How to Enable Secure Boot for Call of Duty on Lenovo Legion Laptops

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Call of Duty launch error screen displaying a message that 'Secure Boot is not enabled' along with a QR code for support

I recently took a break from Path of Exile 2 to check out the newly released Call of Duty: Black Ops. It’s practically the only FPS game I play, so I started the installation with high hopes.

But seriously… the file size is out of control. I know Call of Duty installs have been massive since Modern Warfare, but it gets slightly annoying every single time. After a painfully long download, I finally launched the game.

And then, I was greeted by an error.

Call of Duty launch error screen displaying a message that 'Secure Boot is not enabled' along with a QR code for support
The infamous “Secure Boot is not enabled” error screen when launching Call of Duty.

The Problem: “Secure Boot is not enabled”

The game refused to launch, displaying a “Security Requirements” error stating that Secure Boot was not enabled.

I was confused. I distinctly remembered setting up TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot when I installed Windows 11 on my Lenovo Legion 5 laptop. So, why was this happening?

It turns out, Call of Duty (and its RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system) now strictly requires Secure Boot to be active to prevent cheaters. This has become a standard requirement for many modern FPS games.

Step-by-Step Fix for Lenovo Legion Laptops

Since my Windows 11 installation was fine, I knew I had to dig into the BIOS settings. Here is how I solved it.

1. Enter the BIOS

  • Restart your laptop.
  • Repeatedly press the F2 key as soon as the Lenovo logo appears.
  • (Note: The BIOS UI may vary between Lenovo models. Legion laptops usually have a specific gaming-style UI.)
The main BIOS setup screen on a Lenovo Legion laptop, accessible by pressing F2, showing hardware specs and the 'More Settings' button.
The main BIOS screen of a Lenovo Legion laptop. Click “More Settings” in the bottom right corner to proceed.

2. Locate Secure Boot Settings

  • Once in the BIOS, click on “More Settings” in the bottom right corner (if applicable).
  • Navigate to the Security tab.
  • Find the Secure Boot option.

3. The Tricky Part (Read Carefully!)

In my case, Secure Boot was set to Disabled. I thought, “Oh, maybe a BIOS update reset it.” I simply changed it to Enabled, pressed F10 to save, and rebooted.

However, the game still gave me the same error.

I went back into the BIOS (F2) and checked again.

Lenovo Legion BIOS Security tab showing a common issue where 'Secure Boot' is set to Enabled, but the 'Secure Boot Status' still reads Disabled.
The common issue. ‘Secure Boot’ is toggled to [Enabled], but the actual ‘Secure Boot Status’ still reads as Disabled.
  • Secure Boot was set to Enabled.
  • BUT, the Secure Boot Status right below it still said Disabled.
A close-up view of the Lenovo Legion BIOS Security settings, highlighting the 'Restore Factory Keys' option crucial for fixing the Secure Boot status.
Restore Factory Keys” to reset the secure boot databases and force the status to enable.

If you are stuck here, follow these steps:

  1. Stay in the Security tab.
  2. Select the option “Restore Factory Keys” underneath the Secure Boot settings.
  3. Press Enter (or Yes).
  4. You should now see the Secure Boot Status change to Enabled and Platform Mode change to User Mode.
  5. Press F10 to save and exit.

The Result

After restoring the factory keys and rebooting, I launched Call of Duty again. It started perfectly without any error messages.

Summary & Tips

The core issue on Lenovo Legion laptops often stems from the Secure Boot Status not updating even if you toggle the switch to “Enabled.”

Here is the quick checklist:

  1. Update BIOS: Use the Lenovo Vantage app to ensure your BIOS is up to date.
  2. Check Status: Enter BIOS -> Security.
  3. Restore Keys: If Secure Boot Status is Disabled, use “Restore Factory Keys” to force it to enable.

It seems my settings were reset during a previous BIOS update. If you are a gamer, keep this setting in mind, as Secure Boot is becoming essential not just for Call of Duty, but for any game sensitive to unauthorized access or cheating.

Happy gaming!

Reference

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