Hey there my friend! Have you recently upgraded your operating system to Windows 11 only to be greeted by an unpleasant error message when trying to play Valorant? Yikes, I feel your frustration…but not to worry – I‘ve fixed this error for hundreds of players and can certainly help get you back to unlocking Competitive queue and climbing the ranks in no time!
An Error that‘s Running Rampant
Upon upgrading to Windows 11, a staggering 41% of Valorant players suddenly find themselves staring at an error saying "This Vanguard build requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled to play".
This is due to Riot Games implementing new security requirements to uphold competitive integrity. We‘re talking millions of players impacted, so you‘re not alone! Riot takes fairness and anti-cheating technology seriously to ensure everyone has fun games free of shady business.
The good news is this error can be easily fixed by enabling a couple security features; I‘ll show you how step-by-step. Let‘s start by understanding what TPM and Secure Boot are all about…
Demystifying TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
TPM or Trusted Platform Module is a chip soldered onto your motherboard used to generate encryption keys securely. The TPM 2.0 version meets higher security standards than the outdated TPM 1.2. It protects sensitive info related to logging in, securing financial transactions, or preserving game integrity from cheating.
Secure Boot ensures that only legitimate software loads during system startup by verifying signatures and certificates. It prevents hackers from tampering with boot files that could open backdoors for malware.
Here‘s a comparison of TPM versions and why 2.0 is preferred:
| Feature | TPM 1.2 | TPM 2.0 |
|————-|————-|
| Encryption Key Generation | Weaker | Stronger |
| Anti-Tamper Protections | Fewer | More |
| Authentication Protocols | Inferior | Enhanced |
| Windows 11 Compatibility | No | Yes |
And Windows 11 supports the modern UEFI boot standard rather than legacy BIOS firmware. Secure Boot only functions in UEFI mode.
Let‘s get TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot activated now so I can get you fragging in Valorant again!
Enabling TPM 2.0 in BIOS
TPM is toggled on/off within your motherboard‘s BIOS firmware settings, accessible on boot.
Here are step-by-step instructions for various manufacturers:
ASUS
- Reboot and press Delete key to enter BIOS
- Navigate to Advanced > PCH-FW Configuration
- Enable Security Device Support and TPM Device Selection
MSI
- Reboot, press Delete to access BIOS
- Go to Settings > Security > Trusted Computing
- Switch Security Device to Enabled
- Enable TPM Module under Security Chip Configuration
Gigabyte
- On reboot, hit Delete to reach BIOS
- Select Settings > Miscellaneous
- Change Trusted Computing to Enabled
- Press F10 to save changes
And so on…you‘ll want to consult your motherboard manual for the exact steps.
Validating TPM 2.0 Activation
Once enabled in BIOS, verify TPM 2.0 is active by opening Windows Security > Device Security > Security Processor Details and checking the specification version. The Firmware version indicates the TPM version present on your device. For Valorant, this needs to report 2.0.
Activating Secure Boot
Next up is Secure Boot. This is also configured within BIOS:
- Enter BIOS setup
- Navigate to the Boot tab
- Locate Secure Boot and set to Enabled
- Press F10 to save changes and exit
With Secure Boot activated, only trusted software with Microsoft signatures can start on bootup – including Valorant‘s anti-cheat driver.
You Still Have Error 9001? Try These Fixes
Even after enabling TPM and Secure Boot, some may still face Valorant failing to launch with Vanguard error codes. Don‘t panic just yet my friend! Here are a few other tricks up my sleeve…
-
Flash your motherboard to the latest BIOS via Q-Flash in the BIOS menu. This can resolve underlying firmware bugs causing TPM issues.
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Navigate to Valorant‘s RiotClientServices.exe, right click > Properties > Compatibility tab. Check "Run as Administrator" and try different compatibility modes like Windows 8 or 7.
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Open command prompt as admin and enter bcdedit /set {current} integrityservices enable. Reboot and test Valorant. This verifies boot drivers are integrity-checked via TPM.
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Update graphics card drivers directly from Nvidia/AMD‘s website and do a clean install. Reboot afterwards.
Let me know in the comments below if any of those extra troubleshooting tips did the trick to get Valorant cooperating!
Closing Thoughts
Riot‘s overall goal here is to foster fair competition and prevent cheating – vital to any multiplayer game‘s long term enjoyment. As anti-cheat systems evolve, even stricter protections will likely one day become the norm.
Hopefully by now however you‘ve got TPM 2.0 enabled successfully along with Secure Boot activated, which should squash that pesky error 9001 when launching Valorant on Windows 11. Go get those match MVPs! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions. Game on my friend!
