Does Vanguard Need Secure Boot

The short answer is sometimes. Vanguard can work without Secure Boot in some PC setups, but another version or configuration may stop Valorant and show that UEFI Secure Boot must be enabled.

That apparent contradiction is the key point. There isn't one rule that applies to every Vanguard installation. The answer depends on:

• The Vanguard version installed on your PC
• Whether you use Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Whether your computer starts in UEFI mode
• Whether the hardware supports Secure Boot
• The exact error message Vanguard shows

So, if you’re asking “does Vanguard need Secure Boot?” start with the message on your screen. It tells you more than a general yes-or-no answer.

When Vanguard requires Secure Boot

Some Vanguard installations run without Secure Boot enabled. That’s why you may see reports from players who launch Valorant normally on systems where Secure Boot is off.

Other players see a message saying that this version of Vanguard requires UEFI Secure Boot to be enabled in order to play Valorant. In that case, Vanguard is checking for a specific security setup before it allows the game to run.

A newer Vanguard on-demand mode has also been linked with stricter security requirements on Windows 11. This means a setup that worked before may later show a requirement after Vanguard changes or updates.

That doesn’t necessarily mean your PC is broken. It may simply mean the current Vanguard version applies a different check.

The practical rule is simple:

• No Secure Boot warning: Your current Vanguard setup may not require it.
• A direct UEFI Secure Boot warning: You’ll likely need to enable it.
• Hardware cannot support UEFI or Secure Boot: The PC may not meet that Vanguard setup’s requirements.

This is why copying another player’s settings can be misleading. Two PCs may both run Windows 11, yet use different firmware modes or have different Vanguard requirements.

What Secure Boot does and why Vanguard checks it

Secure Boot is a feature built into modern computer firmware. Firmware is the software that starts your PC before Windows loads. On newer computers, this is usually called UEFI.

Secure Boot checks the software that starts during the boot process. It is designed to allow trusted, properly signed startup components and block others. This helps protect the early part of the startup process, before Windows and normal security tools are fully running.

Vanguard is Riot’s anti-cheat software for Valorant. Because it works closely with the system, Vanguard may check parts of your Windows and firmware setup. A Secure Boot check gives Vanguard another way to confirm that the PC is using the security configuration it expects.

That does not mean Secure Boot is always required for every version of Vanguard. It means the requirement can be enforced when Vanguard’s current security rules call for it.

The connection looks like this:

• UEFI is the modern firmware mode used to start the computer.
• Secure Boot is a security feature inside that firmware.
• Vanguard checks the system before allowing Valorant to run.
• Valorant may refuse to start if Vanguard reports that its required security conditions are missing.
• VAN9003 is associated with the Vanguard Secure Boot problem.

Secure Boot is not a Valorant graphics setting or a Windows game option. You change it in your computer’s firmware settings, often called the BIOS or UEFI menu.

Can you play Valorant without Secure Boot?

Possibly. One result specifically says Vanguard works without Secure Boot enabled. That shows there are systems where Valorant can run with the feature turned off.

But that does not override a warning from your own Vanguard installation. If your copy of Vanguard says Secure Boot is required, Valorant may not work until you meet that requirement.

Think of it as two different cases:

Your game works with Secure Boot off

If Valorant launches and Vanguard does not show a Secure Boot error, you may not need to change anything. Turning on firmware features “just in case” can create extra problems if you haven’t checked how your PC is configured.

Vanguard blocks the game

If you see a message that Vanguard requires UEFI Secure Boot, then the answer for your current setup is effectively yes. You’ll need to check whether your PC supports the feature and enable it if possible.

This also answers the question, “Does Valorant require Secure Boot on Windows 10?” There is no blanket answer based on the Windows version alone. The Vanguard version, firmware mode, and hardware support still matter.

Windows 11 systems may face stricter checks in some newer Vanguard setups. That makes the exact error especially useful. Don’t assume that a guide written for another Windows version, or an older Vanguard release, matches your PC.

How to identify the Vanguard Secure Boot or UEFI error

Look closely at the Vanguard message instead of treating every startup problem as the same issue.

The relevant warning usually mentions one or more of these ideas:

• Vanguard requires UEFI Secure Boot
• Secure Boot must be enabled to play Valorant
• The PC is not using the required firmware security setup
• An error such as VAN9003

A VAN9003-style error points to the Secure Boot problem. It does not mean that every VAN error has the same cause, so the wording still matters.

Before changing settings, write down:

1. The full error code
2. Whether the message mentions UEFI
3. Whether it specifically says Secure Boot is required
4. Which version of Windows you use
5. Whether the problem started after a Vanguard or Windows change

This gives you a clearer path. If the message only says that Vanguard failed to start, changing Secure Boot may not address the real problem. If it directly says Vanguard requires Secure Boot, firmware is the right place to investigate.

How to check whether a PC supports UEFI and Secure Boot

Check Windows first. You want to learn how the PC starts before you change anything in firmware.

On Windows 11, search for System Information from the Start menu and open it. Look for entries related to:

• BIOS Mode
• Secure Boot State

The BIOS Mode entry helps show whether Windows is using modern UEFI mode or an older legacy mode. The Secure Boot State entry shows whether Secure Boot is currently on or off.

You can also check Secure Boot through Windows Security:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Go to Device security.
3. Look for the Secure Boot section or related security details.

The exact wording can vary by Windows version and system setup.

Here’s how to read the result:

• UEFI mode and Secure Boot on: Your PC already meets the basic setting Vanguard may be asking for.
• UEFI mode and Secure Boot off: The hardware may support it, so enabling the feature could solve the error.
• Legacy mode: Secure Boot may not be available until the computer is configured to use UEFI.
• No UEFI or Secure Boot support: The hardware may not meet the Vanguard requirement.

Be careful with the last two cases. Changing a computer from legacy startup to UEFI can involve disk and operating-system settings. It is not the same as flipping one safe switch in every PC.

Riot’s support information indicates that hardware without physical UEFI or Secure Boot support may not be compatible with Vanguard’s requirements. If the feature simply does not exist on your system, repeated Windows repairs probably won’t create it.

How to enable Secure Boot in Windows 11 BIOS or UEFI settings

If Windows shows that your computer uses UEFI and Secure Boot is off, you can check the firmware settings.

The names and layout differ between computer makers. You may see BIOS Setup, UEFI Firmware Settings, Boot, Security, or Authentication. Don’t worry if the menu does not look like a guide from another PC.

A common path is:

1. Save your work and restart the computer.
2. Open the firmware setup screen during startup.
3. Find the Boot or Security section.
4. Locate Secure Boot.
5. Set it to Enabled.
6. Save the change and restart Windows.
7. Check Windows again to confirm that Secure Boot is active.

Many computers open firmware settings through a startup key, but the key differs by manufacturer. Windows 11 may also provide an advanced restart option that leads to UEFI firmware settings.

Before changing anything, confirm that the system is already using UEFI mode. If it is running in legacy mode, enabling Secure Boot may not be available or may cause startup trouble.

Also check for settings that can make Secure Boot appear unavailable. Some firmware menus require a particular boot mode first. Others may show Secure Boot as locked until a related firmware option is changed. The labels are not standard, so use your computer maker’s instructions for the exact menu.

If you’re unsure what a setting does, stop and check first. Don’t randomly change boot options, storage settings, or firmware security controls. A wrong change can leave Windows unable to start.

After Windows loads, open System Information again and confirm the Secure Boot State says it is on. Then start Valorant and see whether Vanguard still reports the same requirement.

What to do if the hardware does not support UEFI/Secure Boot

If your PC has no UEFI mode or Secure Boot option, you may not be able to fix this requirement through Windows settings.

That matters because Secure Boot is a firmware and hardware feature. A Windows update cannot add it to a computer that does not physically support it.

Your choices are narrower in this situation:

• Check the computer maker’s firmware documentation for confirmation.
• Make sure the firmware is not hiding the feature because the PC is using legacy mode.
• Confirm that the Vanguard message is really about Secure Boot.
• Check Riot’s current compatibility guidance for the affected setup.
• Consider using hardware that supports UEFI and Secure Boot if Vanguard continues to block the game.

Avoid treating an unsupported PC like one where Secure Boot is merely switched off. Those are different problems.

A PC with UEFI and Secure Boot disabled may be able to meet the requirement after a firmware change. A PC with no UEFI or Secure Boot support may not be compatible with the Vanguard rules that produced the error.

Windows 10 versus Windows 11 considerations

Windows 10 and Windows 11 can show different behavior because Vanguard’s requirements may depend on the operating system and the version of Vanguard installed.

The main question is not simply, “Am I on Windows 10 or Windows 11?” Ask instead:

• What exact message does Vanguard show?
• Does it mention UEFI Secure Boot?
• Is the PC using UEFI or legacy startup?
• Does the hardware offer Secure Boot?
• Did the problem appear after a Vanguard change?

Some information reports that a newer Vanguard on-demand mode has stricter Windows 11 security requirements. That helps explain why a setup may work on one system but fail on another, even when both players are launching the same game.

It also explains why older advice can become unreliable. A player may say, “I’ve always played with Secure Boot off,” while another sees Vanguard requires Secure Boot and cannot start Valorant. Both reports can be accurate for their own Vanguard version and system configuration.

So, before changing firmware, check your Windows and UEFI details. If Vanguard still reports that Secure Boot is required, use that exact error to guide the next troubleshooting step rather than assuming every Vanguard installation follows the same rule.