VAN 9003 is the same category of error as VAN 9001: Vanguard failed to initialize. Both errors point to the same root cause (Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 not configured correctly) and share the same set of fixes. If you are seeing VAN 9003, the path to resolution is identical to VAN 9001.
What Does VAN 9003 Mean?
Both VAN 9001 and VAN 9003 mean Vanguard failed to initialize. The usual fix is enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 in your BIOS or UEFI settings.
Vanguard requires both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be active in your system firmware. When either is missing or disabled, Vanguard cannot complete its initialization sequence, and VALORANT displays VAN 9003 and blocks the game from launching.
How to Fix VAN 9003
Fix 1: Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in BIOS
This resolves VAN 9003 for the majority of players.
Enter BIOS: Restart your PC. During startup, press the BIOS key for your motherboard (Delete, F2, F10, or Esc depending on manufacturer). You have a few seconds after the PC powers on to press it.
Enable TPM 2.0: Locate the TPM setting in your BIOS Security or Advanced menu. It may appear as:
- TPM 2.0 (most common label)
- PTT (Intel systems)
- fTPM (AMD systems)
Set it to Enabled and confirm.
Enable Secure Boot: In the Boot or Security section of BIOS, find Secure Boot. Set it to Enabled.
Save and exit: press F10 (or your motherboard’s save key), confirm, and let Windows restart. Launch VALORANT after the full reboot.
Fix 2: Check Your Windows Version
VAN 9003 can also appear if you are running an older version of Windows that does not meet Vanguard’s requirements. Vanguard requires Windows 10 version 1903 or later, or Windows 11.
Check your Windows version by pressing Windows + R, typing winver, and pressing Enter. If you are on an outdated build, update through Settings, Windows Update.
Fix 3: Reinstall Vanguard
If TPM and Secure Boot are both confirmed enabled and VAN 9003 persists, the Vanguard installation itself may be corrupted.
- Go to Settings, Apps (or Add or Remove Programs)
- Find and uninstall Riot Vanguard
- Restart your PC
- Open VALORANT or the Riot Client and allow Vanguard to reinstall automatically
- Restart one more time after installation completes
Fix 4: Update Windows and Drivers
A pending Windows update or outdated chipset drivers can conflict with Vanguard’s requirements:
- Go to Settings, Windows Update, and install all pending updates
- Update your GPU drivers through NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, or Device Manager
- Download the latest chipset drivers from your motherboard manufacturer’s website
- Restart after all updates
VAN 9001 vs VAN 9003: Is There a Difference?
In practice, both errors have the same cause and the same fixes. The specific number may indicate a slightly different initialization step that failed, but Riot’s recommended solution is identical for both: enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. If one fix resolves VAN 9001 but not VAN 9003 or vice versa, escalate to reinstalling Vanguard.
Play VALORANT with ExitLag
Once VAN 9003 is resolved and Vanguard is running correctly, keep your competitive matches stable with ExitLag. Connection instability after fixing VAN errors is common because players often have underlying routing issues that Vanguard errors were masking.
Download ExitLag and try it free.
VALORANT, Vanguard, and related marks are trademarks of Riot Games. Used for informational and educational purposes only.
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