You’re staring at a "VAN9003" or "VAN9001" error code. It’s frustrating. You just wanted to click heads in Valorant or grind some ranked games, but Riot’s kernel-level anti-cheat is standing in your way like a brick wall. This version of Vanguard requires Secure Boot to be enabled in order to play, and honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing technical requirements in modern gaming. It isn't just Riot being "extra" for no reason; it's a fundamental shift in how developers are fighting the never-ending war against cheaters.
If you’re on Windows 11, this isn't a suggestion. It’s a mandate.
The Technical "Why" Behind the Requirement
Most people think anti-cheat just scans your running programs. That used to be true. But the guys making cheats for a living are smart. They started moving their software "deeper" into the computer, specifically into the kernel and the boot process. By the time your Windows wallpaper shows up, a sophisticated cheat might have already loaded itself into memory, effectively hiding from any software that starts up later.
Secure Boot stops this. It’s a security standard developed by members of the PC industry to help make sure that a device boots using only software that is trusted by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). When Riot says this version of Vanguard requires Secure Boot, they are essentially refusing to trust your operating system unless your hardware can prove that no "rootkits" or malicious bootloaders messed with the kernel before Vanguard started.
Riot’s lead anti-cheat developer, Phillip Koskinas, has been vocal about this on social media. The logic is simple: if you can’t verify the integrity of the boot process, you can’t trust the anti-cheat. Windows 11 made Secure Boot a requirement for the OS itself, so Vanguard simply leans on that existing architecture to create a "Ring 0" environment that is as clean as possible.
TPM 2.0 and the Windows 11 Connection
You can’t really talk about Secure Boot without mentioning TPM 2.0. They’re like annoying siblings that refuse to go anywhere without the other. TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module. It’s a physical chip (or a firmware-based equivalent) that handles cryptographic keys.
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When you see the error message stating this version of Vanguard requires Secure Boot, it’s often accompanied by a demand for TPM 2.0. On Windows 10, Riot was a bit more lenient for a while. But as the player base shifted toward Windows 11, the screws tightened. Windows 11 requires these features to even install properly, though many users bypassed those checks during installation using "tiny11" or Registry hacks. Vanguard catches those bypasses. It checks the BIOS flags directly. If they aren't toggled to "On," the game stays off.
How to Get Back into the Game
Fixing this isn't done in Windows settings. You have to go into the BIOS (or UEFI), which feels like entering a 1990s hacker movie for some people. It's intimidating, but it's just a menu.
First, you need to restart your PC. While it's booting up, you’ll usually mash a key like Delete, F2, or F12. Every motherboard is different. ASUS likes F2. MSI likes Delete. Once you’re in, you need to find the "Boot" or "Security" tab.
Look for "Secure Boot." It might be set to "Disabled" or "Other OS." You want to change it to "Enabled" or "Windows UEFI Mode."
The "CSM" Trap
This is where most people get stuck. If your BIOS has "CSM" (Compatibility Support Module) enabled, you often can't enable Secure Boot. CSM is an old-school way of booting that supports older hard drives. If you turn off CSM to enable Secure Boot, and your Windows was installed on an old "MBR" partition style, your computer might not boot at all.
It’s a mess. Honestly, if your PC is from the last five years, you’re likely using GPT (the newer style), and you can just flip the switch. If you flip it and your PC keeps booting straight back into the BIOS instead of Windows, you’ve got an MBR drive. You’ll need to convert it to GPT using the mbr2gpt tool in Windows, or—if you want the nuclear option—reinstall Windows entirely with UEFI mode enabled from the start.
Why This Isn't Just "Spyware"
Whenever Vanguard makes headlines for its strict requirements, the "spyware" conversation starts. It’s understandable. A program that starts the second you turn on your PC and requires hardware-level security checks feels invasive.
However, the reality of competitive gaming in 2026 is bleak without this stuff. Modern cheats are "DMA" (Direct Memory Access) based. They use hardware devices plugged into PCIe slots to read your RAM from a second computer. Software-level anti-cheats can't see that. By requiring Secure Boot and TPM, Riot is building a fence around the memory. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than nothing? Absolutely.
Cheaters hate Vanguard. That is the highest compliment an anti-cheat can receive. While games like Counter-Strike 2 have struggled with a massive influx of cheaters using "sub-tick" exploits, Valorant has remained relatively clean at the highest levels of play because of these exact hardware requirements.
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Troubleshooting the "Enabled but not Working" Glitch
Sometimes, your BIOS says Secure Boot is "Enabled," but Vanguard still screams that this version of Vanguard requires Secure Boot. This is incredibly annoying.
Usually, this happens because the "Factory Keys" aren't loaded. In your BIOS, near the Secure Boot toggle, there’s often an option to "Reset to Factory Keys" or "Install Default Secure Boot Keys." Do that. It refreshes the digital signatures that tell your motherboard "Yes, this version of Windows is legitimate."
Another common culprit is "Virtualization-Based Security" (VBS). Sometimes Windows' own security layers conflict with how Vanguard talks to the hardware. Making sure your BIOS is updated to the latest version is also non-negotiable here. Manufacturers release BIOS updates specifically to fix TPM and Secure Boot bugs that Windows 11 exposed.
Moving Forward: Actionable Steps
If you are stuck on the error screen, don't just keep restarting the game. It won't fix itself.
- Check your status: Press the Windows Key, type "System Information," and hit Enter. Look for "BIOS Mode" (it should say UEFI) and "Secure Boot State" (it should say On). If BIOS Mode is "Legacy," you have a much bigger project ahead involving drive reformatting.
- Enter the BIOS: Restart and find your Secure Boot settings. Disable CSM if it's on. Enable Secure Boot.
- Handle the Keys: If it’s already "Enabled" but Windows says it’s "Off," use the "Restore Factory Keys" option in your BIOS.
- Update your BIOS: If you have a Ryzen processor, especially, older BIOS versions had "TPM stuttering" issues that were fixed in later AGESA updates. This can also resolve Vanguard communication errors.
- Check for conflicting software: Some antivirus programs or virtual machine software (like VMware or VirtualBox) can interfere with Vanguard's ability to verify your boot state. Try disabling these if the error persists.
The era of "plug and play" for competitive PC gaming is slowly turning into "configure and play." It’s the price we pay for games that aren't ruined by a teenager with a $20 script and a dream of ruining your rank. Dealing with the fact that this version of Vanguard requires Secure Boot is a one-time headache that leads to a much more stable and fair gaming experience in the long run.