How to Launch Riot Vanguard: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide
Hey there, fellow gamer! Ever booted up your favorite Riot Games title, like VALORANT or League of Legends, only to be hit with a message about Riot Vanguard not running? It can be a real pain, especially when you're itching to jump into a match. But don't worry, you're not alone! This guide is here to walk you through everything you need to know about launching Riot Vanguard, from the basics to advanced troubleshooting.
Ready to secure your game and get back to the action? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understand What Riot Vanguard Is (And Why It's Running)
Before we get to the "how," let's quickly cover the "what." Riot Vanguard is Riot Games' custom-built, kernel-level anti-cheat software. Think of it as a guardian for your game, working tirelessly in the background to ensure a fair and cheat-free environment for everyone. It runs at a deep system level, which is why it's so effective at catching cheaters.
So, why does it need to launch? Simple. To play any Vanguard-compatible game, like VALORANT or League of Legends, Vanguard must be active and running. It's a non-negotiable security measure. You'll know it's running when you see its icon in your System Tray (the area next to your clock in the bottom right corner of your screen).
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| How To Launch Riot Vanguard |
Step 2: The Easiest Way to Launch Riot Vanguard
Believe it or not, in most cases, you don't actually have to do anything to launch Riot Vanguard. It's designed to be a seamless, automatic process.
Sub-heading: The Automatic Launch
When you install a Riot Games title that requires Vanguard, the Vanguard software itself is automatically installed on your PC. The key is the next time you reboot your computer.
QuickTip: Reread for hidden meaning.
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Install your game: Download and install a Vanguard-compatible game like VALORANT.
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Restart your PC: After the installation is complete, a prompt will usually appear asking you to restart your computer. Don't skip this step! This is when Vanguard's kernel-level driver is properly initialized.
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Launch the game: Once your PC has restarted, simply launch your game from the Riot Client. Vanguard should automatically launch in the background.
You should now see the Vanguard icon in your System Tray. If you don't, or if you get an error message, proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Manual and Troubleshooting Launch Methods
Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are a few things you can try if Vanguard isn't launching automatically.
Sub-heading: Option A: Restart Everything
This is the classic "turn it off and on again" solution, and it often works wonders.
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Close the Riot Client and the game: Make sure both are completely closed. You can do this by right-clicking on their icons in the System Tray and selecting "Exit" or by ending their processes in Task Manager.
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Restart your PC: A full reboot is crucial. It gives Vanguard a fresh start and allows it to properly initialize.
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Relaunch the game: Open the Riot Client and try to launch the game again.
Sub-heading: Option B: Run as Administrator
Sometimes, a lack of administrative privileges can prevent Vanguard from launching correctly.
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Navigate to the installation directory: By default, this is
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard. -
Locate the Vanguard executable: Look for
vanguard.exeorvgtray.exe. -
Right-click and run as administrator: Right-click on the file and select "Run as administrator."
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Restart your PC: Again, a reboot is highly recommended after manually starting the service.
Sub-heading: Option C: Check the 'vgc' Service
Riot Vanguard relies on a specific Windows service called 'vgc'. If this service isn't running or isn't set to start automatically, you'll have problems.
QuickTip: Focus more on the ‘how’ than the ‘what’.
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Open the Services window: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type
services.msc, and press Enter. -
Find 'vgc': In the list of services, find a service named "vgc."
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Check its status: Right-click on "vgc" and select "Properties."
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Set Startup type to 'Automatic': Under the "General" tab, make sure the "Startup type" is set to "Automatic." If it's not, change it and click "Apply."
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Start the service: If the service status is "Stopped," click the "Start" button.
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Reboot: Close the Services window and restart your PC.
Step 4: The Last Resort - Reinstalling Riot Vanguard
If all else fails, a fresh installation of Riot Vanguard can often fix corrupted files and other persistent issues.
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Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
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Open "Add or remove programs" from your Windows settings.
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Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list and click "Uninstall."
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Delete the folder:
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Navigate to
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard. -
Delete the entire "Riot Vanguard" folder. You might need administrator privileges to do this.
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Reboot your computer.
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Launch the Riot Client: When you open a Vanguard-compatible game, the Riot Client will detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to reinstall it.
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Follow the on-screen instructions: Let the client handle the re-installation.
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Restart your PC again: Once the re-installation is complete, a final reboot is necessary to initialize the newly installed files.
Important Note on System Requirements
For Windows 11 users, Vanguard has stricter requirements. You must have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. If you're getting error codes like VAN 9001, VAN 9003, or VAN 9090, this is likely the issue. Check your motherboard's manual or manufacturer's website for instructions on how to enable these features.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check if Riot Vanguard is running?
Look for the Riot Vanguard icon (a red V-shaped shield) in your System Tray, located near the clock in the bottom right corner of your Windows Taskbar.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard?
QuickTip: Use CTRL + F to search for keywords quickly.
Go to Windows' "Add or remove programs," find "Riot Vanguard," and click "Uninstall." You may also need to manually delete the folder from C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard after the uninstall.
How to fix Vanguard not initialized error code 57?
This error often means the 'vgc' service is not running. Follow Step 3, Option C, to set the service to "Automatic" and start it. A PC restart is also recommended.
How to fix Vanguard error codes related to TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (VAN 9001, VAN 9003, etc.)?
You need to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings. This process varies by motherboard, so you should consult your PC or motherboard manufacturer's documentation for specific steps.
How to run Riot Vanguard as an administrator?
Navigate to the Riot Vanguard installation folder (C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard), find vgtray.exe, right-click on it, and select "Run as administrator."
How to update Riot Vanguard?
Vanguard is automatically updated when you update your Riot Games client or game. You typically don't need to update it manually.
QuickTip: Use posts like this as quick references.
How to stop Riot Vanguard from running?
You can right-click the Vanguard icon in the System Tray and select "Exit Vanguard." However, be aware that you will need to restart your computer to play any Vanguard-enabled games again.
How to check for corrupted Riot Vanguard files?
The simplest way to check for and fix corrupted files is to perform a fresh reinstallation of Vanguard by uninstalling it and then launching a Riot game to trigger the automatic re-installation.
How to solve interference issues with other software?
Temporarily disable any antivirus software or other security programs that may be conflicting with Vanguard. Adding Vanguard to your antivirus's exceptions list is also a good idea.
How to completely remove Riot Vanguard for a clean installation?
First, uninstall it from "Add or remove programs." Then, open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the commands sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk. Finally, manually delete the Riot Vanguard folder from your Program Files. After a reboot, the Riot Client will reinstall it.
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