Resolving Valorant’s Secure Boot Error in Windows 11

Understanding Valorant’s Secure Boot Requirements

To run Valorant on your computer, it is crucial to meet the minimum system requirements, especially concerning the Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 features. These features are critical for ensuring Windows 11 launches programs with a high-security standard. Riot Games’ anti-cheat software, Vanguard, mandates these features to assess the computer’s security status.

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a security protocol designed to prevent unauthorized software from loading during the computer’s startup process. It ensures that your device boots using only trusted software, developed to protect against malware and unauthorized code execution.

Benefits of Enabling Secure Boot

Activating Secure Boot offers enhanced protection against malware and rootkits, which can take over a device. It restricts unauthorized changes during the boot process, contributing to a more secure computing environment.

Consequences of Disabling Secure Boot

Disabling Secure Boot during system startup leaves your computer vulnerable, as it cannot verify the digital signature of the operating system. This makes the system more susceptible to rootkits and bootkits. However, Secure Boot may occasionally cause compatibility issues with certain drivers or updates, or hinder access to recovery options, prompting some users to disable it.

Fixing the “Secure Boot Enabled” Error in Valorant

If Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 is disabled on your Windows 11 machine, Valorant will not start, resulting in error codes like VAN9001, VAN9003, or VAN: RESTRICTION. The error message “Your account does not meet the following requirements: secure boot enabled” or “This build of Vanguard requires TPM version 2.0 and secure boot to be enabled” may appear.

How to Enable Secure Boot for Valorant

To address the Secure Boot error in Valorant, follow these steps:

1. Enter the BIOS setup.
2. Navigate to the Boot options tab.
3. Select and enable Secure Boot.
4. Ensure BIOS mode is set to UEFI.
5. Verify that Secure Boot status is enabled.
6. Switch to the Security tab to confirm TPM is activated.

If Secure Boot is grayed out, it may be due to an unset administrator password. A BIOS factory reset can often resolve this. Once Secure Boot is enabled, ensure TPM is also active by typing “tpm.msc” in the Windows search. If TPM is unsupported or disabled, you will see “Cannot find compatible TPM“. If supported, it will display “Ready to use TPM“.

How to Toggle Secure Boot

The simplest way to toggle Secure Boot is through the UEFI/BIOS settings. Follow these steps to turn Secure Boot on or off:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Press the Shift key while selecting Power – Restart.
3. Choose Troubleshoot.
4. Go to Advanced options.
5. Select UEFI firmware settings.
6. Click Restart.
7. Locate the Secure Boot option.
8. Set Secure Boot to enable or disable as needed.

Checking Secure Boot Status

To verify if Secure Boot is enabled without accessing BIOS, follow these instructions:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type “msinfo32” or “system info”.
3. Find the Secure Boot status field.
4. If it indicates “On,” Secure Boot is active.

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