Fix VALORANT Vanguard Secure Boot Errors for

VALORANT's anti-cheat system, Vanguard, requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be active on your PC before it will allow the game to launch. When either setting is disabled, you'll see a boot error that prevents you from entering any match — a serious problem if you're competing or organizing events. In 2025, this error has become one of the most common support questions across competitive gaming communities, and understanding exactly why it happens (and how to resolve it permanently) will save you time and frustration.

Why Vanguard Enforces Secure Boot

Riot Games designed Vanguard as a kernel-level anti-cheat solution, meaning it operates at the deepest layer of your operating system. To function correctly at that level, Vanguard needs assurance that the system it's running on hasn't been tampered with before Windows even loads. Secure Boot provides that assurance by verifying the digital signatures of every piece of software in the boot chain.

Without Secure Boot, a cheat program could theoretically inject itself into the system before Vanguard activates, making detection nearly impossible. This is why Riot made the requirement non-negotiable. If you're running VALORANT on a machine used for tournament software operations or LAN event setups, keeping Secure Boot enabled protects the integrity of every match played on that hardware.

Identifying the Exact Error You're Seeing

Vanguard produces two distinct error messages that are often confused. The first states that Secure Boot is not enabled, while the second reports that TPM 2.0 is not available or is disabled. Both errors block the game from launching, but they require different fixes in your BIOS or UEFI firmware settings.

Before rebooting into your BIOS, open Windows Security and navigate to Device Security. Here you can confirm whether Secure Boot is listed as active and whether your TPM chip is recognized. If both show as enabled in Windows but Vanguard still throws an error, the issue is likely a firmware mode mismatch — your drive may be partitioned as MBR rather than GPT, which prevents Secure Boot from functioning even when it appears enabled.

Accessing Your BIOS and Enabling Secure Boot

Restart your computer and press the correct key to enter BIOS — this is typically Delete, F2, or F10 depending on your motherboard manufacturer. Once inside, navigate to the Boot or Security tab. Look for a setting labeled Secure Boot and switch it from Disabled to Enabled. On some boards you must first set the BIOS mode to UEFI (not Legacy or CSM) before the Secure Boot option becomes available.

After enabling Secure Boot, also confirm that TPM 2.0 is active. On Intel systems this appears as PTT (Platform Trust Technology); on AMD systems it's labeled fTPM. Save your changes and exit. Windows will restart, Vanguard will re-verify your boot environment, and the error should be gone. If you manage multiple gaming stations for esports tournaments, this process should be documented in your venue's setup checklist.

Converting MBR to GPT Without Losing Data

If Secure Boot remains broken after the BIOS change, your system disk is almost certainly using the older MBR partition style. Secure Boot requires GPT. Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in tool called MBR2GPT that converts the partition table without erasing your data.

Open an elevated Command Prompt and run mbr2gpt /validate /disk:0 /allowFullOS to check compatibility. If the validation passes, run mbr2gpt /convert /disk:0 /allowFullOS. The conversion takes under a minute. After rebooting, return to BIOS, enable Secure Boot, and Vanguard should now load without complaint. This step is particularly important for tournament platform administrators who are reimaging machines for competition use, since older system images are frequently MBR-formatted.

Keeping Competition Machines Permanently Compliant

One-time fixes are not enough for venues that run recurring events. Every time a machine receives a fresh Windows image or a BIOS update, Secure Boot settings can revert to their defaults. Build a post-imaging verification checklist that includes confirming Secure Boot status, TPM state, and UEFI boot mode before any event goes live.

Tournament Click recommends pairing this hardware checklist with a reliable bracket maker tool so that technical delays on match day never cascade into scheduling chaos. When your machines are consistently configured, your event software runs smoother, check-in is faster, and players spend their energy competing rather than troubleshooting. Proactive compliance management is one of the clearest separators between amateur and professional event production.

When the Error Persists After All Steps

A small number of users will complete every step above and still see the Vanguard error. The most common remaining causes are outdated BIOS firmware, a corrupted Vanguard installation, or a third-party security product that interferes with TPM access. Start by updating your motherboard BIOS to the latest stable version from the manufacturer's website.

Next, fully uninstall Vanguard through Windows Apps & Features, reboot, then reinstall it by launching VALORANT fresh from the Riot client. If a security suite such as a VPN driver or endpoint protection tool is active, temporarily disable it to test whether it's blocking TPM communication. Tournament Click has seen this specific conflict arise on corporate-managed machines where group policy restricts firmware access — in those cases, coordinate with your IT administrator rather than attempting workarounds that could violate network policy.

Conclusion

VALORANT's Vanguard Secure Boot error is entirely fixable with the right sequence of BIOS adjustments and, when necessary, a partition table conversion — and in 2025, every competitive player and event organizer should have this process documented as standard procedure. Whether you're running a single gaming rig or managing a fleet of machines for esports tournaments, keeping Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 consistently enabled protects match integrity, eliminates last-minute technical failures, and ensures that your Tournament Click-powered events run with the professionalism that competitors expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the VALORANT Vanguard Secure Boot error?

Vanguard requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be active in your BIOS to verify system integrity before Windows loads. If either setting is disabled, Vanguard blocks the game from launching.

Does enabling Secure Boot delete my files?

No. Enabling Secure Boot in BIOS does not affect your files or installed programs. The only risk to data occurs if you also need to convert your disk from MBR to GPT, though the MBR2GPT tool is designed to perform that conversion non-destructively.

What is TPM 2.0 and why does VALORANT need it?

TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) is a hardware security chip that stores cryptographic keys and confirms your system hasn't been compromised. Vanguard uses it alongside Secure Boot to validate the boot environment.

How do I know if my PC supports Secure Boot?

Open System Information (msinfo32) in Windows and look for the Secure Boot State field. If it reads Unsupported, your hardware may be too old; if it reads Off, you simply need to enable it in BIOS.

Can I play VALORANT without enabling Secure Boot?

No. As of Vanguard's current requirements in 2025, Secure Boot is mandatory. There is no supported workaround that allows VALORANT to run with Secure Boot disabled.

How do I enter BIOS on my PC?

Restart your computer and press the firmware entry key immediately — typically Delete, F2, F10, or F12 depending on your motherboard brand. Your screen may briefly display the correct key during the POST screen.

Why is Secure Boot greyed out in my BIOS?

Secure Boot is greyed out when your BIOS is set to Legacy or CSM boot mode. Switch the boot mode to UEFI first, save, reboot into BIOS again, and the Secure Boot option will become editable.

Does this error affect esports tournament events?

Yes. If player machines at a LAN event have Secure Boot disabled, Vanguard will block VALORANT from launching, causing match delays. Tournament organizers should verify BIOS settings during machine setup.

Will reinstalling VALORANT fix the Secure Boot error?

Not on its own. Reinstalling VALORANT won't change your BIOS settings. The fix must be applied in firmware. After enabling Secure Boot, a fresh Vanguard install can help clear any residual error states.

How often should tournament organizers check Secure Boot compliance?

Before every event, especially after any BIOS update or system reimaging. BIOS updates sometimes reset Secure Boot to disabled by default, so a pre-event checklist is the most reliable safeguard.