If you’ve ever sat staring at a Vanguard error screen 10 minutes before your scheduled ranked 5-stack, you’ve almost certainly Googled: does Valorant require secure boot to run properly? A lot of players run into this roadblock after updating Windows, tweaking their BIOS settings, or building a new PC, and the conflicting advice online only makes it more confusing. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about this requirement, from why Riot enforces it to simple fixes if you run into issues, no overly technical jargon included.
Does Valorant Require Secure Boot for All Play Modes?
The short answer depends entirely on what operating system you’re running. If you use Windows 11, yes, Secure Boot is a mandatory requirement for all versions of Valorant, no matter if you’re playing unrated, custom games, or competitive ranked matches. This rule rolled out in 2022 as part of a Vanguard security update designed to block kernel-level cheats that were slipping past older anti-cheat protocols. I’ve had friends who upgraded to Windows 11 without checking their BIOS settings first, and they spent three hours troubleshooting before they realized they just needed to flip the Secure Boot switch on.
If you’re still running Windows 10, you don’t need Secure Boot enabled to play Valorant at all. Riot only applied the requirement to Windows 11 because the newer operating system is built to work seamlessly with UEFI and Secure Boot features, while Windows 10 supports older legacy BIOS systems that don’t have Secure Boot functionality. You won’t get any extra restrictions or penalties for leaving Secure Boot off on a Windows 10 device, and you’ll still have full access to all game modes and features.
There’s no loophole for Windows 11 users to skip the Secure Boot requirement with official Riot support. Any workaround you find online that claims to bypass this check carries significant risks, which we’ll cover in more detail later.
What Risks Come With Disabling Secure Boot to Run Other Programs?
Secure Boot is a UEFI security feature that blocks any unsigned or unauthorized software from running when your PC first starts up. That’s why it’s such an effective tool against kernel-level cheats, which try to inject themselves into your system before your anti-cheat software loads. A lot of players consider disabling Secure Boot because they run other software that conflicts with the feature, but that choice comes with real tradeoffs for your device security.
Some of the most common reasons players consider disabling Secure Boot include:
- Dual booting a niche Linux distribution that doesn’t support Secure Boot out of the box
- Running older custom hardware with unsigned drivers that don’t pass Secure Boot checks
- Using system modification software that interacts directly with your PC’s kernel
- Troubleshooting persistent boot errors after a BIOS or major Windows update
If you fall into one of these categories, you don’t have to choose between Valorant and your other software right away. I used to run a dual boot setup with a niche Linux distro for coding work, and I thought I’d have to pick between my side projects and my Valorant grind until I found out the distro had an optional Secure Boot signed kernel I could install. It took 10 minutes to set up, and I didn’t have to disable Secure Boot at all. Most popular Linux distros including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Pop!_OS support Secure Boot by default now, so you might not even need to make changes.
Never disable Secure Boot if you regularly download software from untrusted sources, as it removes a key layer of protection against boot sector malware that can be almost impossible to remove. Windows 10 users can leave Secure Boot off permanently without losing access to Valorant, so you won’t have to flip the setting on and off every time you want to switch between games and other software.
How to Check and Enable Secure Boot for Valorant
Checking if Secure Boot is enabled on your PC only takes a minute, and enabling it is usually a straightforward process if you follow the right steps. First, you can check your current status without going into your BIOS by opening the Windows System Information app, searching for “Secure Boot State” in the system summary tab. If it says “On”, you’re already set and won’t run into any Vanguard errors related to this setting.
If it says “Off” and you’re running Windows 11, you’ll need to enable it through your UEFI BIOS settings. Always back up your important files before making any changes to your BIOS settings, as misconfiguring boot options can make your system unreadable temporarily. To access your BIOS, restart your PC and press the manufacturer’s boot key as it starts up – this is usually F2, F10, F12, or Del, depending on your motherboard brand.
Once you’re in the BIOS menu, look for the Secure Boot option, which is usually under the Security, Boot, or Advanced tab. You’ll first need to make sure your BIOS is set to UEFI mode instead of Legacy BIOS, as Secure Boot won’t work with Legacy mode enabled. Once you switch to UEFI, enable Secure Boot, save your settings, and restart your PC. When you load back into Windows, Vanguard will recognize the change automatically, and you’ll be able to launch Valorant normally.
If you get a boot error after enabling Secure Boot, switch back to Legacy BIOS or disable Secure Boot to access your files again before troubleshooting. This error usually happens if your Windows installation was set up for Legacy BIOS mode, and you’ll need to convert your drive to GPT format to run with UEFI and Secure Boot enabled.
Are There Workarounds If You Can’t Enable Secure Boot?
Some players with older hardware or specific software needs can’t enable Secure Boot on their devices, and if that’s you, there are only two safe options to keep playing Valorant. The first and most recommended option is to roll back to Windows 10, which doesn’t have the Secure Boot requirement for Vanguard. Windows 10 is supported by Microsoft until October 2025, so you’ll be able to play Valorant and get security updates for your operating system for the next few years without upgrading your hardware.
The second option is to use a separate drive for your Valorant installation, with Windows 11 and Secure Boot enabled, and switch between drives when you want to use software that requires Secure Boot to be off. This is a good choice for players who don’t want to roll back their entire operating system, and it only takes a few extra seconds to switch between drives when you boot your PC.
You might find tutorials online that claim to let you bypass the Vanguard Secure Boot check with third-party tools or modified Vanguard files, but these are never worth the risk. Using any third-party bypass tool will result in a permanent Valorant account ban, as Riot actively scans for modified anti-cheat files, and there’s no way to appeal this type of ban. Even if a bypass works for a few days, you will get caught eventually, and you’ll lose all your skins, rank progress, and access to your account permanently.
If you’re building a new PC specifically for Valorant, you don’t have to pay extra for Secure Boot support – every motherboard released after 2018 comes with UEFI and Secure Boot functionality built in, so you won’t run into compatibility issues as long as you use a modern setup.
At the end of the day, the question of does Valorant require secure boot comes down to what operating system you’re running. If you’re on Windows 11, it’s non-negotiable if you want to play without risking a ban, but Windows 10 users don’t have to worry about it at all. The requirement might feel like a hassle at first, but it’s one of the biggest reasons Valorant has far fewer cheaters than many other competitive shooters on the market. Spending five minutes checking your BIOS settings is worth it to avoid running into hackers mid-ranked grind, and you’ll get extra security for your PC as a bonus. If you’re still running into errors after enabling Secure Boot, you can reach out to Riot’s support team for personalized help, just make sure you have your system specs handy when you submit a ticket.
