How to Get Valorant to Work on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / September 21, 2025

If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11 and Valorant won’t launch, you’re not alone. Riot Games’ anti-cheat system, Vanguard, requires certain Windows 11 security features to be enabled, and missing or misconfigured settings often cause the dreaded VAN 9001, VAN 9003, or VAN 9090 errors.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to do—step by step—to get Valorant running smoothly on Windows 11.

Why Valorant Doesn’t Work Out of the Box on Windows 11

Valorant uses Vanguard, a kernel-level anti-cheat driver. On Windows 11, Vanguard enforces stricter system integrity checks than it does on Windows 10. Specifically, it requires:

  • TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)

  • UEFI Secure Boot

If either is disabled, Valorant won’t launch. Instead, you’ll see VAN errors or get blocked at startup.

Minimum Requirements for Valorant on Windows 11

Here are the official specs you need:

  • OS: Windows 10 (19041+) or Windows 11, 64-bit only

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 or AMD Athlon 200GE (minimum)

  • RAM: 4 GB (minimum)

  • GPU: Intel HD 4000, Radeon R5 200, or better

  • DirectX: Version 11 support required

  • Storage: At least 20 GB free

  • Security: TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot must be enabled

Step 1: Check Your System Security Features

Before tweaking BIOS, let’s check if TPM and Secure Boot are already enabled.

  1. Press Windows + R, type tpm.msc, and press Enter.

    • If it shows “TPM is ready for use” and version 2.0, you’re good.

    • If not, TPM is disabled or unsupported.

  2. To check Secure Boot:

    • Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, press Enter.

    • Look for Secure Boot State: it should say On.

If TPM or Secure Boot are off, continue with Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2: Enable TPM 2.0 in BIOS/UEFI

  1. Restart your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing F2, F10, DEL, or ESC during startup).

  2. Look under Advanced, Security, or Trusted Computing settings.

  3. Enable TPM, PTT (Intel), or fTPM (AMD) depending on your processor.

  4. Save changes and reboot.

Step 3: Enable Secure Boot in BIOS/UEFI

  1. While in BIOS/UEFI, go to Boot Settings.

  2. Find Secure Boot and set it to Enabled.

  3. Ensure boot mode is UEFI, not Legacy/CSM.

  4. Save and restart.

Step 4: Update Windows 11

Valorant may refuse to run on outdated builds.

  • Open Settings → Windows Update.

  • Click Check for Updates and install all pending updates.

  • Restart your PC when finished.

Step 5: Update Graphics and Device Drivers

Outdated drivers can block Vanguard.

  • Update your GPU drivers from NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, or Intel Arc tools.

  • Update chipset and network drivers from your PC manufacturer’s website.

  • Restart your PC after updating.

Step 6: Repair or Reinstall Vanguard

If Vanguard itself is broken:

  1. Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, press Enter.

  2. Locate Riot Vanguard → right-click → Uninstall.

  3. Restart your PC.

  4. Launch Valorant again—Vanguard will reinstall automatically.

Step 7: Reinstall Valorant (if needed)

If nothing works:

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

  2. Uninstall Valorant and Riot Client.

  3. Restart your PC.

  4. Download the latest installer from Riot’s official site and reinstall.

Advanced Fixes: Memory Integrity and Virtualization

Some Windows 11 security features may conflict with Vanguard:

  • Disable Memory Integrity (Core Isolation) if Vanguard fails to start.

    • Go to Windows Security → Device Security → Core Isolation.

    • Turn off Memory Integrity and restart.

  • Ensure Virtualization (Intel VT-x / AMD-V) is enabled in BIOS. Vanguard may require it on some systems.

Troubleshooting Common Error Codes

Error Code Meaning Fix
VAN 9001 TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot disabled Enable both in BIOS
VAN 9003 Secure Boot not active Turn on UEFI Secure Boot
VAN 9090 Vanguard driver issue Reinstall Vanguard
VAN 1067 Unsupported system config Ensure TPM, Secure Boot, and UEFI are enabled

Conclusion: Play Valorant Smoothly on Windows 11

Getting Valorant to run on Windows 11 isn’t as simple as double-clicking the icon. Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat enforces strict security rules, which means you need TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, updated Windows builds, and up-to-date drivers.

By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll resolve the most common errors and get back into the game. And once everything’s configured, you won’t need to do it again—the setup is permanent.

FAQs

1. Why won’t Valorant open on Windows 11?
Because Vanguard requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled. Without them, Valorant won’t launch.

2. Can I play Valorant on Windows 11 without TPM 2.0?
No. Vanguard blocks unsupported systems to maintain anti-cheat integrity.

3. What is the VAN 9001 error in Valorant?
It means TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is missing/disabled. Enable them in BIOS to fix.

4. Do I need to reinstall Valorant after enabling Secure Boot and TPM?
Not always. Restarting is often enough, but reinstall Vanguard if the error persists.

5. Will Windows updates break Vanguard?
Sometimes. After major updates, Vanguard may stop working. Reinstalling Vanguard usually fixes it.

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