Of course! Here is a very detailed, step-by-step guide on how to manually run Riot Vanguard.
How to Run Riot Vanguard Manually: A Comprehensive Guide
Hello, gamers! Have you ever encountered that frustrating error message that says, "Your game requires a system restart to play on VALORANT/League of Legends," even after you've restarted your PC a dozen times? Or maybe you just want to have more control over when Riot Vanguard is running on your system. Whatever your reason, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the process of manually starting Riot Vanguard and its associated services, giving you back control.
Let's dive in!
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| How To Run Riot Vanguard Manually |
Step 1: Understand the Core of the Matter
Before we start messing with system files and services, it's critical to understand what Riot Vanguard is and why it runs in a specific way.
Riot Vanguard is a kernel-mode anti-cheat driver. This means it runs at the deepest level of your operating system, giving it a high level of access to your system's processes and memory. This is done to prevent cheaters from using sophisticated software that can hide from traditional anti-cheat programs.
Because of this deep integration, Riot Vanguard is designed to start automatically with your PC. It's tied to a Windows service, and often, if this service isn't running correctly, the game client won't launch. Restarting your PC is the most common fix because it forces the service to restart, but sometimes, a manual intervention is necessary.
Step 2: Check the Vanguard Service Status
First, let's check the current status of the Vanguard service. This will help us determine if the service is stopped, disabled, or simply not starting correctly.
Sub-step 2.1: Access the Services Panel
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Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the 'Run' dialog box.
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In the box, type
services.mscand hit Enter. This will open the Windows Services panel.
Sub-step 2.2: Locate and Inspect the 'vgc' Service
QuickTip: Don’t just consume — reflect.
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In the Services list, scroll down and find the service named 'vgc' (this is the main Vanguard service).
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Look at the 'Status' column. Does it say 'Running' or is it blank?
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Also, check the 'Startup Type' column. It should ideally be set to 'Automatic'.
If the status is blank or says 'Stopped', or if the startup type is 'Manual' or 'Disabled', you've found the potential source of your problem.
Step 3: Manually Start the Vanguard Service
Now that we know the service's status, let's try to start it manually.
Sub-step 3.1: Start the Service via the Services Panel
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In the Services panel, right-click on the 'vgc' service.
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If the 'Start' option is available, click on it.
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If the service starts and the status changes to 'Running', you're in luck! Try launching your Riot game (VALORANT, League of Legends, etc.) now.
If you receive an error message when trying to start it, or if it starts and then immediately stops, we need to dig a little deeper.
Step 4: Use Command Prompt to Manage Vanguard
Sometimes, the graphical interface of the Services panel isn't enough. We need to use the command line to force the service to behave.
Sub-step 4.1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator
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Click on the Start menu.
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Type
cmdin the search bar. -
Right-click on 'Command Prompt' in the search results and select 'Run as administrator'. This is a crucial step. Without administrator privileges, you won't be able to run the necessary commands.
Sub-step 4.2: Stop and Start the Vanguard Service
In the Command Prompt window, you can use the sc (service control) command to interact with Windows services.
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To stop the Vanguard service, type the following command and press Enter:
sc stop vgc -
To start the Vanguard service, type the following command and press Enter:
sc start vgc -
You can also check the status of the service by typing:
sc query vgc
If you are able to successfully stop and start the service from here, great! Try launching your game again.
Tip: Absorb, don’t just glance.
Step 5: Troubleshoot Deeper Issues
If the above steps don't work, there might be a more significant issue with your Vanguard installation or your system's configuration.
Sub-step 5.1: Set the Service to Automatic Startup
If the 'Startup Type' for the vgc service was not set to 'Automatic', it's best to fix that.
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Go back to the Services panel (refer to Step 2).
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Double-click on the 'vgc' service.
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In the properties window that opens, change the 'Startup type' dropdown menu to 'Automatic'.
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Click 'Apply' and then 'OK'.
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Now, try to start the service again as described in Step 3.
Sub-step 5.2: Reinstall Riot Vanguard
If you're still having no luck, a corrupted installation is a likely culprit. Reinstalling Vanguard is a common fix.
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Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray (the small icons in the bottom right corner of your screen, you may need to click the up arrow to see them).
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Select 'Exit Vanguard' and confirm.
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Click on the Start menu and go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
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Find 'Riot Vanguard' in the list, click on it, and select 'Uninstall'. Follow the on-screen prompts.
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Alternatively, and more thoroughly, you can open an admin Command Prompt and run the following commands:
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sc delete vgc -
sc delete vgk
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After uninstalling, restart your PC. This is a vital step.
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Now, simply launch a Riot game like VALORANT or League of Legends. The Riot Client should automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it. Follow the installation steps.
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You will likely be prompted to restart your PC again after the installation is complete. Do it.
This process forces a fresh, clean installation of the Vanguard driver, which often resolves persistent issues.
Step 6: Address System Compatibility Issues
In some cases, Vanguard won't run due to system settings like Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 not being enabled. These are typically required for games that use Vanguard.
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Check Secure Boot and TPM: Press Windows Key + R, type
msinfo32, and hit Enter. In the System Information window, look for 'Secure Boot State' and 'BIOS Mode'. If Secure Boot is 'Off' and BIOS Mode is not 'UEFI', you may need to enable them in your BIOS settings. -
Enable HVCI/VBS: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Device Security > Core isolation. Make sure 'Memory Integrity' is toggled on.
Consult your motherboard's manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions on how to access and change these settings in your BIOS/UEFI firmware.
10 FAQs: How to...
Tip: Pause whenever something stands out.
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Riot Vanguard.
How to know if Riot Vanguard is running?
You will see a small red icon with the Riot Games logo in your system tray (next to the clock on your taskbar).
How to stop Riot Vanguard from running at startup?
Riot Vanguard is designed to run at startup for security purposes. To stop it, you can right-click the icon in the system tray and select 'Exit Vanguard'. However, you will need to restart your PC or manually start the service to play any Riot game.
How to change the startup type of the 'vgc' service?
Open the Services panel (services.msc), find 'vgc', right-click on it, select 'Properties', and change the 'Startup type' from the dropdown menu.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard completely?
Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find 'Riot Vanguard', and uninstall it. It is also recommended to run sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk in an elevated Command Prompt and then manually delete the 'Riot Vanguard' folder in C:\Program Files.
How to fix 'Vanguard not initialized' error?
Try restarting your PC, setting the 'vgc' service to 'Automatic' startup, reinstalling Vanguard, or disabling Windows Test mode via Command Prompt.
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
How to fix 'Your game requires a system restart' loop?
This often happens if Vanguard isn't starting correctly. Try setting the 'vgc' service to 'Automatic' and starting it manually. If that fails, a clean reinstall of Vanguard is the best solution.
How to find the Riot Vanguard installation directory?
By default, it is installed in C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard.
How to check the status of the 'vgk' service?
Open an elevated Command Prompt and type sc query vgk. This is the Vanguard kernel-mode driver service.
How to run the Riot Client as an administrator?
Right-click on the Riot Client shortcut or executable file, and select 'Run as administrator'. This can sometimes help with permissions issues.
How to contact Riot Games support for Vanguard issues?
If all else fails, the best course of action is to submit a ticket to Riot Games Support through their official website. Provide them with detailed logs and screenshots for faster assistance.
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