How to Enable Secure Boot for Valorant, Windows Guide

You are not alone if you have faced a Secure Boot error or a TPM error while playing Valorant. We understand how frustrating they are to deal with. Besides affecting your overall gaming experience, they can affect your Valorant rank boost journey. But not anymore! This blog post will discuss what TPM and Secure Boot mean, why they are essential, and how to enable them.

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a security technology found in most modern computers. It protects the system from malware and unauthorised software and ensures that every PC run meets the criteria for trusted applications. This makes it harder for cheats or hacks to interfere with the game.

Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 work together to keep the Valorant game safe and secure. TPM 2.0 makes it harder for cheaters to spoof hardware IDs or bypass bans.

Why Does Valorant Need Secure Boot?

Riot Vanguard is the security software by Riot Games that prevents players from using cheating or hacking tools. For Vanguard to function correctly in Windows 11, you must enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 features on your PC. If they are not enabled, you may face error messages such as VAN9001 and VAN9003, and the game won’t launch. They block cheats at the system level to fix such errors with the help of Secure Boot. This ensures a trustworthy and safe environment of the highest standards.

Checking Secure Boot and TPM State

Using the step-by-step guide below, you can easily check your Windows PC's Secure Boot and TPM status. You can check the secure boot status section using the System Information Tool and the PowerShell Command.

a) System Command Tool Using Windows Key

1. Press ‘Win+R’ to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type ‘msinfo32’ and press Enter.
3. The System Information window will pop up, select ‘System Summary’ on the left.
4. Find ‘Secure Boot State’ on the right side of the window. i. If it is ‘On’, Secure Boot is enabled. ii. If it is ‘Off’, Secure Boot is disabled. iii. If it is ‘Unsupported’, your hardware does not support it.

b) Using PowerShell Command

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
2. Type ‘Confirm-SecureBootEUFI’ without quote marks and hit Enter. i. If it says ‘True’, Secure Boot is enabled. ii. If it says ‘False’, Secure Boot is disabled. iii. If it says the cmdlet is not supported, your PC does not support Secure Boot.

How to Check TPM 2.0 Status?

You can check the status of TPM 2.0 using the TPM Management Console, Device Manager, and PowerShell Command program.

a) TPM Management Console

1. Press ‘Win+R’ to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type ‘tpm.msc’ and press Enter.
3. A new window will pop up. i. If you find a message saying ‘The TPM is ready for use’, it means the TPM is enabled. ii. Under ‘TPM Manufacturer Information’, check Specification Version. There must be 2.0 written if you have TPM 2.0.

b) Device Manager

1. Press ‘Win+R’ to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type ’devmgmt.msc’, and press Enter.
3. Device Manager will appear. Look for ‘Security Devices’ and expand it.
4. Find ‘Trusted Platform Module 2.0’ there and check its status.

c) PowerShell Command

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Type ‘Get-Tpm’ and press Enter. i. If TPM is enabled, you will see ‘TpmPresent: True’ and ‘TpmReady: True’. ii. You can also check the TPM version in the same window.

How to Enable Secure Boot in BIOS Settings?

Here is a step-by-step guide to enable Secure Boot in BIOS settings and play Valorant safely and securely.

1. Confirm that Secure Boot is not enabled on your PC using the abovementioned steps.

2. Enter BIOS/UEFI settings. i. Restart your computer. ii. When your PC starts, press the BIOS key. The BIOS key varies slightly depending upon the PC variant, but it often includes the Delete, F2, F10, or Esc factory keys. You may search the web to find the correct one. Moreover, the mouse may not work in BIOS, so use your keyboard's arrow keys. iii. On some systems, you can also enter the BIOS directly from Windows without rebooting the system first. iv. Go to Settings > Update and Security tab > Recovery v. Under Advanced Startup, click Restart Now. vi. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart

3. Switch Boot Mode to UEFI (if required) i. In the BIOS, find the Boot or Boot Configuration tab. ii. Secure Boot only works with UEFI Mode. Ensure the boot mode is set to UEFI (not CSM or Legacy).

4. Enable Secure Boot. i. In the BIOS menu, find the section for Boot or Security. ii. Find the Secure Boot option and set it to Enabled. iii. If you have an ASUS system, navigate to Boot > Secure Boot > Set to Enabled iv. If you have a Dell system, navigate to Boot Configuration > Boot Sequence > Set to UEFI > Enable Secure Boot v. If you have an HP system, go to System Configuration > Boot Options tab > select Secure Boot.

5. Press the Save and Exit key (often F10). Confirm the changes made, then restart your PC to let them take effect. Finally, the errors are fixed. Just launch Valorant and enjoy the game!

What to Do If You Can’t Enable TPM?

Still can not enable TPM? Do not worry, we have other ways in store for you.

1. Update the BIOS / UEFI Firmware i. If your BIOS / UEFI is outdated, it may not support TPM or hide the option. ii. Visit your motherboard / PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS / UEFI firmware.

2. Check CPU and Motherboard Compatibility i. Make sure that your processor / CPU supports TPM 2.0 for Windows 11. Not all CPUs and motherboards support TPM 2.0. ii. In some cases, if the hardware is too old, TPM 2.0 may not be available, or only TPM 1.2 may be supported. In such cases, you may face errors such as Compatible Trusted Platform Module or Compatible TPM not found.

3. Sometimes, the TPM malfunctions or is locked. Clear or reset the TPM and restart your PC to rule out any possibility.
4. Some Custom PCs require a separate TPM chip to function. Check your motherboard manual to find out if you need to purchase one.
5. TPM settings might be listed under different names for PC brands, such as Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT), AMD fTPM, Security Device Support, and Trusted Computing. Try all of them.

Can You Run Valorant If None of That Worked?

The solutions discussed above are sure to work. However, in some cases, none of them might. If that is the case with you, do not worry. Sometimes, we miss the basics while trying advanced solutions. First of all, make sure that you have the latest version of Windows and graphics drivers. Moreover, you can try running Valorant in Compatibility Mode or as Administrator (right-click on the game icon). Finally, you must contact your PC or motherboard manufacturer for assistance in enabling TPM and Secure Boot.