Getting Valorant to Play Nice on Windows 11
Trying to get Valorant up and running on Windows 11 can feel like a mini-adventure, right? Especially with all the craziness that comes with the latest update. If launching the game feels like a mission impossible or it’s constantly crashing, you’re definitely in good company. Here’s a rundown of what needs to happen to get this shooter working without any of the usual headaches.
System Requirements Are a Must-Check
First off, it’s worth taking a hard look at the system requirements. Windows 11 comes with its own set of hardware demands—think TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, which aren’t just nice-to-haves anymore. They’re true essentials. It can be a total hassle sifting through the BIOS at 2 am trying to make sure those features are on—so much fun!
To check if TPM is in play:
Get-WmiObject -Namespace root\CIMV2\Security\MicrosoftTPM -Class Win32_TPM
If it’s not there or turned off, guess what? A little BIOS digging is in order. For Secure Boot, you can also run:
Confirm-SecureBootUEFI
If that spits out True, you’re in the clear. If not, back to BIOS you go. A quicker check can be found under Settings > Windows Security > Device security—much less of a hassle than navigating your BIOS, let’s be real.
Don’t Forget Those Graphics Drivers
Now, about those graphics drivers—this might just be the most ignored yet crucial step! Outdated drivers can really mess up the gaming experience, leading to crashes and strange artefacts that make you wanna scream. So, time to update them. Head straight to your GPU manufacturer’s site—NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel—get the latest drivers:
# For NVIDIA, simplest method:
# For AMD, look here:
# For Intel integrated graphics:
Install those drivers and don’t forget to restart the computer. If you wanna double-check driver status afterward, hop into Device Manager:
# Navigate via Start > right-click 'Device Manager' or hit Win + X.
# Expand "Display adapters", right-click your GPU, and select "Update driver".
Getting into BIOS for Secure Boot and TPM
This is where it can get a little dicey—messing with BIOS settings. Here’s the scoop:
- Reboot your PC and nail that BIOS access key (commonly F2, Delete, or Esc—check your motherboard manual if in doubt).
- Find your way to the Security or Boot menu.
- Locate Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 options.
- Toggle them on. Sometimes you’ll see TPM under “Intel PTT” or “AMD PSP,” but don’t sweat it; it’s basically the same thing.
- Save and back out of BIOS.
For a quick TPM check once in Windows:
msinfo32
Look under “System Summary” for “TPM”—you’ll want it to say it’s good to go.
Downloading Valorant
Next step, grab Valorant straight from Riot Games’ official site. Sometimes the download is a bit of a drag, especially if the servers are lagging or your internet connection is flickering. When running the installer, just follow the prompts—it’s just like any other install. Just make sure you pick a place with enough space; nobody likes storage issues halfway through.
Run Valorant with Admin Rights
And just clicking “play” isn’t going to cut it—make sure to run it as an administrator. Right-click that Valorant shortcut or exe and select “Run as administrator.” Want it to always run this way? Here’s how:
# Right-click the game shortcut, go to Properties.
# Hit the Compatibility tab.
# Check the box Run this program as an administrator.
# Hit Apply and OK.
This little change can solve all sorts of permission-related headaches, especially with Riot Vanguard lurking about. Some folks have also said launching through PowerShell as admin can help deal with stubborn startup issues:
Start-Process -FilePath "" -Verb RunAs
After going through all this, you should be good to go with Valorant on your Windows 11 machine. Sure, it took some persistence and a few eye rolls, but nothing beats diving into that first match after all the fuss.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone!
- Check system requirements and BIOS settings.
- Update your graphics drivers.
- Enable Secure Boot and TPM.
- Download Valorant and run as admin.
If this gets one update moving, mission accomplished.