Valorant is the most frequently played shooter game available today, although it has several flaws and bugs. Still, basically, all of them have been fixed through several patch notes because of the rather helpful community the game has.
Many of these errors have somewhat similar solutions and the problems themselves could range from game crashes to network troubles. Today we will be discussing a Secure Boot error that players have been complaining about rather a lot lately; this is a bug that has annoyed many gamers globally.
Valorant’s secure boot problem indicates that on your machine the game is not identifying compatibility or working capability. For their anti-cheat system, Vanguard, Riot Games needs both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot set on. So, here’s a detailed guide on how to identify and fix this problem easily.
What is Secure Boot?
For your PC to boot using only software that the manufacturer trusts, it must adhere to the Secure Boot security standard. By blocking the loading of unapproved applications during system startup, Riot Vanguard ensures that the gaming environment remains intact. The most common reason this issue appears is because this functionality gets overridden when you upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Prerequisites
1. Operating System: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit).
2. Hardware Support: Your motherboard must support Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.
3. Vanguard Installed: Ensure Riot Vanguard is correctly installed and up to date.
Step-By-Step Solutions to Fix Valorant Secure Boot Error
If you are having trouble with the Secure Boot Error in Valorant, implement the below methods to get rid of this irritating issue. But before that, you could also try changing to the best Valorant settings straight from the pros.
Check Secure Boot Status
Start by checking if Secure Boot is enabled. Open the System Information utility by pressing Win + R, typing msinfo32, and pressing Enter. Look for the Secure Boot State entry. If it reads “On,” Secure Boot is enabled. If it reads “Off” or “Unsupported,” you’ll need to enable it through your BIOS settings.
Enable Secure Boot in BIOS
Accessing your BIOS settings is first necessary to enable Secure Boot. Doing this will call for you to perform the following:
- Restart your computer and access the BIOS when it is first turned on. Doing this calls for hitting relevant keys often used to access the BIOS Setup: Among such are F2, F9, Del, and Esc.
- If your system is set to Legacy Boot, then switch it to UEFI, as Secure Boot requires this setting.
- Find the Secure Boot settings. You’ll usually find it in the Boot or Security options. Enable the setting.
Check TPM 2.0 Status
In addition to Secure Boot, Valorant also requires TPM 2.0. To check its status:
- Press Win + R, type in ‘tpm.msc’ and press Enter.
- Check the Status section in the window that pops up.
- Should it say, “TPM is ready for use,” your TPM is working and in use. Should it be disabled, you must enable it in your BIOS.
Use these instructions to enable TPM from your BIOS:
- Restart your computer, and enter the BIOS using the same steps we’ve mentioned above.
- Go to Security or Advanced Settings.
- Find options named TPM, PTT, or fTPM and enable it.
- Save the changes, and restart your system.
BIOS Firmware Update
Outdated BIOS firmware can result in compatibility with Secure Boot. Follow to these guidelines to update your BIOS:
- Run System Information (`msinfo32`) to find your motherboard model; note the BaseBoard Manufacturer and BaseBoard Product.
- Go to the website of your motherboard manufacturer to download the BIOS update and find the suitable one for your model.
- Use the manufacturer’s recommended update methods; frequently they include a thorough tutorial for flashing the BIOS.
- After finishing the update, restart your computer and, if needed, change the BIOS settings to let Secure Boot and TPM once more run.
Reinstall Riot Vanguard
Riot Vanguard corrupted files can also cause the Secure Boot error, and reinstalling the anti-cheat software can resolve it. To do this:
- Uninstall Vanguard by pressing the Start menu button, typing “Add or Remove Programs,” and selecting Riot Vanguard from the list to uninstall it.
- Reboot your PC to ensure all Vanguard files are completely removed.
- Launch Valorant after your system restarts, and the game will immediately ask you to reinstall Vanguard.
- After finishing the reinstallation, restart your system once again to handle any residual problems.
Reset Secure Boot Keys
Should Secure Boot being turned on not address your issue, resetting the Secure Boot keys to default might help. Proceed as follows to do this:
- Restart your computer and then enter the BIOS while it is turning on.
- Once within the BIOS, find the Secure Boot option—typically found in the “Security” or “Boot” settings.
- Search for anything like “Clean Secure Boot Keys” or “Reset Secure Boot Keys to Factory Defaults.”
- Save the changes and restart your system.
This will return the trusted keys needed for proper Secure Boot operation and may resolve the error.
Make Sure UEFI Boot Mode is Activated
If Secure Boot remains disabled even after enabling it, ensure that UEFI Boot Mode is activated. To check this:
- Confirm your partition style by opening Disk Management (Win + X > Disk Management), right-clicking your system drive (C:), and selecting Properties.
- In the Volumes tab, verify whether the partition style is MBR or GPT.
- If Secure Boot requires GPT and your system is using MBR, it needs to be converted to GPT. You can do this via third-party tools that provide non-destructive conversion or use the built-in Windows tool, which does clean installs.
- After conversion, go back to the BIOS and set Boot Mode to UEFI. Turn on Secure Boot again.
Fix Corrupted System Files
Corrupted system files could interfere with Secure Boot functionality. To fix them, use the following steps:
- Start the Command Prompt by using ‘cmd’ on the Windows Search and running it as an administrator.
- Type in ‘sfc /scannow’ to scan and replace corrupted files with healthy ones. This process will take some time.
Another method you can use is:
- Start the Command Prompt by using ‘cmd’ on the Windows Search and running it as an administrator.
- Type in the following commands and press Enter each time.
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Update Windows
Updating Windows itself is very important for its compatibility with Secure Boot and TPM. Doing so is pretty easy:
- Press the ‘Win + I’ shortcut and open the Settings app.
- Go to Update & Security.
- Click on WIndows Update and click on ‘Check for Updates’.
- This will prompt Windows to search for available updates. If any updates are available, Windows will automatically start downloading and installing them.
- Once it finishes updating everything, restart your computer to execute any changes.
These usually contain necessary security patches and improvements to support features that Riot Vanguard needs which might clear up the Valorant Secure Boot error. Regular updates also keep the system functioning optimally and in compliance with security.
Reinstall Valorant
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is time to clean and reinstall Valorant. This means uninstalling the game via “Add or Remove Programs,” deleting leftover files that may still be present in the install directory (this is typically C:\\Riot Games), and then downloading a fresh copy from Riot Games’ official website. Install the game and make sure Riot Vanguard is installed, too.
Conclusion
The Secure Boot error in Valorant is only frustrating because, most often, such settings are misplaced or some firmware update has gone haywire. You can systematically address and resolve the error by following the steps above, from enabling Secure Boot and TPM, and updating your BIOS to repairing system files. Each step ensures your system meets Riot Games’ security requirements. If the problem persists despite trying all these solutions, do not hesitate to reach out to Riot’s support for personalized troubleshooting. Also, remember that U7BUY has a Discord server where you can share your problems, and other members will try to help you out.
