How to fix FACEIT enable DEP and disable testsigning errors

These mean FACEIT needs Data Execution Prevention on and test-signing mode off, and your settings are the wrong way round. A couple of bcdedit changes fix them. Jump to your situation below or work through the methods in order.

By Neeraj Singh ~6 min Updated Jun 2026 84% found this helpful

Error message

You need to enable DEP to launch FACEIT AC. / You need to disable testsigning to launch FACEIT AC.

Summary

Two related FACEIT errors deal with Windows boot settings. You need to enable DEP to launch FACEIT AC means Data Execution Prevention is off, and You need to disable testsigning to launch FACEIT AC means Windows is in test-signing mode, which allows unsigned drivers. Both weaken the protections FACEIT relies on. To enable DEP, run bcdedit /set nx OptIn (or AlwaysOn) from an administrator Command Prompt and make sure the NX / Execute Disable bit is enabled in your BIOS. To disable test signing, run bcdedit /set testsigning off; a Test Mode watermark on the desktop confirms it was on. Then restart. If test signing turns back on, some software is enabling it to load an unsigned driver, so identify and remove that software, or enable Secure Boot, which forces test signing off. A related error, your Windows kernel has been modified, is fixed the same way, by disabling test signing and kernel debugging. Once DEP is on and test signing is off, FACEIT AC launches.

What this error means

FACEIT AC relies on Windows security settings being in their protective state. Enable DEP means Data Execution Prevention is off, and disable testsigning means Windows allows unsigned drivers via test-signing mode. Both create paths cheats can use, so FACEIT will not launch until they are corrected.

A couple of bcdedit commands fix them: set NX to enable DEP (with the NX bit on in BIOS), and set testsigning off. A restart applies them. If test mode returns, software is re-enabling it, and enabling Secure Boot forces it off for good.

Common causes

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is disabled.

The NX / Execute Disable bit is off in BIOS.

Windows is in test-signing mode (allowing unsigned drivers).

Software re-enabling test mode, or kernel debugging left on.

Expert insight

“These two are just Windows boot flags in the wrong position. DEP off, run bcdedit set nx OptIn and make sure the NX or Execute Disable bit is on in the BIOS. Test signing on, which you can spot from the Test Mode watermark, run bcdedit set testsigning off. Restart and FACEIT is happy. If test mode keeps coming back, something is turning it on to load an unsigned driver, so find that software, or just enable Secure Boot, which cannot coexist with test signing and forces it off.”

Neeraj Singh
Manager, Tech Support & Operations · 19+ years fixing Windows and system errors

✓ How to fix it

Method 1

Enable DEP

1Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

bcdedit /set nx OptIn

2Make sure the NX / Execute Disable bit is enabled in your BIOS.

3Restart.

Method 2

Disable test signing

1In the admin prompt run:

bcdedit /set testsigning off

2A Test Mode watermark on the desktop confirms it was on.

3Restart; the watermark should be gone.

Method 3

Fix a modified kernel

1For your Windows kernel has been modified, also disable kernel debugging:

bcdedit /debug off

2Restart.

3Relaunch FACEIT AC.

Method 4

Enable Secure Boot to keep test signing off

1If test signing keeps returning, enable Secure Boot in BIOS, which cannot coexist with it.

2This forces test signing off and keeps it off.

3Restart and test.

For FACEIT, enable DEP with bcdedit /set nx OptIn (and enable the NX bit in BIOS), and disable test signing with bcdedit /set testsigning off, then restart. A Test Mode watermark confirms test signing was on. For your Windows kernel has been modified, also run bcdedit /debug off. Enable Secure Boot to force test signing off if it keeps returning.

Frequently asked questions

How do I enable DEP for FACEIT?

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run bcdedit /set nx OptIn (or AlwaysOn), then make sure the NX or Execute Disable bit is enabled in your BIOS, and restart. FACEIT AC requires DEP to be on to launch.

How do I disable testsigning for FACEIT?

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run bcdedit /set testsigning off, then restart. A Test Mode watermark on the desktop confirms test signing was on; it should disappear after the restart, and FACEIT AC will launch.

What is test-signing mode?

Test-signing mode lets Windows load drivers that are not signed by a trusted authority, which is a security risk. FACEIT will not launch while it is on, because unsigned drivers are a common cheat path. Turn it off with bcdedit.

Test signing turns back on, what do I do?

Some software is re-enabling test-signing mode to load an unsigned driver. Identify and update or uninstall that software, then disable test signing again. Enabling Secure Boot also forces it off, since the two cannot coexist.

What does your Windows kernel has been modified mean?

It is a related FACEIT error meaning Windows is running with a modified or unverified kernel state, often from test signing or kernel debugging. Disable test signing with bcdedit /set testsigning off and kernel debugging with bcdedit /debug off, then restart.

What is the NX / Execute Disable bit?

It is a CPU feature that DEP relies on to mark memory as non-executable, blocking certain exploits. Enable it in your BIOS (often called NX, XD or Execute Disable) so DEP can be turned on for FACEIT AC.

Still not working?

If bcdedit reports success but FACEIT still flags DEP or test signing, BitLocker or a Secure Boot policy may be involved; suspend BitLocker before the change, or enable Secure Boot, then re-run the commands. You can also submit your error to us for a tailored fix.

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