Experiencing the "This build of Vanguard is out of compliance with current system settings" error can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're just trying to jump into a game of Valorant or League of Legends. This error usually pops up because Riot Games' anti-cheat system, Vanguard, has strict security requirements that your system isn't currently meeting. But don't worry, we can fix this together!
This comprehensive guide will walk you through each step to get your system back in compliance and banish that error message for good. Let's dive in!
Understanding the "Out of Compliance" Error
Before we start tinkering, it's helpful to understand why you're seeing this message. Vanguard is designed to detect and prevent cheating in Riot Games. To do this effectively, it needs to ensure your system is operating in a secure and trusted environment. This often involves specific settings in your computer's BIOS/UEFI and ensuring your operating system is up-to-date. Common culprits for this error include:
Disabled Secure Boot: A security feature that ensures only trusted software loads during startup.
Disabled TPM 2.0: Trusted Platform Module, a hardware-based security component that provides secure storage for encryption keys and other sensitive data. Windows 11 often requires this.
Outdated Windows: An older version of your operating system might lack necessary security patches or features that Vanguard relies on.
Corrupted Vanguard or Game Files: Sometimes, the anti-cheat itself or the game files can become damaged.
Conflicts with Other Software: Certain programs, especially virtualization software or other anti-cheat systems, can interfere with Vanguard.
Now that we know the potential reasons, let's get to the solutions!
How To Fix This Build Of Vanguard Is Out Of Compliance With Current System Settings |
Step 1: Engage and Gather Information
Hey there, gamer! Are you ready to get back to crushing your opponents? First things first, let's get a little information about your current setup. This will help us tailor the troubleshooting steps.
Are you on Windows 10 or Windows 11? (This is crucial as Windows 11 has stricter requirements).
Have you recently updated your Windows operating system or made any significant changes to your PC's settings?
Do you know your motherboard manufacturer (e.g., ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, Dell, HP)? Knowing this will help when we delve into BIOS settings.
Take a moment to note these down. We'll refer back to them as we proceed.
Step 2: Ensure Your System is Up-to-Date
An outdated system is a common culprit. Vanguard often requires the latest security patches and updates for Windows to function correctly.
Sub-heading: 2.1 Update Windows
This is usually the easiest fix and should always be your first course of action.
On Windows 10:
Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Click on 'Update & Security'.
Select 'Windows Update' from the left-hand menu.
Click on the 'Check for updates' button.
Allow Windows to download and install any available updates.
Important: Restart your PC after the updates are installed, even if it doesn't prompt you to.
On Windows 11:
Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Click on 'Windows Update' in the left sidebar.
Click on the 'Check for updates' button.
Download and install any pending updates.
Crucial: Restart your computer once the updates are complete.
Sub-heading: 2.2 Update Vanguard (and the Game)
While Vanguard usually updates automatically with the game, a manual check can sometimes help.
Open your Riot Client (where you launch Valorant or League of Legends).
Look for any pending updates for Valorant or Vanguard itself. Sometimes there's a small download icon or a prompt to update.
If you see an update, initiate it and let it complete.
Once updated, try launching the game.
Step 3: Verify Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 Status
Tip: Use this post as a starting point for exploration.
This is where things can get a bit more technical, but don't worry, we'll go step-by-step. Vanguard, especially on Windows 11, heavily relies on these security features.
Sub-heading: 3.1 Check Current Status
Let's see if Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 are already enabled or disabled on your system.
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type
msinfo32
and press Enter. This will open the System Information window.In the System Information window, look for:
"BIOS Mode": It should say 'UEFI'. If it says 'Legacy', you'll need to convert your drive to GPT and then enable UEFI mode (more on that later).
"Secure Boot State": It should say 'On'. If it says 'Off' or 'Unsupported', we'll need to enable it.
Now, let's check TPM 2.0:
Press Windows key + R again.
Type
tpm.msc
and press Enter. This will open the Trusted Platform Module Management window.Look at the "Status" section. It should say: "The TPM is ready for use." and "Specification Version: 2.0" (or higher).
If it says the TPM is not found or not enabled, or if the version is less than 2.0, you'll need to enable it in your BIOS.
Sub-heading: 3.2 Accessing Your BIOS/UEFI Settings
This is the most crucial part and can vary significantly between computer manufacturers.
Restart your computer.
As soon as your computer starts to boot up (before the Windows logo appears), repeatedly press the BIOS/UEFI key. Common keys include:
Dell: F2, F12
HP: F10, Esc
Lenovo: F1, F2, Fn + F2
ASUS: Del, F2
MSI: Del
Acer: F2, Del
Gigabyte: Del, F2
If you're unsure, do a quick Google search for "how to enter BIOS [Your PC/Motherboard Model]".
You should now be in your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings. Use your keyboard's arrow keys to navigate, as your mouse may not work here.
Sub-heading: 3.3 Enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 in BIOS
The exact location of these settings varies by motherboard. Here's a general guide:
Locate Boot Settings: Look for menus like 'Boot Options', 'Security', 'Authentication', or 'Advanced Settings'.
Disable CSM (Compatibility Support Module): If you see an option for 'CSM', 'Legacy Boot', or 'Launch CSM', ensure it is disabled. Secure Boot typically requires UEFI mode, and CSM enables legacy boot modes.
Enable Secure Boot:
Find the 'Secure Boot' option.
Change its setting to 'Enabled'.
Sometimes, you might need to change "Secure Boot Mode" from "Standard" to "Custom" then back to "Standard" to activate it.
If prompted, choose to restore factory keys or similar, then confirm.
Enable TPM 2.0:
Look for settings related to 'TPM', 'Trusted Platform Module', 'Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)' (for Intel CPUs), or 'AMD fTPM switch' (for AMD CPUs). These are usually under 'Security', 'Advanced', or 'Peripherals'.
Ensure this option is 'Enabled'.
Save and Exit: Once you've made these changes, look for an option like 'Save and Exit', 'Save Changes and Reset', or press the designated key (often F10). Confirm your changes and let your computer restart.
Upon restarting, Windows should now recognize Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. Check msinfo32
and tpm.msc
again to confirm the status.
Step 4: Repair or Reinstall Vanguard and the Game
If the compliance issue persists after enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, the Vanguard installation itself might be corrupted.
Sub-heading: 4.1 Repair Game Files
The Riot client usually has a built-in repair tool.
Open the Riot Client.
Go to the settings for Valorant (usually by clicking your profile icon and then 'Settings' or a gear icon).
Look for an option to 'Repair' or 'Verify Integrity of Game Files'.
Click it and let the client scan and fix any corrupt files. This can take some time.
Once complete, restart your PC and try launching the game.
Sub-heading: 4.2 Reinstall Vanguard
Sometimes a clean reinstall is necessary.
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
Uninstall Vanguard:
Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Go to 'Apps' -> 'Apps & features' (Windows 10) or 'Installed apps' (Windows 11).
Find 'Riot Vanguard' in the list.
Click on it and select 'Uninstall'. Follow any on-screen prompts.
Restart your computer. This is critical to ensure all Vanguard components are removed.
Launch your game (Valorant/League of Legends). The Riot Client should automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it. Follow the instructions to reinstall Vanguard.
Restart your PC again after Vanguard has reinstalled.
Step 5: Check for Software Conflicts
Certain applications can interfere with Vanguard's operation, leading to compliance errors.
Sub-heading: 5.1 Disable Virtualization Features
Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Platform, or Windows Hypervisor Platform can sometimes conflict with Vanguard.
Press Windows key + R, type
optionalfeatures
, and press Enter. This opens "Windows Features."Scroll down and uncheck the following options if they are enabled:
Hyper-V
Virtual Machine Platform
Windows Hypervisor Platform
Click OK. You might be prompted to restart your PC. Do so.
Sub-heading: 5.2 Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall
While not a long-term solution, temporarily disabling your antivirus or firewall can help diagnose if they are the cause.
Carefully disable your third-party antivirus software.
If you're using Windows Defender, open Windows Security (search for it in the Start menu), go to 'Virus & threat protection', and temporarily disable 'Real-time protection'.
Similarly, temporarily disable your firewall.
Try launching the game. If it works, you'll need to add exceptions for Valorant and Vanguard in your security software.
Sub-heading: 5.3 Close Background Applications
Close any unnecessary background applications, especially those that might interact with system drivers or offer "optimization" features.
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Go to the 'Processes' tab and end tasks for any non-essential applications that are running.
Check the 'Startup' tab to see what programs launch with Windows and disable any that you don't need immediately.
Step 6: Advanced Troubleshooting (If All Else Fails)
If you've gone through the above steps and are still facing the error, here are some more advanced options.
Sub-heading: 6.1 Convert Your OS Drive to GPT (If BIOS Mode is Legacy)
If your "BIOS Mode" in msinfo32
shows as 'Legacy', you'll need to convert your hard drive from MBR (Master Boot Record) to GPT (GUID Partition Table) to enable UEFI and subsequently Secure Boot. This process carries a risk of data loss if not done correctly, so BACK UP YOUR DATA FIRST!
Backup your important data.
Open Disk Management (search for it in the Start menu).
Note your system disk (usually Disk 0).
You'll need to use the
mbr2gpt
command-line tool. This tool is built into Windows 10 and 11.Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Type
mbr2gpt /validate
and press Enter to check if your disk can be converted.If validated successfully, type
mbr2gpt /convert
and press Enter.After the conversion, restart your PC and go back into the BIOS (Step 3.2). You should now be able to set the BIOS Mode to UEFI and enable Secure Boot.
Sub-heading: 6.2 Perform a Clean Boot
QuickTip: Skim the ending to preview key takeaways.
A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, helping you identify software conflicts.
Press Windows key + R, type
msconfig
, and press Enter.Go to the 'Services' tab.
Check the box for 'Hide all Microsoft services'.
Click 'Disable all'.
Go to the 'Startup' tab.
Click 'Open Task Manager'.
In Task Manager, disable all startup items.
Close Task Manager and click 'OK' in the System Configuration window.
Restart your PC.
If the game launches without the error, you can then re-enable services and startup items one by one to find the conflicting program.
Sub-heading: 6.3 Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)
If absolutely nothing else works, a clean installation of Windows might be necessary. This will erase all data on your system drive, so back up everything important before proceeding.
Download the latest Windows installation media (USB drive) from Microsoft's official website.
Perform a clean install of Windows.
Install your drivers and then the Riot Client and game.
Conclusion
We know how frustrating it can be when technology throws a wrench in your gaming plans. By following these step-by-step instructions, from basic updates to advanced BIOS configurations, you should be able to resolve the "This build of Vanguard is out of compliance with current system settings" error. Remember to be patient and follow each step carefully, especially when dealing with BIOS settings.
If you've tried all of these solutions and the problem still persists, don't hesitate to reach out to Riot Games' official support. They have specialized tools and knowledge to help with persistent issues. Good luck, and happy gaming!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check if my PC supports TPM 2.0?
To check if your PC supports TPM 2.0, press Windows key + R
, type tpm.msc
, and press Enter. In the Trusted Platform Module Management window, look at the "Status" and "Specification Version" (it should be 2.0 or higher). If it says "Compatible TPM cannot be found", your system might not support it or it's disabled.
How to enable Secure Boot?
To enable Secure Boot, you need to restart your computer and enter your BIOS/UEFI settings (typically by pressing F2, Del, or F10 repeatedly during startup). Navigate to the "Boot" or "Security" section, ensure "CSM" or "Legacy Boot" is disabled, and then enable the "Secure Boot" option. Save and exit the BIOS.
How to change BIOS Mode from Legacy to UEFI?
Changing BIOS Mode from Legacy to UEFI usually requires your system drive to be formatted as GPT. You can convert MBR to GPT using the mbr2gpt
tool in Command Prompt (run as administrator): mbr2gpt /validate
then mbr2gpt /convert
. After conversion, enter BIOS and change the Boot Mode from Legacy to UEFI.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling, read carefully here.
How to update Riot Vanguard manually?
Riot Vanguard usually updates automatically with the game. However, you can try opening the Riot Client, navigating to the game's settings (e.g., Valorant), and looking for a "Repair" or "Update" option. If that doesn't work, uninstalling and reinstalling Vanguard by simply launching the game after uninstalling it will force a fresh download.
How to fix Vanguard VAN9003 error?
The VAN9003 error often indicates that Secure Boot and/or TPM 2.0 are not enabled. Follow the steps in this guide to enable both features in your BIOS/UEFI settings. Also, ensure your Windows is fully updated.
How to disable Hyper-V for Vanguard?
To disable Hyper-V, press Windows key + R
, type optionalfeatures
, and press Enter. In the "Windows Features" window, uncheck "Hyper-V", "Virtual Machine Platform", and "Windows Hypervisor Platform". Click OK and restart your PC.
How to identify my motherboard model?
You can identify your motherboard model by typing msinfo32
in the Run dialog (Windows key + R). In the System Information window, look for "BaseBoard Manufacturer" and "BaseBoard Product".
How to clean install Windows?
A clean install of Windows involves booting from a Windows installation media (USB or DVD) and formatting your primary drive. You'll need to download the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website to create the bootable media. Remember to back up all your data first!
How to troubleshoot Vanguard conflicting with other software?
If Vanguard conflicts with other software, perform a clean boot (using msconfig
to disable non-Microsoft services and all startup items). Then, re-enable programs one by one until you find the culprit. Consider adding exceptions in your antivirus/firewall for Vanguard.
How to contact Riot Games Support for Vanguard issues?
If all troubleshooting fails, visit the official Riot Games Support website (support.riotgames.com). Log in to your Riot account and submit a ticket, providing detailed information about the error and the steps you've already taken.