Battlefield 6 Secure Boot Not Enabled: Fix

If you’re seeing a “Secure Boot is not enabled” error when trying to launch Battlefield 6 (or the EA app/Battlefield launcher), the fix is to enable Secure Boot in your PC’s UEFI/BIOS firmware settings, then verify it’s active in Windows. This error typically appears on Windows 11 systems because the OS requires Secure Boot, and the game’s anti-cheat (EA Anti-Cheat) checks for it before allowing the game to run. Below is a complete guide to understanding why this happens and how to resolve it.

Why Battlefield 6 Requires Secure Boot

Secure Boot is a UEFI security feature that ensures only trusted, signed operating system bootloaders and drivers load during startup. EA Anti-Cheat, which Battlefield 6 uses, relies on Secure Boot to prevent kernel-level cheating tools from loading before the game starts. If Secure Boot is off, the anti-cheat refuses to launch the game, showing the error message. This is not unique to Battlefield; many modern multiplayer games with kernel-level anti-cheat (e.g., Valorant, Fortnite) have similar requirements.

How to Check If Secure Boot Is Enabled

Before changing anything, verify whether Secure Boot is already on. Here’s how:

• Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter.
• In the System Information window, look for Secure Boot State in the System Summary list.
• If it says Off, you need to enable it. If it says On, the error may be caused by something else (see below).

How to Enable Secure Boot in UEFI/BIOS

Enabling Secure Boot requires entering your motherboard’s firmware settings. The exact steps vary by manufacturer, but the general process is:

1. Restart your PC. During boot, repeatedly press the key to enter setup (commonly Del, F2, F10, or Esc – check your motherboard manual).
2. Navigate to the Boot or Security tab (sometimes under Authentication).
3. Find Secure Boot and set it to Enabled. If the option is grayed out, you may need to disable CSM (Compatibility Support Module) or set Boot Mode to UEFI (not Legacy).
4. If you see Secure Boot Mode, leave it as Standard (or Custom if you have your own keys).
5. Save changes and exit (usually F10).

After rebooting, check the Secure Boot state in Windows again. If it still shows Off, your disk may be partitioned as MBR (Master Boot Record) instead of GPT (GUID Partition Table). Secure Boot only works with GPT disks. Converting MBR to GPT requires using the mbr2gpt tool in Windows (run as administrator: mbr2gpt /convert), but back up your data first and ensure your system supports UEFI.

What to Do If Secure Boot Is Already On

If Secure Boot is already enabled but the error persists, try these steps in order:

• Update your GPU drivers – outdated drivers can trigger anti-cheat false positives.
• Repair the game – in the EA app, go to your library, right-click Battlefield 6, select Repair.
• Reinstall EA Anti-Cheat – navigate to the game’s installation folder, find the EA Anti-Cheat folder, run EAACInstall.exe and choose Repair.
• Check Windows integrity – run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in an elevated command prompt.
• Reset Secure Boot keys – in BIOS, set Secure Boot to Clear Secure Boot Keys, then restart and re-enable it (this restores default Microsoft keys).

Common Misconceptions About Secure Boot

Many players think disabling Secure Boot will speed up their PC or that it only matters for Windows 11. In reality, Secure Boot has negligible performance impact and is required for Windows 11 (if you upgraded from Windows 10, you may have it off). Another misconception: you need to format your drive to enable it. That’s only true if your disk is MBR; converting to GPT is non-destructive using the built-in tool. Also, some users believe Secure Boot blocks dual-booting Linux – it doesn’t, as long as the Linux distro supports it (most modern ones do).

Secure Boot vs. TPM 2.0: What’s the Difference?

Secure Boot and TPM (Trusted Platform Module) are often confused. TPM 2.0 is a hardware chip that stores encryption keys and provides hardware-level security (used for BitLocker, Windows Hello). Secure Boot is a firmware feature that verifies the bootloader’s signature. Battlefield 6’s anti-cheat specifically checks for Secure Boot, not TPM, so having TPM enabled alone won’t fix the error. However, Windows 11 requires both, so if you’re on Windows 11, you likely have TPM 2.0 already (check via tpm.msc).

What If My Motherboard Doesn’t Support Secure Boot?

If your motherboard is older than roughly 2012 or lacks UEFI (it uses legacy BIOS only), you cannot enable Secure Boot. In that case, you have two options: upgrade your motherboard/PC, or try running the game with a workaround. Some players have bypassed the check by running the game in Windows 10 compatibility mode, but this is not guaranteed and may violate the game’s terms of service. The only reliable solution is to use hardware that supports UEFI with Secure Boot. Check your motherboard’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for UEFI support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Battlefield 6 show “Secure Boot not enabled” even though I have Windows 11?

Windows 11 requires Secure Boot, but if you upgraded from Windows 10, the setting may be off. Also, some motherboards have Secure Boot disabled by default even with UEFI. Check the BIOS setting and enable it.

Can I enable Secure Boot without reinstalling Windows?

Yes, if your disk is GPT. If it’s MBR, you can convert it using the mbr2gpt tool without losing data. Make sure to back up first and follow a reliable guide.

Does Secure Boot affect game performance?

No. Secure Boot only runs during startup to verify bootloaders. It has no measurable impact on CPU, GPU, or memory performance during gameplay.

Is it safe to disable Secure Boot to play Battlefield 6?

No, you cannot disable it to play, because the game’s anti-cheat will refuse to launch. Disabling Secure Boot also reduces your system’s security against rootkits and boot-level malware.

I enabled Secure Boot but the error still appears. What next?

Double-check that the Secure Boot State in msinfo32 shows “On”. If it does, repair the game and reinstall EA Anti-Cheat. If that fails, reset Secure Boot keys in BIOS.

Does Secure Boot work with all GPUs?

Yes, Secure Boot operates at the firmware level and is independent of your GPU. Any modern GPU works fine with Secure Boot enabled.

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