware asks about default Secure Boot keys, use the standard or factory keys unless you have a specific reason to manage custom keys. Custom key setups are usually for advanced users.
4. Check TPM 2.0 if needed
If Secure Boot is on but Battlefield 6 still reports a security problem, check for TPM 2.0. Look for Intel PTT, AMD fTPM, or a similarly named security-device setting.
Save changes, restart Windows, and check System Information again. Then try the game.
Don't turn off Secure Boot just to test another setting unless you have a clear reason. That can make it harder to tell which change fixed or caused the problem.
What UEFI and Legacy mode have to do with Secure Boot
This is the part many quick guides skip.
UEFI is the newer firmware interface used to start modern Windows installations. Legacy mode uses the older BIOS-style startup method. Secure Boot is designed to work with UEFI, not with a normal Legacy boot setup.
That means a PC can support Secure Boot in theory but still be unable to use it with the way Windows is currently installed.
If System Information shows Legacy, the Windows drive may use an older partition layout. Switching the firmware from Legacy to UEFI without preparing the drive can prevent Windows from starting. You may need to convert the disk and update the boot files first.
Windows includes tools that can help with a Legacy-to-UEFI conversion, but this is not a change to make casually. The process depends on the disk layout and the condition of the Windows installation. Back up important files before attempting it.
The safe order is:
- Confirm whether Windows is using Legacy or UEFI.
- Back up important data.
- Check the drive and Windows boot setup.
- Convert the installation only if it is suitable.
- Change firmware to UEFI.
- Enable Secure Boot.
- Boot into Windows and confirm both settings.
If you aren't comfortable checking partitions or recovering Windows startup files, get help before changing the boot mode. The problem is no longer just a Battlefield 6 setting at that point.
Can you bypass the Battlefield 6 Secure Boot requirement?
There is no reliable, supported bypass to count on. If EA requires Secure Boot for PC play, changing launch arguments or turning off related Windows protections won't replace it.
Be careful with guides that promise a quick workaround. They may tell you to alter boot files, install unofficial tools, or weaken system security. Those steps can create new problems and may stop working after a game or anti-cheat update.
If your PC cannot support the required setup, your useful options are to update the firmware, correct the UEFI installation, check TPM 2.0, or use a compatible PC. Don't treat HVCI or VBS as the first things to disable just because they appear in the same troubleshooting discussions. The information available does not show them as mandatory in the same way as Secure Boot.
Should you leave Secure Boot enabled after fixing the game?
Yes. If your PC supports it and Windows starts normally, leaving Secure Boot enabled makes sense. Battlefield 6 needs it, and Windows 10 and Windows 11 use it as part of their startup security.
You may have a reason to turn it off temporarily, such as running an older operating system or testing a custom boot setup. If you do, expect Battlefield 6 to reject the system until Secure Boot is active again.
Check the Secure Boot and UEFI status in Windows before changing the disk or converting from Legacy mode. If the error remains after those checks, use a Battlefield 6-specific troubleshooting guide that matches your motherboard or laptop model rather than changing more firmware settings at random.