Riot Games has modified its Vanguard anti-cheat system so that League of Legends and Valorant players can choose when to run it. Now, instead of having it always active in the background, the software only starts when you open the game. This change requires Windows 11 25H2 and specific security settings, conditions already met by 35% of users. The measure reduces resource consumption and returns control to the player.
Windows 11 25H2: the technical requirement for dynamic activation 🖥️
Vanguard's new functionality depends on Windows 11 25H2 security features, such as Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and memory integrity. These tools allow the anti-cheat to run in an isolated environment only during the gaming session, preventing it from remaining permanently on the system. For compatible players, this means a cleaner boot and fewer background processes. Riot has confirmed it does not plan to extend this option to older versions of Windows due to technical limitations.
Goodbye to the anti-cheat that lived on your rental PC 🎮
Vanguard went from being that annoying tenant who never left to a neighbor who only shows up when you ring the doorbell. Now, instead of consuming RAM while you watch Netflix or edit a document, the software stays in its room until you need it. Sure, you can always blame Vanguard for your ranked losses, but at least it won't be the scapegoat for your PC running slow while watching memes anymore.