Fixing the Annoying Valorant Secure Boot Error on Windows 11
Got that annoying Secure Boot error popping up when you’re trying to jump into Valorant on Windows 11? You’re not alone—plenty of folks run into this. Basically, Secure Boot is a security feature built into UEFI that makes sure only trusted software loads up during startup. If it’s turned off, Valorant might spit out errors faster than you can click “play.” The good news is, fixing this usually isn’t too tricky, as long as you’re comfy poking around in BIOS or UEFI settings.
Here’s a quick rundown on how to turn on Secure Boot so you can get back to gaming without the hassle.
Getting Into BIOS/UEFI
Start by rebooting your PC. When it starts up again, hammer the key that opens the BIOS—most often F2, F10, DEL, or ESC. It depends on your make and model, so if you’re stuck, a quick Google with your computer’s model plus “enter BIOS” will do the trick. Once you hit the right key, you’ll be in an interface that can look totally different depending on your motherboard—some are smooth and modern, others look like relics from the ‘90s.
Look for a tab called Boot or Security. Sometimes you might need to disable Fast Boot or toggle CSM (Compatibility Support Module) just to get in and find what you need.
Finding the Secure Boot Setting
Once in, head over to the Boot or Security menu. It can be a bit of a scavenger hunt: “Secure Boot” might not be called that exactly—it could be under “Secure Boot Control” or in an “Authentication” section, depending on your motherboard. Here’s what to watch for:
- If you see Secure Boot greyed out, you probably need to switch your BIOS from Legacy mode to UEFI. Check for Boot Mode or Boot Priority settings.
Don’t get too annoyed; just poke around for anything security or boot related. Most boards aren’t too friendly with these options, but you’ll find it.
Enabling Secure Boot
This is the important part—when you find the Secure Boot option, switch it from “Disabled” to “Enabled.” It might be just a toggle, but if your BIOS is a bit old-school, you may have to switch Boot Mode from Legacy to UEFI first. Sometimes, enabling Secure Boot requires you to:
- Convert your disk from MBR to GPT if that’s causing a hiccup—that might mean running a command like
mbr2gpt /convertin an admin Command Prompt. - In some BIOS setups, you might need to turn Secure Boot off temporarily to make changes, then turn it back on.
Once you’ve toggled it, save your settings! Usually, pressing F10 or going to Save & Exit does the trick, but make sure you confirm—otherwise your changes won’t stick, and you’ll have to do the whole process again.
Booting Back into Windows 11
If all went well, your PC should now boot into Windows 11 with Secure Boot turned on. You can double-check it by typing msinfo32 in the Run box (hit Windows + R) and looking under Secure Boot State—it should say On.
Sometimes these settings take a bit of fiddling, so don’t be surprised if you need a couple of reboots to get it right.
Launching Valorant
Now, give Valorant a try. If turning Secure Boot on did the trick, you should finally be able to launch the game without that annoying error. If it’s still playing up, go back into BIOS to double-check that Secure Boot’s still enabled, and maybe check if there are any BIOS updates available on the manufacturer’s website under Support or similar.
Once everything’s sorted, you’ll be back in the game. It’s like having a bouncer at your digital club—keeping out the dodgy stuff so Valorant can run smoothly. With Secure Boot on, the game should run sweet as.