How To Remove Vanguard From Kernel

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How to Remove Vanguard from the Kernel

Hello, fellow gamers and PC enthusiasts! Ever found yourself in a situation where you need to uninstall Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat system for games like Valorant, but you're not sure how to get it completely off your system, especially the part that runs at the kernel level? It can be a bit tricky, and simply uninstalling Valorant doesn't always do the trick. Let's walk through this process together, step-by-step, to make sure you have a clean slate.

Step 1: The First Strike - Uninstalling Vanguard from Windows

Let's start with the most straightforward approach. Before we dive into the more technical aspects, we need to try the standard Windows uninstallation process. This is our first line of defense and will remove most of the Vanguard files.

First, open the Control Panel. You can do this by searching for "Control Panel" in the Windows search bar.
In the Control Panel, navigate to "Programs" and then "Programs and Features" or "Uninstall a program."
Look for "Riot Vanguard" in the list of installed programs.
Once you've found it, right-click on it and select "Uninstall."
A prompt will appear asking for your permission to make changes to your device. Click "Yes."
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation. You may be prompted to restart your computer. Do so. This is a crucial step to ensure the changes take effect.

Step 2: Checking the Remaining Files

Sometimes, even after a standard uninstall, some leftover files or folders can remain. It's like finding a few straggler enemies after a major battle. Let's sweep them up.

Open File Explorer and go to your C: drive (or wherever your Windows is installed).
Navigate to the "Program Files" folder.
Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard" or a similar name. If you find it, delete the entire folder.
Now, let's check another common location. Go to C:\ProgramData. This folder is often hidden, so you may need to enable "Show hidden files and folders" in your File Explorer's view settings.
Look for a "Riot Vanguard" folder here as well and delete it if it exists.
A little extra: You can also check your AppData folder. To get there, type %appdata% in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter. Then navigate to the Local and Roaming folders and check for any Riot Vanguard-related folders.

Step 3: The Kernel-Level Attack - Stopping the vgk.sys Driver

This is where things get a bit more technical and where we target the part of Vanguard that runs in your computer's kernel. The kernel is the core of your operating system, so a kernel-level anti-cheat has deep access. We need to disable and remove the driver file vgk.sys.

Sub-heading A: Using the Command Prompt

This is a powerful method for those comfortable with command-line tools.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Search for "cmd" in the Windows search bar, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sc delete vgk This command attempts to delete the Vanguard service. You should see a success message.
Now, let's remove the driver file itself. The driver file is typically located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers.
Navigate to this folder in File Explorer.
Find the file named vgk.sys.
Before you delete it, you might need to take ownership of the file. Right-click on vgk.sys, go to "Properties," then the "Security" tab, and click "Advanced." Here, you can change the owner of the file to your user account and give yourself full control.
Once you have permission, delete vgk.sys.

Sub-heading B: The Services Approach

If the command prompt seems a bit daunting, you can also try disabling the service through the Services manager.

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type services.msc and press Enter. This will open the Services window.
In the list of services, look for "vgc" or "Vanguard" service.
Right-click on the service and go to "Properties."
In the "Startup type" dropdown menu, select "Disabled."
Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Now, you still need to delete the vgk.sys file as described in the previous sub-heading. Disabling the service doesn't remove the file, it just prevents it from starting with Windows.

Step 4: Final Restart and Verification

After performing all the steps above, it's time for the final reboot. This is where we confirm that everything is gone.

Restart your computer.
After the reboot, open File Explorer and check the following locations again:
- C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard
- C:\ProgramData\Riot Vanguard
- C:\Windows\System32\drivers\vgk.sys
If you've followed all the steps correctly, these folders and files should be gone.
You can also open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look for any processes related to Vanguard, though they should not be there if the driver is removed.

Remember: Riot Vanguard is a kernel-level anti-cheat, and its primary purpose is to prevent cheating in games like Valorant. Removing it may prevent you from playing these games until you reinstall it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to completely uninstall Valorant and Vanguard?

To completely uninstall both, first uninstall Valorant from "Programs and Features," then uninstall Riot Vanguard, and finally follow the steps in this guide to ensure all kernel-level files are removed.

How to check if Vanguard is still running?

You can check your Task Manager for any process named "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc.exe." You can also check your system tray for the Vanguard icon. If the vgk.sys file is still in your drivers folder and the service is enabled, it's likely still active.

How to fix a "Vanguard not initialized" error?

This error often means Vanguard is either not installed correctly or has been disabled. Try reinstalling Riot Vanguard from the Riot Games website or by launching Valorant.

How to remove Vanguard without uninstalling Valorant?

You can uninstall Vanguard separately from Valorant. However, you will not be able to play Valorant until you reinstall Vanguard.

How to remove Vanguard from startup?

You can disable the vgc service in services.msc by setting its startup type to "Disabled."

How to manually delete `vgk.sys`?

You need to navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers, locate vgk.sys, and then take ownership of the file in its properties to gain permission to delete it.

How to get rid of the Vanguard tray icon?

The icon should disappear when you uninstall Riot Vanguard. If it persists, you may need to restart your computer after uninstalling.

How to check the status of the vgc service?

You can check the service's status in services.msc. It should be "Stopped" or "Disabled" if you have removed Vanguard.

How to prevent Vanguard from installing with Valorant?

It is not possible to play Valorant without Riot Vanguard. The anti-cheat is a mandatory component of the game and is installed automatically with it.

How to troubleshoot a failed Vanguard uninstall?

If the uninstallation fails, try restarting your computer and running the uninstaller again. If that doesn't work, follow the manual deletion steps in this guide.

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