Proprietary hardware management has become a necessary feature for all Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers as the operating itself can be restricting in this aspect. That is why most manufacturers came up with utility apps that came with their products.
For example. AMD running computers may come with “AMD Radeon Settings”, or ROG laptops has “Armoury Crate”. For Lenovo users. they have what is called the “Lenovo Vantage”. What makes it special? What are the features it comes with, and how do we install it? We’ll find out.
What is Lenovo Vantage?
Lenovo Vantage is a proprietary all-around hardware management app developed by Lenovo for its Windows computers. Unfortunately, the software, as good as it is, is usually targeted by Windows purists for uninstallation due to its unfamiliarity and is perceived as just another manufacturer’s bloatware.
However, unknown to some users, the application came with a lot of valuable features the Windows operating system alone doesn’t offer. It makes a lot of sense since Lenovo has all the freedom to develop hardware, and they know every bit more than Microsoft does.
We will discuss all the features in-depth later in the article, but Lenovo Vantage’s standout features include keeping everything up to date, as well as making sure that you have access to hardware diagnostics to detect some hardware issues should you experience any problems.
One of our favorites though is the clever intelligent cooling feature. If the Lenovo Vantage detects that your Lenovo laptop is being used on the lap, it automatically throttles its performance to compensate for the poor airflow, thus making your laptop appear cooler during operation.
Lenovo Vantage for Personal Use
Lenovo developed the Lenovo Vantage app with personal use being one of the many considerations in mind. Lenovo’s ThinkPad is one of the most popular computer lines that is still being used in schools and for personal use. So it is fitting that Lenovo integrates some features that let these target users take advantage of their system settings to fully maximize the use of their hardware.
It comes with features that are great for personal use such as battery and power setting adjustments, battery details and charge threshold, helpful updates for Windows drivers, and system updates, among many other things. Our favorite tool inside the Lenovo Vantage though is probably the hardware diagnostic tool.
Lenovo Vantage for Legion PCs
Lenovo has a full array of products dedicated to different sectors of the market. Its Legion line aims to deliver the best performance for gamers, while the ThinkPad, Yoga, and IdeaPad are all meant to serve regular users both for personal, school and even small and medium businesses (SMB).
The Legion brand has arguably one of the best and most reliable lines of gaming PCs there is in the market right now, having been rated by well-known sites such as PC Gamer and Windows Central usually with flying colors. That said, Lenovo Vantage includes many features for the Legion PCs that can be useful to gamer folks out there. On top of the nifty features we mentioned above for the regular ThinkPad users, Lenovo Vantage opens up more dedicated features for its Legion line with things such as Legion Edge, and Hybrid Mode to extend battery, full RGB lighting customization, hardware overclocking, and performance monitoring among many other things.
Lenovo Vantage for Small Business
When you are an SMB owner, clicking the option “For Home and Office Use” allows you to access the small and medium business features being offered in the app. Note that in the modern version of the app, it can be accessed either from “Business” or “Professional” use. Not only does it give you features tailored to your needs, but these options will also be giving you extra security.
Lenovo Vantage for SMD includes features such as a hardware scan to make sure everything works as intended, and it can also automatically download and installs the latest update and drivers. This alone would reduce IT maintenance costs. One of our favorite features though is the Security Advisor which partners with companies such as Intel for Online Connect two-factor authentication, SurfEasy VPN to mask user’s online identity, McAfee LiveSafe for malware and virus protection, and the Dashlane for easy password management.
Lenovo Vantage for Commercial
Every modern office invests more money in digitalization but comes with it is the need to upgrade to better computers to further maximize workforce efficiency and reliability. Lenovo and its brands like ThinkPad and IdeaPad are one of the top go-to brands for enterprise use. With Lenovo Vantage already tweaked to target small and medium businesses (SMBs), the app also comes with some extra nifty features for enterprise or commercial use.
It is easily configurable and controlled by an IT professional but the best thing is it would not install updates unless it is confirmed for installation. This resolves the issue of initial update bugs that may affect and harm enterprise businesses. “Vantage for Commercial” also comes with enhanced network security. Disabling the camera and microphone is also available. All these extra features are available on top of all the features we discussed above, making Vantage the most versatile app there is for any Windows computer market.
Features
As we have discussed above, Lenovo Vantage has 4 different versions, one for each of the different consumer and enterprise markets. These are, however, the main features of Vantage that all the users, may it be regular, gamers, or SMBs, can take advantage of. Note, that you need to be running on at least Windows 10 or Windows 11 to use the app.
Battery Settings – Lenovo Vantage app features almost the same system configuration options as its competitors. It helps you adjust the battery and the power settings, as well as gives you a detailed report about your battery details and its charge threshold.
Updates the system, and drivers – system updates have since been carried over to the Lenovo Vantage for easier update automation. However, if there is one thing that Windows does worst is with the driver updates. On a Mac computer, for example, this work is taken care of by the official system updates.
Thankfully, Lenovo Vantage brings these updates in one place, not just making it a lot easier to find and have access to but also updating.
Run device hardware diagnostic – This is one of our favorites of all the features we will be mentioning here. In other computers, you have to manually look for any possible issues that may affect your computer’s performance. With the Lenovo Vantage app, you may instead run a hardware diagnostic to see if you have a failing CPU or RAM module.
Gives full device identifiers – since Lenovo knows its hardware pretty well, Lenovo Vantage allows users full access to device identifiers such as serial number, product number, and even BIOS. You may also check the current status of your warranty using the Lenovo Vantage app.
Vantage Smart Performance Services – as mentioned earlier in this article, the Lenovo Vantage app lets users scan the hardware to learn of any possible area of issue. The Vantage Smart Performance Services scans for any issues that may or currently affects the PC performance, internet performance, as well as security.
Lenovo Smart Privacy – Lenovo has had its own security debacles in the past, and it has kind of ruined the reputation of its ThinkPad line that was built by creating a fluid, robust, and reliable experience. To help remedy this problem, the Vantage app includes plenty of security features including the Lenovo Smart Security. It helps users check their privacy status with a system privacy scan, and identify issues such as account takeovers, identity theft, and exposed locations.
On top of this, the Lenovo Smart Security feature can also give you urgent security alerts without even initiating a scan. It includes account takeover alerts, identity theft alerts, phishing scam alerts, as well as spam mail and call alerts.
How to install Lenovo Vantage?
The Lenovo Vantage app will install like any other executable on a Windows computer, of course, given that what you have is Lenovo hardware. You may download the app from the Microsoft Store.
To install and set up the Lenovo Vantage app, follow the steps below.
- Find the Microsoft Store from the Windows Start menu. You may also access it by using browsers such as Opera, Edge, Chrome, and Firefox.
- At the search bar in the Microsoft Store, type Lenovo Vantage.
- Now look for the app in the Microsoft Store with a blue logo showing the letter “L”. Click on it to go to the application page.
- Click on “Get and Launch” to download the Lenovo Vantage. Wait for it to finish downloading.
- Click on “Launch” to open the Lenovo Vantage app.
- Choose on the preference of how will you be using the app. You may choose to launch it for “Personal Use”, “Business Use”, and or “Personal Use”. Note that there will also be an optional question asking you about your interests. You may choose to answer the questions or skip them. Read Lenovo’s Privacy Policy, check the mark, and then “Done”.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it necessary to have Lenovo Vantage?
It is not necessary to download the Lenovo Vantage app. However, if you want to take advantage of your Lenovo Yoga, ThinkPad, or IdeaPad computer, the Vantage app will give you many additional features even the Windows operating system lacks. If you are a business owner, the Lenovo Vantage app is a must-have app.
Features like the enhanced network security, two-factor authentication, SurfEasy VPN to mask your business account’s online identity, McAfee LiveSafe for malware and virus protection, as well a built-in password manager are very worth it.
What is the purpose of Lenovo Vantage?
The Lenovo Vantage app helps users take further advantage of various Lenovo product lines such as the ThinkPad, Yoga, and IdeaPad. Note that the app is only available for the Lenovo computers running on the latest Windows 10 and Windows 11. Gaming laptops like Lenovo’s Legion can also take advantage of the app.
Aside from many of the features mentioned above, probably the most popular use case for the Lenovo Vantage app is for automating updates. It not only updates your system but also all the drivers to make sure everything should work as intended. The Lenovo Vantage app is also popular for running hardware diagnostic to scan for possible problem areas that Windows itself doesn’t support.
Is Lenovo Vantage free?
Yes. Lenovo Vantage is a free-to-download application available on the Windows Microsoft Store for all Lenovo users. It offers there modes depending on how will you be using your device such as “Personal Use”, “Business Use”, and “Profesional Use”.
Is Lenovo Vantage safe to use?
The Lenovo Vantage is safe to use as long as you downloaded it from the Microsoft Store. It is also developed by Lenovo itself, which alone is an assurance that it is safe from any malware or virus that may affect your computer.
As a final note, only download the Lenovo Vantage app from the official Microsoft Store, either from the store app itself or using your preferred browser. The app includes a Smart Privacy feature that may help you rid of any malware and virus on your Lenovo computer.
