Valorant Safe Boot May 2026

Let’s be clear from the start: Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat driver, requires kernel-mode operation and specific services that are disabled when Windows boots into Safe Mode (especially Safe Mode without Networking). If you try to launch Valorant in Safe Mode, you will get a VAN 128 or VAN 152 error, stating that Vanguard is not running.

Valorant Safe Boot: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting Fresh and Fixing Persistent Issues valorant safe boot

If you’ve searched for “Valorant safe boot,” you’re likely experiencing one of two things: either you want to force Valorant to launch with minimal drivers and services to diagnose crashes, or you’ve encountered an error where Windows’ Safe Mode is interfering with Riot Vanguard (Valorant’s anti-cheat system). The term “safe boot” sits at a confusing crossroads between Windows system administration and Riot Games’ unique kernel-level security. Let’s be clear from the start: Riot Vanguard,

Do not try to launch Valorant in Safe Mode – you will get error VAN 128. Safe Mode is purely a recovery tool, not a gameplay environment. Part 3: Common Errors Mistaken for Safe Boot Issues | Error Code | What it means | Solution (not Safe Mode) | |------------|---------------|---------------------------| | VAN 128 | Vanguard not running | Restart PC normally; check that “vgk.sys” is enabled in services; never disable it in msconfig. | | VAN 152 | Vanguard timed out during boot | Reinstall Vanguard (download from Riot’s site). Check for slow HDD or SSD issues. | | VAN 9001 / 9002 | Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 not enabled (Windows 11 requirement) | Enter BIOS, enable Secure Boot and fTPM or discrete TPM. No safe boot needed. | | VAN 1067 | Vanguard anti-tamper violation | Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth . Reinstall Vanguard. | | BSOD on Valorant launch | Corrupt driver or memory issue | Boot into Safe Mode, run Windows Memory Diagnostic, update BIOS, use DDU for GPU drivers. | Part 4: The “Safe Boot” Myth and Gaming Performance You may have seen forum posts suggesting “enable safe boot in BIOS” for Valorant. This is a misnomer . They likely meant Secure Boot , which is a BIOS security feature (not “safe boot”). Secure Boot ensures that only signed, trusted drivers (like Vanguard) load during startup. Windows 11 requires Secure Boot, and Valorant requires Secure Boot to be enabled for Vanguard to run. The term “safe boot” sits at a confusing