Fix: A configuration change was requested to clear TPM

One way to fix the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” error is to press the F12 key. Press ESC or Volume Down to reject the change request and continue.

Sometimes when you reset your computer to factory settings, you may experience an “A configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” warning message. This message usually appears when you try to reset Windows 10 on modern PCs or laptops and have the choice to clear or reject the TPM. In this article, we’ll see what to choose based on your intent.

Fix The “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” Warning Message

There are two methods to get rid of the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” error message.

Solution 1: Press F12 to clear the TPM

If you are trying to reset your computer then choose YES by pressing F12 to clear the TPM and get rid of the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” message.

You can safely clear the TPM by pressing F12 if you don’t have any encrypted data on your hard drive or any encryption keys on your computer that you might require in the future, This will clear the computer’s encryption keys and allow it to boot properly.

Solution 2: Press ESC to refuse TPM clearing

One way to fix the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” error is by pressing ESC to reject the TPM clearing. Choose this option if you have encrypted data on your hard drive and you have not saved the decryption keys on external support (USB key etc.)

If the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” message shows up every time you boot your computer then the only solution to get rid of this error is by pressing F12 to clear the TPM. But before clearing the TPM, If you have encrypted data on your computer, we recommend connecting the hard drive to another PC and copy its data before emptying it. You will then be able to recover your files if you have saved the encryption key on another device such as a USB key.

You can create a complete backup of your system and data before you choose to clear the TPM using a backup software like AOMEI Backupper.

Solution 3: Turn Off The TPM

If you get the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” message every time you start the PC, you can try disabling the TPM from Windows 10 to get rid of the error. To do this:

1. Press Windows+R to open the “Run” box.
2. Type “tpm.msc” into the box and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to run it as an administrator.
3. Select Turn TPM Off in the Action menu.
4. A new Windows will show up prompting you to enter your owner password.
5. Type a password to turn off the TPM.

After disabling the TPM, you should no longer get the error message and your computer should boot normally

Solution 4: Clear The TPM From Windows 10.

You can get rid of the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” by clearing the TPM in Windows 10. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Press Windows+R to open the “Run” box.
2. Type “tpm.msc” into the box and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to run it as an administrator.
3. Click on the “Clear TPM” button
4. Reboot your computer
5. Press F12 to clear the TPM

Fix The “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” Warning Message” On Tablets

Press the volume up button on a tablet to clear the TPM and get rid of the “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” error.

If the volume up/down buttons do not work and your tablet then plugs a USB keyboard into the USB port of the tablet and press F12 on the virtual keyboard to clear the TPM or ESC to reject the clearing.

What Is The Trusted Platform Module (TPM)?

The Trusted Platform Module (also known as the TPM chip or Fritz chip) is a hardware cryptographic component that supports the hardware implementation of the Next-generation secure computing base (NGSCB). It is intended to be integrated on the motherboards of computers and other electronic and IT equipment that comply with Trusted Computing Group specifications.

This chipset is present on some laptop models, mainly in professional ranges.

It is a passive electronic component. This means that it cannot give commands to the computer such as blocking the system or monitor the execution of an application. However, it can easily store secrets (such as encryption keys) in a secure manner.

Why The TPM Is Important

When you reset your computer to factory settings, you may get the message “A Configuration change was requested to clear this computer’s TPM” asking if you want to clear the TPM. The TPM is a security microcontroller that allows you to store encryption keys that are not accessible by the operating system. This protects you if a hacker manages to access your computer. If you have encrypted your hard drive with a key stored in the TPM, a hacker cannot decrypt the content of your data because he cannot access the TPM where your encryption keys are stored.

See also: How To Get Rid Of Windows 10’s Activation Message

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