How To Run Vanguard On Windows 11

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Are you ready to dive into the world of Valorant and other Riot Games titles on your shiny new Windows 11 machine, only to be met with the infamous Riot Vanguard roadblocks? Don't worry, you're not alone! Many users encounter issues getting Vanguard to run smoothly on Windows 11 due to its strict security requirements. But fear not, with this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, we'll get you up and running in no time.

The Lowdown on Riot Vanguard

Before we jump into the fixes, let's understand why Vanguard can be a bit of a headache. Riot Vanguard is an anti-cheat system developed by Riot Games to ensure fair play in titles like Valorant. It operates at a kernel level, meaning it runs with high privileges on your system. Windows 11, with its enhanced security features like Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, can sometimes clash with Vanguard if these settings aren't configured correctly. This is usually the root cause of errors like "VAN 9003" or "This build of Vanguard is out of compliance."

Let's begin the troubleshooting journey!

Step 1: Engage with Your System's Core - Checking Essential Windows 11 Security Features

Before we do anything drastic, let's check if your Windows 11 system meets Vanguard's baseline requirements. This is where most issues arise.

Sub-heading: Verify Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 Status

Riot Vanguard requires both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled on Windows 11. If either of these is disabled, Vanguard will refuse to launch.

  1. Open System Information:

    • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.

    • Type msinfo32 and press Enter. This will open the System Information window.

  2. Check Secure Boot State:

    • In the System Information window, look for the entry "Secure Boot State." It should say "On." If it says "Off" or "Unsupported," you'll need to enable it in your BIOS/UEFI settings (we'll cover that in Step 2).

  3. Check TPM State:

    • Next, search for "TPM." You should see an entry for "TPM Version" (it should be 2.0 or higher) and "TPM State" which should say "Ready for use."

    • Alternatively, to check TPM more directly:

      • Press Windows key + R again, type tpm.msc, and press Enter.

      • A new window will open. Under the "Status" section, it should state: "The TPM is ready for use."

What if they're not enabled? Don't panic! This is a common scenario. Proceed to Step 2 to enable them. If they are already enabled and you're still facing issues, jump to Step 3.

Step 2: Delving into the BIOS/UEFI - Enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0

Accessing your BIOS/UEFI settings is crucial for enabling these features. The exact steps can vary slightly depending on your motherboard manufacturer.

Sub-heading: Entering Your System's BIOS/UEFI

  1. Restart Your Computer:

    • Save all your work and then restart your computer.

  2. Press the BIOS/UEFI Key:

    • As your computer restarts, repeatedly press the designated BIOS/UEFI key. Common keys include:

      • Dell: F2, F12

      • HP: F10, Esc

      • Lenovo: F1, F2, Fn + F2

      • ASUS: Del, F2

      • MSI: Del

      • Gigabyte: Del, F2

      • If none of these work, search online for "[Your PC/Motherboard Manufacturer] BIOS key."

  3. Navigate to Security/Boot Settings:

    • Once in the BIOS/UEFI, use your keyboard (mouse might not work) to navigate. Look for sections like "Security," "Boot," or "Advanced."

Sub-heading: Enabling Secure Boot

  1. Find Secure Boot Option:

    • Within the BIOS/UEFI, locate the "Secure Boot" option. It might be under "Boot Options," "Security," or "Authentication."

  2. Disable CSM (Compatibility Support Module):

    • Before enabling Secure Boot, you might need to disable "CSM" (Compatibility Support Module). This module allows older operating systems to boot, but it's often incompatible with Secure Boot. Look for "CSM" or "Legacy Boot" and set it to "Disabled."

  3. Enable Secure Boot:

    • Now, enable "Secure Boot." Some BIOS versions might require you to change "Secure Boot Mode" from "Standard" to "Custom" and then back to "Standard" to activate it properly. If prompted to restore factory defaults for Secure Boot, choose "Yes."

Sub-heading: Enabling TPM 2.0 (or fTPM/PTT)

  1. Locate TPM Settings:

    • Look for settings related to "TPM," "Trusted Platform Module," "Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)," or "AMD fTPM." These are usually found under "Security" or "Advanced" settings.

  2. Enable TPM/fTPM/PTT:

    • Set this option to "Enabled."

Sub-heading: Saving Changes and Exiting BIOS/UEFI

  1. Save and Exit:

    • Once you've made the changes, navigate to the "Exit" or "Save & Exit" section of your BIOS/UEFI.

    • Select "Save Changes and Exit" or a similar option. Confirm your choice if prompted.

  2. Restart Your PC:

    • Your computer will restart. Once it boots into Windows 11, re-verify Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 using the msinfo32 and tpm.msc methods from Step 1.

Important Note: If you encounter any issues after changing BIOS settings (e.g., your computer doesn't boot), you might need to reset your BIOS to default settings. This usually involves removing the CMOS battery on your motherboard or using a jumper (refer to your motherboard manual). Proceed with caution in BIOS/UEFI settings.

Step 3: Reinstalling Riot Vanguard - A Fresh Start

Even if Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 are enabled, a corrupted Vanguard installation can cause issues. A clean reinstall often resolves these.

Sub-heading: Uninstalling Existing Vanguard

  1. Close All Riot Games:

    • Ensure all Riot Games (Valorant, League of Legends, etc.) are completely closed. Check your system tray for the Vanguard icon (the red shield). If it's there, right-click it and choose "Exit Vanguard."

  2. Uninstall from Apps & Features:

    • Right-click the Start button and select "Apps and Features."

    • In the list of installed applications, find "Riot Vanguard."

    • Click on it and select "Uninstall."

    • Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. You might be asked to confirm, select "Yes."

  3. Verify Uninstallation:

    • After uninstallation, the Riot Vanguard icon should no longer be present in your system tray.

Sub-heading: Reinstalling Vanguard

Vanguard typically reinstalls automatically when you launch a Riot Game that requires it.

  1. Launch a Riot Game (e.g., Valorant):

    • Open your Riot Games client and launch the game (e.g., Valorant).

    • The client should detect that Vanguard is missing and automatically begin the reinstallation process.

  2. Follow On-Screen Prompts:

    • Allow the client to download and install Vanguard.

    • Crucially, you will be prompted to restart your computer after Vanguard is installed. Do not skip this step. Restart your PC immediately.

  3. Verify Reinstallation:

    • After the restart, you should see the Riot Vanguard icon (the red shield) back in your system tray. This indicates a successful reinstallation.

Step 4: Beyond the Basics - Advanced Troubleshooting Steps

If you've followed the previous steps and Vanguard is still giving you trouble, here are some more advanced solutions.

Sub-heading: Running in Compatibility Mode

While generally not needed for Windows 11, running the game in compatibility mode can sometimes resolve obscure conflicts.

  1. Locate Game Executable:

    • Find the shortcut for your Riot Game (e.g., Valorant) on your desktop. If it's not there, search for it in the Start Menu, right-click, and select "Open file location."

  2. Access Properties:

    • Right-click on the game's executable file (e.g., VALORANT.exe) and select "Properties."

  3. Adjust Compatibility Settings:

    • Go to the "Compatibility" tab.

    • Check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"

    • From the dropdown menu, select "Windows 8."

    • Click "Apply" and then "OK."

    • Try launching the game again.

Sub-heading: Disabling Virtualization-Based Security (VBS)

Windows 11's Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) can sometimes interfere with Vanguard due to its kernel-level operations. Disabling it can resolve certain issues, but be aware that it might reduce some system security features.

  1. Check VBS Status:

    • Open System Information (msinfo32).

    • Look for "Virtualization-based security." If it says "Running," you might consider disabling it.

  2. Disable VBS (Method 1 - Group Policy Editor - Pro/Enterprise):

    • Press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

    • Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Guard.

    • Double-click on "Turn On Virtualization Based Security."

    • Select "Disabled" and click Apply and OK.

  3. Disable VBS (Method 2 - Registry Editor - All Editions - Use with extreme caution):

    • Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

    • Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard

    • In the right pane, look for EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity. Double-click it and set its Value data to 0.

    • Also, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity

    • In the right pane, look for Enabled. Double-click it and set its Value data to 0.

    • Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Sub-heading: Setting VGC Service to Automatic

Vanguard has a related service called "VGC." Ensuring it starts automatically can prevent "Vanguard not initialized" errors.

  1. Open Services:

    • Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Locate VGC Service:

    • Scroll down and find the service named "VGC."

  3. Set Startup Type to Automatic:

    • Right-click on "VGC" and select "Properties."

    • In the "General" tab, change the "Startup type" to "Automatic."

    • Click "Apply" and then "OK."

    • If the service is not running, click "Start."

Sub-heading: Updating Windows and Graphics Drivers

Keeping your operating system and drivers up to date is crucial for compatibility and performance.

  1. Windows Updates:

    • Go to Settings > Windows Update.

    • Click "Check for updates" and install any available updates. Restart if prompted.

  2. Graphics Drivers:

    • Visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).

    • Download and install the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model. Perform a "clean installation" if the option is available.

Sub-heading: Checking for System File Corruption

Corrupted system files can lead to various issues, including problems with Vanguard.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

    • Search for "CMD" in the Start Menu, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."

  2. Run SFC Scan:

    • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

    • This command will scan for and repair any corrupted system files. Let it complete 100%.

  3. Run DISM Commands:

    • After the SFC scan, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

      • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

      • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

      • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

    • These commands will repair the Windows image.

  4. Restart Your PC:

    • Restart your computer after the scans are complete.

10 Related FAQ Questions

Here are 10 frequently asked questions related to running Vanguard on Windows 11, with quick answers:

How to check if Secure Boot is enabled on Windows 11? Go to System Information (msinfo32) and check the "Secure Boot State" entry. It should say "On."

How to enable TPM 2.0 on my Windows 11 PC? Restart your PC, enter your BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, Del, or F10 during boot), navigate to the "Security" or "Advanced" section, and enable "TPM," "fTPM," or "PTT."

How to uninstall Riot Vanguard from Windows 11? Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find "Riot Vanguard," and click "Uninstall."

How to reinstall Vanguard if it's causing issues on Windows 11? Uninstall Riot Vanguard from Apps & features, then launch any Riot Game (like Valorant). The game client will automatically prompt you to reinstall Vanguard, followed by a mandatory system restart.

How to fix the "VAN 9003" error on Windows 11? The VAN 9003 error typically indicates that Secure Boot and/or TPM 2.0 are not enabled. Enable them in your BIOS/UEFI settings as outlined in Step 2.

How to run Valorant in compatibility mode on Windows 11? Right-click on the Valorant executable or shortcut, go to "Properties," then the "Compatibility" tab, check "Run this program in compatibility mode for," and select "Windows 8."

How to disable Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) on Windows 11? You can disable VBS via Group Policy Editor (for Pro/Enterprise editions) or by modifying specific registry keys (use with caution). Refer to Step 4 for detailed instructions.

How to ensure the VGC service is running for Vanguard on Windows 11? Open Services (services.msc), find "VGC," right-click its properties, set the "Startup type" to "Automatic," and ensure the service status is "Running."

How to update graphics drivers on Windows 11 for better Vanguard compatibility? Visit your graphics card manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel), download the latest drivers for your model, and perform a clean installation.

How to repair corrupted system files that might affect Vanguard on Windows 11? Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run sfc /scannow, followed by DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Restart your PC afterward.

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How To Run Vanguard On Windows 11

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