Vanguard, the anti-cheat software used by games like Valorant, sometimes requires Secure Boot to be enabled for it to run. This can be a bit of a tricky process, as it involves navigating your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings. But don't worry, we'll walk you through it step by step.
Step 1: Are you ready to dive into the digital heart of your computer?
Before we begin, you need to understand what we're about to do. We're going to enter your computer's BIOS or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) setup. This is the low-level software that boots up your computer before your operating system (like Windows) even starts. It's powerful stuff, and changing settings here can affect how your computer runs.
First things first, you need to know what kind of motherboard you have. The steps to access the BIOS/UEFI can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer.
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| How To Put Vanguard In Secure Boot |
Step 2: Accessing the BIOS/UEFI
QuickTip: Take a pause every few paragraphs.
This is the most crucial step. You need to press a specific key during the boot process to enter the BIOS/UEFI. This key is typically one of the function keys (F1, F2, F10, F12), the 'Esc' key, or the 'Del' key.
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Restart your computer. Don't just shut it down, hit the "Restart" button.
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As soon as the screen goes black and the computer starts to power on again, start mashing the BIOS/UEFI key.
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Keep pressing it repeatedly until you see the BIOS/UEFI interface. You will know you are in the right place because you will see a screen with a lot of settings, usually with a different visual style than your operating system.
Having trouble finding the key? A quick search for "BIOS key for [your motherboard brand/model]" will usually give you the answer. For example, "BIOS key for ASUS motherboard" or "BIOS key for Dell XPS".
Step 3: Finding the Secure Boot Setting
Once you're in the BIOS/UEFI, you'll need to navigate the menus to find the Secure Boot setting. The layout can be very different depending on your motherboard manufacturer.
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Look for a tab or menu item that says "Boot", "Security", "Authentication", or "Advanced".
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Within one of these menus, you'll likely find an option called "Secure Boot" or "UEFI Secure Boot".
Important Note: You might also need to enable UEFI mode if it is not already enabled. Secure Boot only works in UEFI mode, not in the older "Legacy" or "CSM" (Compatibility Support Module) mode. If your boot mode is set to Legacy/CSM, you'll need to change it to UEFI first.
Reminder: Revisit older posts — they stay useful.
Step 4: Enabling Secure Boot
Once you've located the Secure Boot setting, here's what you need to do:
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Select the "Secure Boot" option.
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Change the setting to "Enabled".
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Save your changes and exit. There will be a menu option, often in the "Exit" tab, to "Save Changes and Exit". This is crucial! If you don't save, the changes won't take effect.
What if it's grayed out? If the Secure Boot option is grayed out and you can't change it, you might need to disable a setting called "CSM" (Compatibility Support Module) or "Legacy" mode. Disabling this will force your system to boot in UEFI mode, which is required for Secure Boot.
Step 5: Verifying Secure Boot is Enabled
Tip: Look for examples to make points easier to grasp.
After your computer restarts, you can check if Secure Boot is enabled from within Windows.
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Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
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Type
msinfo32and press Enter. This will open the System Information window. -
In the System Summary section, look for a line that says "Secure Boot State".
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If it says "On", you're good to go!
If it says "Off," you need to go back to the BIOS/UEFI and check if you missed a step.
Related FAQ
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Secure Boot and Vanguard.
How to check if my motherboard supports Secure Boot? You can check your motherboard's manual or product page online. Most modern motherboards manufactured in the last decade support UEFI and Secure Boot.
QuickTip: Skim first, then reread for depth.
How to find my motherboard model? You can find your motherboard model by typing msinfo32 in the Run dialog (Windows key + R) and looking for "BaseBoard Manufacturer" and "BaseBoard Product".
How to know if my Windows is installed in UEFI mode? In the System Information window (msinfo32), look for "BIOS Mode". If it says "UEFI", you are in the right mode. If it says "Legacy", you need to convert your drive to GPT and reinstall Windows in UEFI mode.
How to disable Secure Boot? To disable Secure Boot, you will need to follow the same steps as enabling it, but change the setting to "Disabled" in the BIOS/UEFI settings.
How to fix Vanguard not running after enabling Secure Boot? If Vanguard still doesn't run, try restarting your computer a few times. If the issue persists, you might need to reinstall Vanguard.
How to convert my MBR drive to GPT for UEFI boot? You can use the MBR2GPT tool in Windows. However, this is an advanced process and you should back up your data first!
How to reinstall Windows for UEFI boot? When you create a bootable USB with Windows, make sure you set the partition scheme to "GPT" for UEFI systems.
How to find the Secure Boot setting on a Dell computer? On a Dell, you typically press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS and then navigate to the "Boot" or "Security" tab to find the Secure Boot option.
How to find the Secure Boot setting on an HP computer? On an HP, you typically press F10 during boot and then look for "Boot Options" or "Security" to find the Secure Boot setting.
How to fix the 'Secure Boot is not enabled' error in Vanguard? This error message is a direct indication that you need to enable Secure Boot in your BIOS/UEFI. Follow the steps in this guide to enable it.
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