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| Riot Games' Vanguard anti-cheat logo |
Following months of community backlash over privacy concerns and system performance issues, Riot Games has rolled out a significant update to its controversial Vanguard anti-cheat software. The new "On-Demand" mode gives players more control over when the program runs on their systems—but there's a catch.
For years, League of Legends and Valorant players have voiced frustrations over Riot Games' Vanguard anti-cheat software running continuously in the background, even when they weren't gaming. The always-on kernel-level driver sparked heated debates about privacy, system performance, and user autonomy across gaming communities worldwide.
Now, Riot Games has finally delivered what many considered long overdue: a meaningful update that allows players to turn off Vanguard when they're not actively playing.
The new Vanguard: On-Demand feature represents a significant shift in Riot's approach to anti-cheat protection. Instead of launching automatically with Windows startup, Vanguard will now activate only when players launch a Riot game and automatically shut down after gameplay sessions conclude.
But before you rush to enable this feature, there's important information you need to know.
What Vanguard: On-Demand Actually Does
According to the official announcement published on June 24, 2026, Riot Games' Director of Anti-Cheat Philip Koskinas explained the changes in detail:
"Starting later today, the universally beloved anti-cheat product, Vanguard, will begin to support on-demand sessions from all sufficiently secured PC devices. On-demand here means that Vanguard's driver component will no longer launch when the system starts, but 'secured' indicates that this will be possible only if that system's hardware has met a set of modern security requirements."
The update means players will no longer see Vanguard's system tray icon staring back at them every time they boot up their computers. For many gamers who view the persistent presence as intrusive, this quality-of-life improvement comes as welcome news.
Koskinas added with a touch of humor: "By opting into pre-boot security mechanisms and Windows' own native protection features, Vanguard can safely end its watch, and your taskbar can have 256 of its pixels back."
For the full breakdown of the update, you can read Riot's official announcement on their website.
The 35% Problem: Who Can Actually Use On-Demand Mode?
Here's where things get complicated. Despite the positive reception to the announcement, the reality is that only 35% of Riot Games' player base currently meets the system requirements for On-Demand mode.
That means nearly two-thirds of players—65%—won't be able to access the feature immediately without making significant system changes.
Players using newer machines configured in a "secured core" state will see the toggle option appear automatically during their next update. However, for the majority of gamers, enabling On-Demand mode requires manual configuration of several Windows security features.
The Security Checklist: What You Need to Enable
If you're among the 65% of players who want to access On-Demand mode, here's what you'll need to enable:
- Windows 11 version 25H2 or later
- Secure Boot
- TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)
- Virtualization-Based Security (VBS)
- Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI)
- IOMMU (Input-Output Memory Management Unit)
For players on newer PCs, these features likely already come pre-enabled. For everyone else, Riot has implemented a user-friendly solution: the Vanguard Tray (VGTray) app will scan systems and provide step-by-step guidance on enabling the required security features.
What About Older Hardware?
The news isn't all bad for players on aging systems. Riot confirmed that only approximately 3% of the player base on older hardware will need to rely on the traditional always-on mode.
Importantly, the On-Demand feature is entirely optional. Players who don't meet the pre-check requirements—or simply don't want to bother with enabling additional security features—won't face any restrictions or barriers to playing Valorant or League of Legends.
Community Reaction: A Step Forward, But Not a Perfect Solution
The gaming community's response to the announcement has been mixed but generally positive. Many players have long requested the ability to control Vanguard's background operation, and the On-Demand update represents Riot's acknowledgment of these concerns.
However, the technical requirements have sparked discussions about the accessibility of modern gaming. With Windows 11 25H2 and multiple security features required, some players with capable but slightly older systems may find themselves excluded from the feature they've been hoping for.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Riot Games
This update demonstrates Riot's willingness to adapt to player feedback while maintaining the security standards necessary for competitive gaming. Vanguard has been widely considered one of the most effective anti-cheat solutions in the industry, and Riot seems committed to keeping it that way while improving user experience.
The security-first approach also aligns with broader industry trends toward enhanced system protection, though it does raise questions about accessibility for players with older hardware or those who prefer not to enable certain Windows features.
Koskinas noted the user interface changes coming with the update: "The button to switch to on-demand mode will appear with your very next update, and as cool as you definitely thought the icon was, you will no longer have to see it in your system tray."
The Bottom Line
For Riot Games players, the Vanguard: On-Demand update represents a significant step forward in balancing anti-cheat protection with user autonomy. While the system requirements may prevent immediate adoption for many, the option to choose between always-on and on-demand modes gives players more control over their gaming experience.
As Riot continues to refine its approach to anti-cheat technology, this update may set a precedent for how game developers handle security software that operates at the kernel level. Whether you're a competitive Valorant player or a casual League of Legends enthusiast, the new On-Demand feature offers a glimpse into what many hope will be a more user-friendly future for anti-cheat systems.
Have you enabled Vanguard: On-Demand mode on your system? What are your thoughts on the new feature? Share your experiences in the comments below.