Secure Boot and Trusted Boot
This article describes Secure Boot and Trusted Boot, security measures built into Windows 11.
Secure Boot and Trusted Boot help prevent malware and corrupted components from loading when a Windows 11 device is starting. Secure Boot starts with initial boot-up protection, and then Trusted Boot picks up the process. Together, Secure Boot and Trusted Boot help to ensure your Windows 11 system boots up safely and securely.
Secure Boot
The first step in protecting the operating system is to ensure that it boots securely after the initial hardware and firmware boot sequences safely finish their early boot sequences. Secure Boot makes a safe and trusted path from the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) through the Windows kernel's Trusted Boot sequence. Malware attacks on the Windows boot sequence are blocked by the signature-enforcement handshakes throughout the boot sequence between the UEFI, bootloader, kernel, and application environments.
As the PC begins the boot process, it first verifies that the firmware is digitally signed, reducing the risk of firmware rootkits. Secure Boot then checks all code that runs before the operating system, and checks the OS bootloader's digital signature to ensure that it's trusted by the Secure Boot policy and hasn't been tampered with.
Trusted Boot
Trusted Boot picks up the process that started with Secure Boot. The Windows bootloader verifies the digital signature of the Windows kernel before loading it. The Windows kernel, in turn, verifies every other component of the Windows startup process, including boot drivers, startup files, and your anti-malware product's early-launch anti-malware (ELAM) driver. If any of these files were tampered, the bootloader detects the problem and refuses to load the corrupted component. Tampering or malware attacks on the Windows boot sequence are blocked by the signature-enforcement handshakes between the UEFI, bootloader, kernel, and application environments.
Often, Windows can automatically repair the corrupted component, restoring the integrity of Windows and allowing the Windows 11 device to start normally.
Windows edition and licensing requirements
The following table lists the Windows editions that support Secure Boot and Trusted Boot:
| Windows Pro | Windows Enterprise | Windows Pro Education/SE | Windows Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Secure Boot and Trusted Boot license entitlements are granted by the following licenses:
| Windows Pro/Pro Education/SE | Windows Enterprise E3 | Windows Enterprise E5 | Windows Education A3 | Windows Education A5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
For more information about Windows licensing, see Windows licensing overview.