Riot Games Details Vanguard Revamp, Non-Resident Mode Requirements
The revamp addresses the long-standing complaint that resident anti-cheat software consumes memory and slows systems, by making Vanguard non-resident on Windows machines that meet the new hardware and security requirements.
Reporting from 1 source: 4Gamer.net.
Riot Games published an overview of its revamped Vanguard anti-cheat system, which was updated at the end of June 2026. The key change lets Vanguard run only while a game is active instead of staying resident on Windows, provided the system meets two conditions: Windows 11 25H2 or later, and properly configured Windows Security with virtualization-based security and Secure Boot enabled.
The revamped Vanguard drops the always-on resident process that has drawn criticism from players for weighing down Windows systems. Instead, the anti-cheat now launches only while a game is running, but only on machines that pass two checks.
The first is the operating system version: Windows 11 25H2 or later. The second is Windows Security configuration, verified through the System Information app. The key items are virtualization-based security and Secure Boot, which must be enabled in the motherboard UEFI settings if they appear blank. Riot Games published the setup steps using an ASUS Socket AM4 board as an example, with virtualization options listed as SVM or AMD-V for AMD CPUs and Intel VT-x for Intel systems.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.