How to Enable Secure Boot for Battlefield 6 Beta

The eagerly anticipated Open Beta for Battlefield 6 is now live on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and will be available until August 17. However, PC users have discovered they may face a few additional hurdles compared to their console counterparts. If you’re encountering a message indicating that ‘Secure Boot’ must be enabled, this guide will provide the necessary steps to resolve that issue and get you back into the game swiftly.

How to Enable Secure Boot for Battlefield 6 Beta

Understanding Secure Boot

Battlefield 6 open beta screen with Secure Boot warning — Secure Boot will be mandatory for Battlefield 6 even at its official launch in October.

In essence, Secure Boot is a security feature integrated into Windows 10 and Windows 11. Its primary role is to check for any harmful software—specifically cheats—that may try to initiate before your operating system boots.

This feature is crucial for EA, enabling them to utilize their kernel-level anti-cheat software, known as Javelin, to maintain a fair playing environment in Battlefield 6.

According to EA’s official communications, enabling Secure Boot is classified as a “requirement”for enhancing security while utilizing the new anti-cheat capabilities in Battlefield. They state, “Requiring Secure Boot offers features to combat cheats that try to penetrate during the Windows boot process. It also allows the Battlefield Positive Play team to deploy these features against other cheating methods.”

While kernel-level anti-cheat systems are often viewed with skepticism by the PC gaming community due to privacy concerns, it’s clear that EA is making strides against cheating, having reportedly halted hundreds of thousands of cheaters during the beta phase.

Step 1: Verify Your Ability to Enable Secure Boot

Before diving deeper into the necessary steps, it’s important to confirm whether your system can support Secure Boot without additional complications, such as contacting your motherboard manufacturer.

Begin by accessing your System Information menu. You can do this by searching for ‘System Information’ in your Start Menu or typing msinfo32 directly into the taskbar search.

Next, check the statuses of Secure Boot State and BIOS Mode. If you receive the message indicating that Secure Boot needs to be enabled, the Secure Boot State should read ‘Off.’

For the BIOS Mode, you want it to indicate UEFI. If it shows ‘Legacy, ’ you’ll need to follow additional steps to ensure your Windows installation is using the correct partition type.

BIOS info display showing UEFI mode and Secure Boot off — Pay attention to the settings displayed at the top and bottom of the image.

Before continuing, confirm that TPM 2.0 is enabled. You can check this by typing tpm.msc into the Start Menu or accessing the Windows Run menu (press Windows key + R).

If your TPM status shows it’s ready, proceed; otherwise, you’ll need to consult your motherboard’s manufacturer.

TPM management interface demonstrating status readiness — If your TPM is not ready, or you see a message stating that ‘Compatible TPM cannot be found, ’ consult your motherboard manufacturer for assistance.

Next, access Disk Management by pressing Windows key + X and selecting it from the menu. Look for the disk where Windows is installed, typically labeled as (C:).

Right-click the number next to the drive (usually ‘0’) and select Properties. Navigate to the Volumes tab to check for the partition type:

Disk information showing GUID Partition Table (GPT) — If the partition is not GPT, you’ll need to convert it.

Step 2: Convert MBR to GPT (If Necessary)

If your partition is detected as MBR instead of GPT, you must convert it. Begin by opening PowerShell as an administrator. Press Windows key + R, type powershell, and then hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

To validate your disk, run the following command, replacing ‘0’ with the correct number if indicated:

mbr2gpt /validate /disk:X /allowFullOS

If validation is successful, proceed to convert your disk partition with the command:

mbr2gpt /convert /disk:X /allowFullOS

After completion, revisit your Disk Management settings, checking under Properties and Volumes to ensure your disk is now recognized as GPT.

Step 3: Enable Secure Boot in BIOS

With all checks complete, it’s time to enable Secure Boot.

You might need to consult your motherboard’s documentation for specifics on accessing these settings in BIOS. If possible, keep that information handy on another device for reference.

To enter BIOS, restart your computer and repeatedly press F12 or Del as it reboots, depending on your PC brand.

Inside BIOS, locate Secure Boot, usually found under advanced or security settings. Change it to ‘Enabled’ or set it to ‘Active.’

In some cases, you may encounter restrictions on modifying these settings. If that happens, look for an option called Restore Factory Keys. This action usually allows adjustments to your Secure Boot settings after rebooting.

After enabling Secure Boot, restart your computer again. You should now have no issues launching the Battlefield 6 Open Beta. If problems persist, reaching out to your motherboard manufacturer may provide further insights.

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