How to Disable Secure Boot in Windows 11

disable secure boot windows 11

disable secure boot windows 11

The eleventh iteration of the OS from the Cupertino giant is the most secure and privacy-enriched operating system to date. What made it even safer in comparison with its counterpart is the decision. enforced by Microsoft that every PC trying to install this OS should have both the Trusted Platform Module TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled [in the BIOS].

If we talk about the latter one, then the Secure Boot feature prevents digitally unauthorized software from being installed on your PC. This in turn will result in a lower number of malware and virus attacks which would ultimately translate to a safe working ecosystem. However, tech enthusiasts and advanced users might not necessarily be in sync with this statement.

This is because there still exists some legitimate software that you might not be able to install until and unless you disable Secure Boot on your Windows 11 PC. One perfect example of the same is Qualcomm HS QSB QDLoaders 9008 software which is required for an Android device to interact with the PC in Emergency Download Mode. These drivers are required to carry out the unbrick process right from the comfort of their homes and more importantly free of cost.

If it was not for these drivers, then your only course of action would have been to take the device to the service center and get it repaired after shelling out some hefty bucks. Well, this is just one of the many instances wherein the need to disable the Secure Boot arises, there could be a plethora of others as well. So owing to this reason, this guide will list out the steps to get this job done. Follow along.

Steps to Disable Secure Boot in Windows 11

In some instances, you can install digitally unauthorized software simply by disabling the Driver Signature Enforcement. So instead of directly opting to disable Secure Boot, you may first try out that task as well. However, if that didn’t spell out success, then you might have no choice but to proceed with the below steps.

However, do note that this is a risky method [in terms of the repercussions involved], so it is highly recommended that you re-enable Secure Boot once you are done with this task. Regarding this, some users have also said that they had to ultimately reset their PC before re-enabling this functionality. So keep these points in mind and if that’s well and good, then only proceed with the below steps:

  1. Press and hold the Shift key, and while doing so, click Restart.
  2. Your PC will now boot to the Windows Recovery Environment.
  3. So go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings.disable secure boot windows 11
  4. Now click Restart. You will be taken to the BIOS screen. Search for Secure Boot there.
  5. Depending on the manufacturer, it could be present in Security, Boot, or Authentication tab.
  6. Now change the Secure Boot state to Disabled and then save and exit the changes.
  7. Your PC will now boot to the OS with Secure Boot disabled and you may now install the desired software.

How to Re-Enable It

Once you are done carrying out the desired task, it is highly recommended that you re-enable Secure Mode. Failing to do so might result in a compromised environment for your PC. So refer to the below steps to get this job done.

  1. First off, press and hold the Shift key, and while doing so, click Restart.
  2. Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings.windows recovery environment
  3. Now click Restart. PC will now boot to BIOS. Search for Secure Boot there.
  4. Finally, enable it, and save and exit the changes. The PC will boot to the OS.

So with this, we round off the guide on how you could disable and re-enable the Secure Boot on Windows 11. Still have any queries? The comments section is all yours. Do make your voices heard.

Should I Keep Secure Boot Disabled?

No, you shouldn’t keep Secure Boot disabled on your Windows 11 PC. This is because it could prove to be quite a risky trade-off. As already explained above, you might have to disable it only when installing a third-party app or software that Windows is not letting you do in the normal environment. But once you have installed the software and your task is now complete, then you should enable the Secure Boot at the earliest. Let’s understand it with the help of an analogy.

Suppose someone “known to you” is about to visit your house for the first time. So it’s obvious you’ll open the doors for him/her only when they arrive and then close them so that the intruders don’t end up visiting your house. It’s not just that you will keep the door open beforehand and even after they have visited so that if anyone else [even known to you] wishes to visit, you don’t need to keep on opening/closing the doors, just for the sake of additional efforts.

secure boot dell
Credits: Dell

The same is the case here as well, just replace the door with Secure Boot and the first-time user as the software that you are about to install. So you should only disable Secure Boot when you are about to install the software. As soon as that is done, immediately re-enable it so that intruders like malicious software and files don’t end up visiting or rather damaging your system.

In a nutshell, keep the Secure Boot enabled on your Windows 11 PC when you are not installing any third-party software that otherwise cannot be installed on your PC in the normal state.

In between all this, there is another important point worthy of consideration- make sure that the app that you are about to install comes from a trusted source. This is because there is a reason Windows is not letting you install that software when the Secure Boot is enabled. So make you completely trust the origin of that software before disabling the security and installing it onto your PC, or else, ti might prove to be a major security and privacy risk.


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