How to Fix the "Standard Hardware Security Not Supported" Error

Rick Akura on
Are you struggling with the "Standard hardware security not supported" error on your computer? Learn how to fix it with our easy-to-follow guide.

If you're reading this article, chances are you're experiencing the "Standard hardware security not supported" error on your computer. This error can be frustrating and can prevent you from using your computer normally.

The "Standard hardware security not supported" error is a common problem that many Windows users face. It commonly appears after resetting your PC, or after upgrading to Windows 11. The error message is confusing, so it's not always clear what causes it or how to fix it. But don't worry, you're not alone in this.

In this article, we will discuss the causes of the "Standard hardware security not supported" error and provide step-by-step solutions to fix it. So, if you're tired of seeing this error message and want to get your computer back to normal, keep reading.

Standard Hardware Security Not Supported

What Causes the "Standard Hardware Security Not Supported" Error?

There are several reasons why you may see this error message on your computer. The most common reasons are:

  • Minimum requirements – Windows 11 requires specific security features in order to function properly. The absence of enabled TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, or virtualization in the BIOS settings may be the culprit.
  • Outdated drivers – Failing to update the drivers to their most recent version could trigger the error indicating a lack of standard hardware security support.
  • Outdated BIOS firmware – If you're seeing the error message, it's possible that your BIOS firmware needs to be updated.
  • Windows update problems – At times, a corrupt or damaged Windows update may be the cause of the "Standard hardware security not supported" error.
  • Windows 11 bug – Many users have reported the appearance of the "Standard hardware security not supported" error due to a recurring bug in Windows 11.

Now that we know why this error occurs, let's look at how to fix it.

Solved: "Standard Hardware Security Not Supported" Error

Here are several solutions to try if you're seeing the "Standard hardware security not supported" error.

1. Turn On Data Execution Prevention (DEP)

If you're experiencing the "Standard hardware security not supported" error on your Windows 11 computer, you can fix it by turning on Data Execution Prevention (DEP). Here's how:

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialogue box. Type "sysdm.cpl" (without quotes) in the field and press Enter. This will open the System Properties window.
    sysdm.cpl
  2. Click on the "Advanced" tab at the top of the window, and then click on the "Settings" button under the "Performance" section.
    Advanced > Performance
  3. In the Performance Options window, click on the "Data Execution Prevention" tab at the top. Select the "Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only" option. Click "Apply" to save the changes.
    Data Execution Prevention
  4. Click the OK button, and then restart your computer. Check if the "Standard hardware security not supported" error is resolved.

Note: DEP is a security feature in Windows that prevents certain types of malicious code from running. By turning it on, you're telling Windows to protect critical Windows programs and services from potential threats.

2. Change Your UEFI (BIOS) Settings

Adjusting your UEFI (BIOS) settings may be necessary to fix the standard hardware security not supported error. Below are the instructions to access these settings, and suggestions on what changes you need to make and how they can help resolve the issue.

  1. To access BIOS, restart your PC and press the BIOS key during startup. The BIOS key varies depending on the manufacturer of your computer. Common BIOS keys include F2, F8, F10, Del, or Esc. Select “UEFI Firmware Settings” and select “Expert mode.”
    UEFI Firmware Settings
  2. Once you are in the BIOS settings, navigate to either “CPU settings” or “System Configuration.“ Look for settings such as Intel Virtualization Technology, Virtualization Technology, VT-x, AMD-V, or SVM, and set them all to Enable. This will enable Core isolation in Windows Security.
    CPU Settings/System Configuration
  3. Under the “Advanced“ tab, navigate to “System Agent Configuration“ or “North Bridge Configuration.“ Enable VT-d or IOMMU to enable Memory integrity in Windows Security.
    System agent configuration
  4. Enable Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT) or the AMD equivalent. This will activate the Security processor in Windows Security.
    Intel Platform Trust Technology
  5. Enable Secure Boot and select “Install default Secure Boot keys.“ Secure Boot verifies that the operating system is signed by a trusted source before it boots.
    Install default secure boot keys
  6. Finally, select Windows UEFI mode for OS type. This will turn on Secure boot in Windows Security.
    Windows UEFI Mode
  7. Press F10 to save and exit. Your PC will restart, and the new hardware security settings will be applied.

By following these steps, you can enable essential hardware security features on your PC and prevent the Standard hardware security not supported error on Windows 11.

3. Downgrade to Windows 10 and Repeat Upgrade

If you've recently upgraded to Windows 11 and are experiencing the "Standard hardware security not supported" error, reverting to Windows 10 and upgrading again may help solve the issue. This helps if something goes wrong during the upgrade process, like a corrupted Windows system file.

  1. Start by creating a Windows 10 installation media and then downgrade your Windows 11 operating system to Windows 10.
  2. After setting up Windows 10, click the “Windows Security“ icon in the system tray.
  3. In the Windows Security app, click “Device Security“ on the window's left side. On the right side, select “Core Isolation,“ and then click on “Core isolation details.“
  4. On the next screen, look for “Memory Integrity“ and turn it on. This will scan for incompatible drivers.
  5. Once the scan is complete, select a driver remover to completely uninstall any incompatible drivers from your system.
  6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 again to make sure that there are no remaining incompatible drivers. If there are no more incompatible drivers, enable “Memory Integrity“ and restart your computer.
  7. Finally, upgrade your system to Windows 11 using your preferred method. This should resolve the standard hardware security not supported error on your system.

4. Re-Register the Windows Security App

The Windows Security app may need to be re-registered to fix the "Standard hardware security not supported" error. To do this, you'll need to use PowerShell, which is a built-in Windows tool used to perform various administrative tasks and execute commands.

  1. Open the Windows Search bar and type in the word PowerShell. From the search results, highlight the Windows PowerShell application and click Run as Administrator.
    PowerShell
  2. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions. This allows the elevated PowerShell to open. If you're using a local account that doesn't have administrator permissions, click here to learn how to grant admin access.
  3. Copy and paste the following command: PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"
    Powershell execution policy unrestrcted command

Wait for the command to execute successfully, then close PowerShell and restart your PC. This should resolve the “Standard hardware security not supported” error in Windows 11.

5. Reinstall the Windows Security Platform

If your device is displaying the "Standard hardware security not supported" message, reinstalling the Windows Security Platform could be a way to solve this issue. This method will work if there are any corruptions or problems with the Windows Security Platform itself.

  1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard. Select Terminal (Admin) from the context menu. If you're using a local account that doesn't have administrator permissions, click here to learn how to grant admin access.
    Windows Terminal
  2. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
    Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
  3. Once the command runs successfully and returns a success message, exit out of PowerShell. You can use this method to fix any problems with the installation of Windows Security on Windows 11. It will help you reinstall the application correctly.

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Conclusion

These are some of the possible solutions to fix the "Standard hardware security not supported" error on your Windows 11 PC. We recommend that you try these solutions one by one, as they may help resolve the issue quickly and easily.

We hope this article has been helpful in explaining the causes of this error and how to fix it.  If none of the solutions work, it's likely that there is an underlying problem with either the hardware or BIOS settings of your device. We recommend you contact a certified technician for help. Happy troubleshooting!

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Tags: How To