Secure Boot Is Unsupported: How to Fix This Issue Easily

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a term that refers to The majority of motherboards that have enabled UEFI firmware are equipped with Secure Boot, a security feature. It is included in Microsoft Windows 8 and subsequent operating systems. The purpose of this feature is to guarantee that your device boots exclusively with software that has been approved by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Your motherboard will decline to execute the software if it fails to satisfy the OEM's authentication requirements.

In other words, the Secure Boot option has the potential to avert the intrusion of malicious software or malware on the boot sector. Nevertheless, a significant number of users report that the Secure Boot feature is either unsupported, disabled, or unavailable on Windows 11/10. What is the source of the error? We should continue reading.

The Reason for the Unavailability of Secure Boot in Windows 11/10

What is the root cause of the Secure Boot unsupported/off/unavailable issue? In order to use the Secure Boot feature on Windows 10/8/8.1, it is necessary to enable the UEFI mode, which employs the GUID Partition Table (GPT). Microsoft now requires the feature as a prerequisite for upgrading to Windows 11.

Therefore, the "Secure Boot is unsupported" error may be the result of one of the following: The TPM and Secure Boot features are disabled, despite the fact that your PC is configured to operate in UEFI mode. Instead of UEFI mode, the BIOS mode is configured to operate in Legacy boot mode. The partition table of your boot disk is configured as MBR rather than GPT. Your computer's hardware is incompatible with Secure Boot and UEFI.

If you encounter the "Secure Boot is unsupported" message on your PC, it may prevent your system from starting properly. Secure Boot is a security feature that protects your system from malware and unauthorized software during the boot process. This message usually appears when your PC does not support Secure Boot or when Secure Boot is disabled. To resolve this issue, follow the solutions below.

1. Verify Your System's Compatibility with Secure Boot

To address the "Secure Boot is unsupported" issue, you should first check if your system supports Secure Boot. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Open System Information: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type msinfo32 and press Enter.
2. Check Secure Boot Status: In the System Information window, find the "Secure Boot State" under the "System Summary" section. If it shows "Unsupported," it means your system does not support Secure Boot.

2. Enable Secure Boot in BIOS

If your system supports Secure Boot but it's disabled, you can enable it in the BIOS settings. Here’s a simple guide on how to do that:

1. Enter BIOS: Restart your computer and press the BIOS key (usually F2, F12, Delete, or Esc) as it starts.
2. Find Secure Boot: In the BIOS menu, navigate to the "Boot" or "Security" tab.
3. Enable Secure Boot: Change the Secure Boot option to "Enabled."
4. Save Changes: Save your changes and exit the BIOS.

After enabling Secure Boot, your system should boot normally if there are no other issues.

3. Update Your System’s Firmware

If Secure Boot is still unsupported after following the steps above, your system's firmware may be outdated. Updating the firmware can sometimes add Secure Boot support:

1. Check Your PC Manufacturer’s Website: Find the latest firmware update for your specific model.
2. Download and Install the Update: Follow the instructions on the website to install the firmware update.

Convert MBR to GPT Disk to enable Secure Boot

The GPT partition format is employed by the UEFI BIOS mode, as previously mentioned. The "Secure Boot state unavailable/unsupported" issue will also be encountered if your computer is configured to use Legacy Boot mode and MBR partition format. Therefore, it is necessary to convert your boot disk to GPT in addition to enabling UEFI.

How can one convert MBR to GPT on Windows 10/11? The Windows built-in tool, MBR2GPT.exe, or

You can use AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional to do this safely without data loss:

1. Download and Install AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional: Install the software on your computer.
2. Launch the Software: Open AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional and select the system disk.
3. Convert MBR to GPT: Right-click on the system disk and choose "Convert to GPT Disk."
4. Apply Changes: Click "Apply" in the upper left corner to execute the conversion.

Step 1. Install it, and launch the program. In the main window, you should right-click on the disk that you want to convert and choose the "Convert to MBR" option.

Step 2. Click "OK" to continue.

Step 3. Click "Apply" to perform the pending operations.

After that, you have converted to GPT successfully. To convert GPT to MBR, just right-click the GPT disk and select the "Convert to GPT" option and then follow the steps to make it done.

To boot the PC successfully after the system/boot disk has been converted from MBR to GPT, please switch boot mode from Legacy BIOS to UEFI mode. You may need to check your PC (or motherboards) manual to find specific instructions on how to change the settings.

If your Windows cannot boot up as normal, or you need to convert MBR to GPT/GPT to MBR during the Windows 10 installation, you can first create a Windows PE bootable Media via AOMEI Partition Assistant on another working computer, then load your computer from the bootable USB and do as above to convert disk between MBR and GPT without operating system.

Conclusion

If you encounter the "Secure Boot is unsupported" error, there are several steps you can take to resolve it, including checking system compatibility, enabling Secure Boot in BIOS, converting MBR to GPT using AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, and updating your firmware. Following these steps should help you enable Secure Boot and enhance your system's security.