Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 brings intense action, gripping storytelling, and Activision’s modern anti-cheat system, but before you can dive into the missions, your PC must meet two key requirements: Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.
With Black Ops 7 enforcing these standards, players must ensure their systems run in a secure UEFI environment, preventing cheats or unauthorized tools from loading during startup.
Once configured, you’ll be able to launch Black Ops 7 smoothly without security-related launch errors.
Activision has presented Call of Duty fans with a pleasant surprise toward the end of the year. Confirming the rumors and speculations, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is now live in nearly all regions globally. However, like always, the most disturbing part of playing a COD game is the cheaters. Fortunately, modern PCs have the solution with Secure Boot.
Enabling Secure Boot on a PC ensures that your PC loads only trusted software, while TPM 2.0 validates system integrity. Together, these two systems are expected to reduce cheating. As of now, many players have reported that these combinations worked for them. Therefore, the following steps will enable Secure Boot if your PC supports UEFI mode and has a TPM 2.0.
Before making changes to your system, it's essential to understand why enabling Secure Boot is important and whether your PC will support it. For Black Ops 7, Activision has made this mandatory because Secure Boot prevents malicious software and unauthorized drivers from loading during the boot process. This forms the core of the updated RICOCHET anti-cheat system.
Secure Boot, precisely, validates digital signatures of bootloaders and system files. In the process, if something suspicious occurs, the PC automatically blocks it. Therefore, cheats will be pacified and can’t be activated. For most players, this also eliminates the need for third-party anti-cheat tools or suspicious background verifiers.
TPM 2.0 works in conjunction with Secure Boot to verify the system's security. Therefore, together, these two programs protect the gaming sessions and ensure fair multiplayer competition. Enabling Secure Boot is especially important for competitive gamers, as it provides a safer and fairer gameplay environment where skills determine the outcome, rather than exploits.
Currently, if your PC launches in Legacy/CSM mode or uses the MBR partition style, you must switch to UEFI mode and convert your disk to GPT before enabling Secure Boot. If you're unsure about how to begin and complete the process, follow the steps below.
If you have a system that’s compatible with the process, enabling Secure Boot will be easier than you could probably think. Check the step-by-step instructions below:
Start by checking the status. For that, you need to press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and hit Enter. Next, scroll and check if the following modes and statuses are set to the following:
BIOS Mode: UEFI (not Legacy).
Secure Boot State: Either On or Off. It shouldn’t be ‘Unsupported.’
Once these two criteria are met, you must verify the availability of TPM 2.0. To do this, press Windows + R, type tpm.msc, and then press Enter. Look for ‘Specification Version: 2.0.’ If TPM is disabled, you have to enable it in BIOS.
The next step involves restarting the PC and pressing F2, F10, Del, or other keys to switch to the BIOS. It will bring up a menu where players will find the Boot tab. Look for ‘Disable Legacy/CSM mode.’ Change Boot Mode to UEFI Only. Once these steps are completed, you will have the option to enable TPM 2.0.
[Tips: on Intelboards, the PTT will be under the Security settings. On AMD boards, you have to enable fTPM.]
Once TPM 2.0 is active, one can enable Secure Boot. For that, they need to go to the BIOS and navigate to the Security or Boot settings. There, they will see Secure Boot. The next step, of course, is to switch it to enabled. If your PC prompts you to install Secure Boot keys, select 'Install Default Keys' or 'Standard Mode'. Go for Save and Exit.
Now, press F10 to save the changes you have made. Verify once again if the BIOS Mode is set to UEFI and Secure Boot is ‘On.’ If everything is done correctly, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will launch normally next time.
Also Read: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Announces Collab With Upcoming Horror Thriller
Without Secure Boot enabled, it’s impossible to run Black Ops 7 on PC. Therefore, it is essential to run the game on PC. Specifically, the feature is designed for those who want a smoother gaming experience and robust protection against cheats.
While older devices may struggle with BIOS settings or lack UEFI support, most modern PCs can enable Secure Boot through a few simple configuration steps.
Overall, if you’re a hardcore COD fan who looks for stability, fair multiplayer gameplay, and compliance with Black Ops 7’s system requirements, enabling Secure Boot isn’t optional; it’s a must.
What is Secure Boot in relation to Black Ops 7?
Ans: Secure Boot ensures that your PC loads only trusted system files, preventing boot-level cheats and ensuring compliance with RICOCHET anti-cheat.
Can I enable Secure Boot on any PC?
Ans: Well, technically no. Your system must support UEFI and GPT to enable Secure Boot. Older PCs that use Legacy BIOS may not support Secure Boot.
Does Secure Boot require TPM 2.0?
Ans: Yes. That's a must. Black Ops 7 requires both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to work.
Can enabling Secure Boot erase my data?
Ans: Usually, that's not the case. However, if you need to switch from the MBR to GPT, you may lose your data. It is always advisable to back up your data before performing any firmware changes.
Why does Black Ops 7 not launch without Secure Boot?
Ans: Activision has set Secure Boot as a requirement to ensure that no cheating occurs and to verify that the PC hasn't been tampered with in any way.