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If Valorant reports an “unsupported operating system,” the message usually comes from Riot Vanguard rather than from the game’s graphics engine. The exact VAN code determines whether you need a Windows update, TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, virtualization-based security, Exploit Protection, or removal of an incompatible driver. Start by recording the complete notification, then match it to the specific fix below. Riot’s current PC baseline is 64-bit Windows 10 build 19041 or newer or 64-bit Windows 11, plus DirectX 11, SSE 4.2 or AVX, and at least 4 GB of RAM. ARM systems, cloud gaming, and virtual machines are not supported.
What does Valorant’s “unsupported operating system” message mean?
It means Vanguard has blocked launch because your Windows version, firmware configuration, or security settings do not meet the requirement associated with the detected VAN code. “Unsupported operating system” is therefore not one single fault. Two computers can show similar wording while needing completely different remedies.
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Riot Vanguard is the anti-cheat service that checks these conditions before Valorant starts. Riot’s Vanguard guidance notes that some issues are fixed with a quick restart, but a persistent block requires you to identify the named prerequisite and change only that setting. Do not begin by changing BIOS options at random.
What Windows and hardware does Valorant officially support?
The general game baseline is separate from newer Vanguard restrictions. Your PC must pass both checks.
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| Requirement | Supported baseline | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 build 19041 or newer, or 64-bit Windows 11 | A later Vanguard restriction can require build 19045 or newer. Build 26100 or newer is supported only on Windows 11. |
| Instruction-set support | SSE 4.2 or AVX | Very old processors can fail even when Windows itself installs normally. |
| Graphics API | DirectX 11 | This is a game baseline, not a guarantee that Vanguard security checks will pass. |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | Additional memory may be needed for Windows and other running software. |
| Architecture and environment | x64 Windows on a physical PC | ARM systems, cloud gaming services, and virtual machines are not supported. |
Check your Windows edition and build before touching firmware. Press Windows key + R, enter winver, and compare the displayed build with the requirement in your notification. Install all available updates, restart, and try Valorant again. A PC that meets the general 19041 baseline can still be blocked by a restriction requiring 19045 or another security setting.
Which VAN code is causing the unsupported-operating-system error?
Read the entire message, including any build number, security feature, driver name, or file path. Use this map to select the narrowest fix.
| Message or code | What Vanguard is checking | First action |
|---|---|---|
| VAN 9006 | Windows 10 20H1 (build 19041) or newer | Install every available Windows update, restart, and launch again. |
| VAN 9001 | TPM 2.0 | Confirm TPM status in Windows; enable firmware TPM in UEFI/BIOS if disabled. |
| VAN 9003 | UEFI mode and Secure Boot | Check BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State in System Information before changing firmware. |
| VAN 9005 | TPM 2.0, UEFI firmware, and virtualization-based security (VBS) | Check TPM, Secure Boot, and Memory Integrity in that order; restart after changes. |
| VAN 9002 | Windows Exploit Protection mitigations | Restore system mitigations to their defaults and remove Riot-specific overrides. |
| VAN: INCOMPATIBLE SOFTWARE | A blocked driver or file | Record the path, remove the associated software, and follow Vanguard’s network and reinstall procedure. |
| VAN: RESTRICTION | A current Windows or hardware-security prerequisite | Follow the exact requirement named in the notification; restart and contact support with logs if it remains. |
How do I fix VAN 9006?
VAN 9006 indicates that Vanguard requires Windows 10 20H1 or newer. On Windows 10, that corresponds to build 19041 or later.
- Press Windows key + I and open Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates, install every available quality, feature, and servicing update, and allow required restarts.
- Run
winveragain and verify the build shown in the window. - Restart once more after the final update, then launch Valorant.
If Windows Update offers no supported path because the PC is too old, check the processor architecture and edition. An ARM installation, virtual machine, or cloud-gaming session cannot be made compatible by installing another patch.
How do I fix VAN 9001 by enabling TPM 2.0?
VAN 9001 appears when Vanguard cannot detect TPM 2.0. Most modern PCs already contain a firmware TPM, but it may be disabled in UEFI/BIOS. Intel commonly labels it PTT; AMD commonly labels it fTPM.
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Check TPM from Windows first
- Press Windows key + R, type
tpm.msc, and press Enter. - Look for The TPM is ready for use.
- Confirm Specification Version is 2.0.
If the console says no compatible TPM is found, restart into UEFI/BIOS using your motherboard or PC maker’s documented key and menu path. Enable the setting named TPM, Security Device, Intel PTT, AMD fTPM, or a similar manufacturer term. Save, boot Windows, run tpm.msc again, and restart before testing Valorant.
A discrete TPM 2.0 module can satisfy the basic VAN 9001 check on some compatible motherboards, but it is not a universal solution. Verify the motherboard header, supported module type, firmware support, and any BitLocker recovery implications first. Riot specifically says a discrete module alone does not satisfy VAN: RESTRICTION when firmware TPM is required.
How do I fix VAN 9003 and Secure Boot errors?
VAN 9003 means Secure Boot is not enabled in the UEFI configuration Vanguard expects. Check the current boot mode before changing anything.
- Press Windows key + R, enter
msinfo32, and press Enter. - In System Summary, find BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State.
- For this requirement, BIOS Mode should be UEFI and Secure Boot State should be On.
If BIOS Mode already says UEFI but Secure Boot is Off, use the manufacturer’s UEFI instructions to enable Secure Boot, save the change, boot Windows, and verify the state again. If BIOS Mode says Legacy, do not simply flip a firmware switch. Riot warns that changing a Legacy/MBR installation to UEFI without converting the system drive can leave Windows unable to boot. Back up important data and use the PC or motherboard maker’s supported conversion procedure before attempting the change.
How do I fix VAN 9005, VBS, and Memory Integrity requirements?
VAN 9005 indicates that Vanguard cannot find the combination of TPM 2.0, UEFI firmware, and virtualization-based security it requires. Check each component rather than assuming that enabling one feature is enough.
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Verify the Windows security state
- Open
msinfo32and inspect Virtualization-based security in System Summary. - Open Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation > Memory integrity.
- Enable Memory integrity if Windows permits it, resolve any incompatible-driver notice it displays, and restart.
Then confirm TPM 2.0 with tpm.msc and confirm UEFI/Secure Boot with msinfo32. A firmware change can reset other settings, so recheck all three after rebooting. VAN: RESTRICTION can also name IOMMU as a prerequisite; IOMMU is a platform virtualization setting whose label and location vary by motherboard.
How do I fix VAN 9002 and Exploit Protection?
VAN 9002 usually means Windows Exploit Protection mitigations were disabled or overridden. Restore the system defaults instead of creating new per-game rules.
- Open Windows Security and search for Exploit protection.
- In System settings, restore the listed mitigations to Use default.
- Open Program settings and remove Riot- or Valorant-related overrides that you added manually.
- Restart Windows and test the game.
If a security product or tuning utility keeps rewriting these settings, remove or disable that utility temporarily, then repeat the check. Do not turn off all exploit mitigations as a workaround; Vanguard is asking Windows to use its normal protection policy.
What should I do when Vanguard reports incompatible software?
VAN: INCOMPATIBLE SOFTWARE normally identifies the rejected driver or file, often with a full path. The path is more useful than the generic “unsupported operating system” wording.
- Copy the exact driver or file name and path from the notification.
- Identify the installed application, hardware utility, or old driver that owns it.
- Uninstall that associated software using Windows’ installed-apps controls or the hardware maker’s removal tool.
- Delete the flagged file only if it remains after legitimate uninstallation and you have confirmed it is the named component.
- Restart, then follow Vanguard’s instructions for DNS, VPN, and Vanguard reinstallation if the message persists.
Do not delete an unknown system driver merely because its name looks unfamiliar. If you cannot identify the owner, preserve the path and include it in a support ticket.
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What does VAN: RESTRICTION require?
Riot defines this state as a block that remains until a Windows update or security setting change is completed. The notification should name the missing requirement. Possible prerequisites include a newer Windows build, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Memory Integrity, or IOMMU.
Apply only the named change, restart, and read the message again. Vanguard restrictions can impose build 19045 or newer even when the general game page lists build 19041. A build numbered 26100 or newer is supported only on Windows 11. If every named condition is satisfied and the block remains, submit the current Vanguard logs with a Player Support ticket rather than repeatedly changing firmware.
What is the safest diagnostic order?
Use this sequence to avoid unnecessary BIOS changes and to preserve a clear record of what fixed the problem.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- Record the complete alert. Include the VAN code, Windows build, named security feature, driver, and file path.
- Check Windows. Run
winver, install pending updates, restart, and compare the build with both the general baseline and any restriction-specific requirement. - Check TPM. Run
tpm.msc; verify that the TPM is ready and its specification version is 2.0. - Check boot security. Run
msinfo32; verify BIOS Mode is UEFI and Secure Boot State is On. Stop if the system is Legacy/MBR until you have a supported conversion plan. - Check VBS. Review Virtualization-based security and Windows Security’s Memory integrity setting.
- Repair Exploit Protection. Restore defaults and remove manual Riot entries if the code is VAN 9002.
- Remove incompatible software. Use the named path and owner, then restart.
- Escalate with logs. If the official requirement is met but Vanguard still blocks launch, attach the requested logs to Player Support.
Which fix should you choose, and what are the risks?
| Fix | Code or condition addressed | Firmware change? | Physical purchase? | Reversibility and risk | Restart or support ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows update | VAN 9006 and build restrictions | No | No | Normally reversible only through Windows recovery; keep backups. | Restart required; ticket if the required build cannot be reached. |
| Enable firmware TPM | VAN 9001, VAN 9005, some restrictions | Usually yes | No when PTT/fTPM exists | Generally reversible, but firmware changes can affect BitLocker and boot security. | Restart required. |
| Enable UEFI Secure Boot | VAN 9003, VAN 9005, some restrictions | Yes | No | High boot risk if a Legacy/MBR installation is switched without conversion. | Restart required. |
| Enable Memory Integrity/VBS or IOMMU | VAN 9005 and VAN: RESTRICTION | Possibly | No | Incompatible drivers may need removal; Windows may identify them. | Restart required. |
| Restore Exploit Protection defaults | VAN 9002 | No | No | Removes custom mitigations; review any deliberate security policy afterward. | Restart required. |
| Remove incompatible software | VAN: INCOMPATIBLE SOFTWARE | No | No | May remove a utility or driver you still need; reinstall a current compatible version later. | Restart; ticket if the named file remains. |
| Discrete TPM 2.0 module | Some basic VAN 9001 cases | Motherboard support still required | Yes | Not a universal fix and does not satisfy firmware-TPM requirements for every restriction. | Restart; seek support if detection fails. |
When should I stop changing settings and contact support?
Stop if Windows will not boot after a firmware change, BitLocker requests a recovery key you do not have, Secure Boot remains unavailable after a supported UEFI conversion, or the error names a driver you cannot safely identify. Riot recommends using the computer or motherboard manufacturer’s documentation, or a qualified professional, for BIOS/UEFI changes. Include screenshots of the full VAN message, winver, tpm.msc, msinfo32, and the relevant Vanguard logs in your Player Support ticket.
There is no supported bypass for Vanguard’s operating-system and security gates. Reinstalling Valorant alone will not turn an unsupported ARM, cloud, virtual-machine, or outdated Windows environment into a supported one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Valorant on Windows 10 without upgrading to Windows 11?
Yes, if the PC runs a supported 64-bit Windows 10 build and satisfies the current Vanguard requirement shown for your installation. The decisive build can be newer than the general game minimum, so check the exact restriction message rather than relying on the operating-system name alone.
How can I tell whether my PC uses Intel PTT or AMD fTPM?
Open your motherboard or PC manufacturer’s UEFI documentation and look under security or trusted-computing settings. Intel systems usually call firmware TPM “PTT,” while AMD systems usually call it “fTPM”; the processor brand and firmware menu are more reliable than a Windows app’s generic wording.
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Usually not. Vanguard checks Windows and firmware before the game launches, so reinstalling the game cannot supply TPM 2.0, convert Legacy boot mode to UEFI, or raise an unsupported Windows build.
What should I do if enabling Secure Boot makes Windows fail to start?
Return to the firmware settings only if you can do so safely, restore the previous boot configuration, and consult the PC or motherboard maker’s recovery instructions. Do not keep toggling Secure Boot or erase the drive; a Legacy/MBR installation may require a supported conversion before UEFI Secure Boot can be used.
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