Vanguard is a crucial anti-cheat system developed by Riot Games, primarily used with games like Valorant. When Vanguard's safe boot isn't configured correctly, it can prevent your game from launching, often displaying error messages. This lengthy guide will walk you through, step-by-step, how to troubleshoot and fix Vanguard's safe boot issues, getting you back into the game!
Let's dive in!
Step 1: Are You Experiencing Vanguard Safe Boot Issues? Let's Confirm!
Before we start tinkering, how do you know you're facing a Vanguard safe boot problem? You'll typically see an error message when trying to launch a Riot game, stating that Vanguard is not initialized, requires a reboot, or that Secure Boot/TPM 2.0 is not enabled. Sometimes, the game simply won't launch at all, or you might encounter persistent crashes. If this sounds like your situation, you're in the right place!
Step 2: Initial Quick Checks – The Basics First!
Often, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Don't skip these!
Sub-heading: Restart Your PC It sounds cliché, but a fresh reboot can resolve many temporary software glitches. Seriously, try this first! It gives Vanguard a clean slate to initialize.
Sub-heading: Update Windows Ensure your Windows operating system is fully up to date. Vanguard relies heavily on system-level security features, and outdated Windows versions can cause conflicts.
Go to Settings > Windows Update.
Click on Check for updates.
Install any pending updates and restart your PC.
Sub-heading: Update Your Game (Valorant, etc.) An outdated game client might not be compatible with the latest Vanguard version. Launch the Riot client and ensure your game is fully updated.
Sub-heading: Run Vanguard as Administrator Sometimes, insufficient permissions can prevent Vanguard from launching correctly.
Navigate to your Vanguard installation directory (usually
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard).Right-click on
vgc.exeand select Run as administrator.Then try launching your game.
Step 3: Verifying Vanguard's Service Status – Is It Even Running?
Vanguard runs as a service in the background. If this service isn't active, your game won't launch.
Sub-heading: Checking the 'vgc' Service
Press
Win + Rto open the Run dialog.Type
services.mscand press Enter.In the Services window, scroll down and look for vgc (Riot Vanguard).
Check its status. It should say "Running" and the "Startup Type" should be "Automatic".
If it's not running, right-click on
vgcand select Start.If the Startup Type is not "Automatic," double-click on
vgc, change the "Startup type" to Automatic, click Apply, and then Start the service if it's not already running.Restart your PC after making changes.
Step 4: Reinstalling Vanguard – A Fresh Start
A corrupted Vanguard installation is a common culprit. Reinstalling it can often resolve the issue.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Vanguard
Press
Win + Ito open Settings.Go to Apps > Apps & features.
Scroll down and find Riot Vanguard.
Click on it and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts.
Important: After uninstalling, restart your PC. This is crucial to clear any residual files.
Sub-heading: Reinstalling Vanguard
Launch your Riot game (e.g., Valorant).
The game client should detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it. Follow the on-screen instructions.
If it doesn't prompt you, simply try launching the game again, and it should trigger the installation.
Once installed, restart your PC again.
Step 5: Enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 – The Modern Security Requirements
For many newer games and Windows 11, Vanguard now requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. This is a critical step for many users.
Sub-heading: Checking Your Secure Boot and TPM Status
Press
Win + R, typemsinfo32, and press Enter to open System Information.Look for Secure Boot State. It should say "On".
Look for TPM Version. It should be 2.0. If it's not, or says "Ready with attestation", you might need to enable it.
Sub-heading: Accessing Your BIOS/UEFI Settings
This varies by motherboard manufacturer. Common keys to press during startup (immediately after pressing the power button) are
Del,F2,F10,F12, orEsc. You might need to repeatedly tap the key.Pro-tip: Look up your specific motherboard model's manual online for the exact key.
Sub-heading: Enabling Secure Boot
Once in the BIOS/UEFI, navigate to a section like Boot, Security, or Authentication.
Look for an option called Secure Boot.
Enable it. You might need to set a supervisor password in the BIOS first for the option to become editable.
Note: Sometimes, you need to set the OS type to "Windows UEFI mode" or "UEFI" instead of "Legacy" or "CSM" before Secure Boot appears.
Sub-heading: Enabling TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)
In your BIOS/UEFI, look for a section related to Security, Advanced, or Peripheral Configuration.
Look for an option like TPM, Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT), or AMD fTPM.
Enable it.
Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI. Your PC will restart.
Step 6: Disabling Overlays and Background Applications
Certain applications with overlays (like Discord, GeForce Experience, Steam, MSI Afterburner) or other background processes can interfere with Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Temporarily Disabling Overlays
Go into the settings of applications like Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, or Steam and disable their in-game overlays.
Test your game after disabling them.
Sub-heading: Closing Unnecessary Background Applications
Open Task Manager (
Ctrl + Shift + Esc).Go to the Processes tab.
Close any non-essential applications that are consuming significant resources or that you suspect might be conflicting. Be cautious not to end critical Windows processes.
Step 7: Checking for Driver Conflicts
Outdated or corrupted drivers, especially graphics or chipset drivers, can sometimes cause instability that impacts Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Updating Graphics Drivers
Go to the official website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
Download and install the latest drivers for your specific GPU. Perform a clean installation if the option is available.
Restart your PC.
Sub-heading: Updating Chipset Drivers
Visit your motherboard manufacturer's website.
Find your specific motherboard model and download the latest chipset drivers.
Install them and restart your PC.
Step 8: Advanced Troubleshooting – When All Else Fails
If you've followed all the steps above and are still facing issues, these advanced steps might help.
Sub-heading: Checking for Corrupted System Files
Open Command Prompt as administrator (
Win + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)).Type
sfc /scannowand press Enter. This will scan for and attempt to repair corrupted Windows system files.Restart your PC after the scan completes.
Sub-heading: Using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Tool
Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Type
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthand press Enter. This tool can fix more profound Windows image issues.Restart your PC after it finishes.
Sub-heading: Clean Boot Troubleshooting A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps you identify if a third-party application is causing the conflict.
Press
Win + R, typemsconfig, and press Enter.Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and then click Disable all.
Go to the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager, and disable all startup items.
Restart your PC.
If Vanguard works in a clean boot, re-enable services and startup items one by one to pinpoint the culprit.
Step 9: Contacting Riot Games Support
If you've exhausted all these options and Vanguard still isn't working, it's time to reach out to the experts.
Sub-heading: Providing Detailed Information When contacting Riot Support, provide as much detail as possible:
The exact error message you're receiving.
A list of all the troubleshooting steps you've already tried.
Your system specifications (OS version, CPU, GPU, RAM).
Any recent changes to your system (new software, hardware, updates).
Screenshots or videos of the error can be incredibly helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to Vanguard safe boot issues:
How to re-enable Vanguard after disabling it?
You don't typically "disable" Vanguard directly. If you uninstalled it, launch a Riot game, and it will prompt you to reinstall. If its service (vgc) was stopped, go to services.msc, find vgc, and set its startup type to "Automatic" and start the service.
How to check if Secure Boot is enabled on my PC?
Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. Look for "Secure Boot State". It should say "On".
How to check if TPM 2.0 is enabled on my PC?
Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. Look for "TPM Version". It should be 2.0.
How to access BIOS/UEFI settings on my computer?
Restart your PC and repeatedly press the key designated by your motherboard manufacturer (commonly Del, F2, F10, F12, or Esc) immediately after pressing the power button.
How to fix "Vanguard not initialized" error?
This error often points to a problem with the vgc service or a corrupted Vanguard installation. Try restarting your PC, checking the vgc service status (Step 3), or reinstalling Vanguard (Step 4).
How to force Vanguard to update? Vanguard typically updates automatically with your game client. If you suspect an issue, reinstalling Vanguard (Step 4) will ensure you get the latest version.
How to prevent Vanguard from causing conflicts with other programs? Keep your Windows and drivers updated, disable in-game overlays for other applications (Step 6), and perform a clean boot to identify conflicting software (Step 8).
How to uninstall Vanguard completely? Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find "Riot Vanguard," and click Uninstall. Remember to restart your PC after uninstalling.
How to report a Vanguard issue to Riot Games? Visit the official Riot Games support website, navigate to the support section for your specific game (e.g., Valorant), and submit a ticket. Provide all relevant details.
How to know if Vanguard is the root cause of my game not launching? If you receive specific error messages mentioning Vanguard, Secure Boot, or TPM 2.0, or if your game launches successfully after temporarily disabling Vanguard's service (though this is not recommended for playing), then Vanguard is likely the cause.
