SMG Chams++ setup for Escape from Tarkov

Game guidesEscape from Tarkov Updated16 October 2026
Updating Medium setup difficulty

SMG Chams++ is loaded by the loader before the game and turns on in the main menu with F2. Preparation is removing antivirus software and Windows protection, plus the vulnerable driver blocklist on Windows 11.

Requirements

0 of 2 items

Tick what matches your PC:

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11 of any build
  • Escape from Tarkov from the Battlestate Games launcher or Steam, any window mode

System requirements

  • Operating system Windows 10 or 11 All builds
  • Processor Intel or AMD
  • Graphics card NVIDIA or AMD
  • Game mode Borderless window, windowed or fullscreen
  • Launchers BSG Launcher or Steam
  • Built-in spoofer No

Preparation

0 of 6 steps
Remove third-party antivirus and anti-cheats Kaspersky, Avast, ESET and the like, plus FaceIT and Riot Vanguard, conflict with the loader. They must be uninstalled, not just paused.
  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps (or Control Panel → Programs and Features).
  2. Uninstall any third-party antivirus (Kaspersky, Avast, AVG, ESET, 360, Malwarebytes, etc.). Pausing or disabling is not enough — the antivirus driver stays resident.
  3. Uninstall the FaceIT AC and Riot Vanguard anti-cheats if present — they block third-party software at the kernel level.
    • FaceIT is the CS2 anti-cheat, Vanguard is the Valorant one. If you don't play those games, they are safe to remove.
After removing an antivirus, restart the PC — some of its services only unload after a reboot.
A full walkthrough covering every case: How to turn off Windows Defender in Windows 11 and 10: fully or for one folder
Fully disable Windows Defender The #1 cause of “it won't launch”. Disable it for real: manually first, then remove it from startup, reboot, and finish it off with Defender Control.
  1. Step 1. Turn protection off by hand. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and switch every toggle off:
    • Real-time protection — Off.
    • Cloud-delivered protection — Off.
    • Automatic sample submission — Off.
    • Tamper Protection — Off. Turn this one off first, otherwise the others switch themselves back on.
  2. Step 2. Disable reputation-based protection. In Windows Security → App & browser control → Reputation-based protection → Settings, turn everything off (SmartScreen, potentially-unwanted-app blocking).
  3. Step 3. Remove Defender from startup. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → Startup apps tab, find Windows Security notification icon and click Disable.
  4. Step 4. Restart your computer. This is mandatory — some Defender services only unload after a reboot.
  5. Step 5. Finish with Defender Control. Download Defender Control (archive password: r1xon), run it as administrator and click Disable Windows Defender — the tile turns red.
    • If your antivirus deletes the utility itself, protection is still active — go back to step 1. The file ships zipped on purpose so Defender can't wipe it before it's disabled.
Don't skip steps 3–4. “I turned the toggles off but it didn't help” almost always means Defender came back after restart because it was left in startup.
A full walkthrough covering every case: How to turn off Windows Defender in Windows 11 and 10: fully or for one folder
Disable Core Isolation Memory Integrity blocks the driver from loading. Takes a minute to switch off.
  1. Open Windows Security → Device security → Core isolation details.
  2. Turn off Memory Integrity and restart the PC.
A full walkthrough covering every case: Core Isolation in Windows 11 and 10: what it is and how to turn it off
Update Visual C++ and DirectX Up-to-date runtimes keep the loader and overlay from crashing at start.
  1. Install Visual C++ Redistributable x64 and restart the PC.
  2. Update DirectX if you haven't in a while.
  1. On Windows 11, download Vulnerable Driver Disabler, run the file, confirm the registry change and restart the computer.
  2. Uninstall the ACE and Roblox Anti-Cheat anti-cheats if they are installed.

Launch

0 of 7 steps
  1. Download the loader with the Download Loader button.
  2. Run the loader — it asks for administrator rights by itself.
  3. Paste the key you received after payment and press Log In.
  4. Wait for the download to finish and press Inject.
  5. Wait for the message saying you can enter the game and press F2.
  6. Open Escape from Tarkov, wait for the main menu to load fully and press F2.
  7. Warning: restart the computer before launching other games after playing with the cheat.

Problems & fixes

17
Couldn't load vulnerable driver
Windows refuses to load the loader's driver. Turn off Defender and SmartScreen, disable core isolation, uninstall antivirus software and FACEIT. Then run the Vulnerable Driver Disabler file — it lifts the vulnerable driver block, which Windows 11 always needs — and restart the PC.
An empty error or the PC restarts
  • Turn off User Account Control (UAC).
  • Run the game launcher — Steam, BSG Launcher or another — as administrator.
  • Sync the Windows clock twice in a row.
  • The error also shows if you waited too long before pressing F2 after the cheat started: start again and press F2 as soon as the game loads.
The loader says Windows Defender is on
Defender is not fully off. Turn it off with Defender Control (the “Turn off Windows Defender completely” block above), then open the command prompt as administrator and run sc query wdfilter
The service must be STOPPED. If it is not, restart Defender Control as administrator and turn Defender off again.
Cannot map physical address 0x1000
Almost always another anti-cheat is in the way: uninstall FACEIT, Riot Vanguard and ACE. Uninstall antivirus software — turning it off is not enough — and turn off Defender with SmartScreen. One more cause is the Windows build: 24H2 and 25H2 are not supported by most products, check the system requirements of yours.
C0000001
Check the Windows build with the winver command and compare it with the product's system requirements — it is almost always the reason. Make sure Defender is off and restart the PC.
Failure connect
The loader could not reach the server. Check the product status — maintenance may be under way. If the status is fine, turn on a VPN and run the loader again.
Critical error occured
Turn off Defender and SmartScreen, disable core isolation, uninstall antivirus software and FACEIT. Then right-click the loader file, open Properties and, if there is an Unblock checkbox at the bottom, tick it and press Apply.
Server internal error #684
This error is cleared only by support. Message us with a screenshot of the error, your key and the e-mail you used for the purchase.

Advanced setup — only if it still won’t launch

Use a VPN for download and activation CIS ISPs often block the activation servers. A VPN is needed while downloading the loader, activating the key and injecting — you can turn it off before joining a match.
  1. Use a full VPN — an app that routes all traffic, not a browser proxy or extension: half the support tickets come from exactly this. In Happ and similar clients turn on TUN mode.
  2. Turn the VPN on before downloading the loader and activating the key. If something won't load, switch country (Europe or the US usually work).
  3. After a successful inject you can turn the VPN off before the match to avoid extra ping.
A VPN fixes most endless-loading and “key won't activate” problems.
No VPN of your own? Get R1XON VPN from us, from $2.09, for PC and phone
Sync Windows time A wrong system clock breaks key authorization against the license server.
  1. Open Settings → Time & language → Date & time, enable Set time automatically and click Sync now.

FAQ

3
Which hotkeys are there?
  • F2 — no recoil.
  • F3 — night vision.
  • F4 — thermal vision.
  • Z — zoom.
  • F6 — high jump.
  • F8 — battle mode.
How is Chams++ different from SMG Chams?
Chams++ has a menu, and on top of player highlighting it adds loot, container and quest item highlighting, an item filter and weapon and movement features: no recoil, instant aiming, high jump, NVG and thermal vision.
Do I need a spoofer?
Chams++ has no built-in spoofer: the cheat runs without one.

Still stuck?

Run R1XON Checker first — it pinpoints most launch problems in 30 seconds. If it still fails, attach the checker report to your support ticket and we’ll sort it out fast.