Agh, a Vanguard patch issue! It's one of the most frustrating things a gamer can encounter. You're all set to hop into a match of Valorant or League of Legends, and suddenly, you're faced with a stubborn update that just won't budge. Don't worry, you're not alone, and we're going to tackle this together.
Let's get this sorted, so you can get back to securing those headshots and winning those lanes!
Step 1: The First, and Easiest, Fix: The Restart
Before we dive into more technical solutions, let's start with the most basic and often most effective step.
Did you try turning it off and on again? It's a cliché for a reason. Sometimes, a simple system glitch or a temporary hang-up is all that's causing the problem.
Here's what you need to do:
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Close Everything: Completely close the Riot Client, Valorant, and any other Riot Games applications running on your PC. Check your taskbar and system tray (the little upward arrow near your clock) to make sure they are not running in the background.
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Restart Your PC: Go to the Start menu, select "Power," and choose "Restart." A full restart is important to clear out any lingering processes.
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Try Again: Once your PC has restarted, launch the Riot Client again. The patch should hopefully resume and complete without any issues.
If this worked, great! If not, don't lose hope. We've got more tools in our arsenal.
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| How To Fix Vanguard Patch Issue |
Step 2: Check on the Vanguard Service
Riot Vanguard is the anti-cheat system, and it runs as a service in the background. If this service isn't running correctly, it can cause all sorts of problems, including patch issues.
Tip: Read in a quiet space for focus.
Sub-heading: Checking the VGC Service
This is a crucial step. Let's make sure the Vanguard service is set up to run properly.
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Open Services: Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box, type
services.msc, and press Enter. This will open the Services window. -
Find VGC: In the list of services, find the one named vgc. You can click on any service and start typing "vgc" to quickly jump to it.
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Check Properties: Right-click on vgc and select Properties.
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Set Startup Type: In the "General" tab, make sure the "Startup type" is set to Automatic. If it's not, change it.
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Start the Service: Under "Service status," click the Start button if the service is not already running.
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Apply and OK: Click Apply and then OK.
After you've done this, restart your PC and try the patch again. This simple check can resolve a lot of common Vanguard errors.
Step 3: Run the Riot Client as an Administrator
Sometimes, a program needs elevated permissions to perform certain actions, like writing files during a patch. Running the client as an administrator can give it the necessary privileges.
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Find the Client: Locate the Riot Client shortcut on your desktop or in your Start menu.
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Right-Click: Right-click on the shortcut.
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Run as Administrator: Select the option "Run as administrator."
This will launch the client with administrative rights. Try updating the game again from there.
Step 4: Check for Conflicting Software and Update Your System
Vanguard is a powerful anti-cheat and can sometimes conflict with other programs, especially security software.
Tip: Reread complex ideas to fully understand them.
Sub-heading: Disable Your Antivirus/Firewall (Temporarily!)
This is a temporary measure. Some antivirus programs or firewalls can be overly aggressive and block Vanguard from downloading or installing patch files.
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Disable Your Antivirus: Temporarily disable your antivirus software. The process varies by software, so check its documentation for instructions.
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Disable Your Firewall: If you have a third-party firewall, temporarily disable it as well.
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Try the Patch: With the security software disabled, try running the Riot Client and patching the game.
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Re-enable: Remember to re-enable your antivirus and firewall after the patch is complete!
Sub-heading: Update Windows
An outdated operating system can sometimes lead to compatibility issues.
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Check for Updates: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update (on Windows 10) or Settings > Windows Update (on Windows 11).
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Download and Install: Click "Check for updates" and install any available updates.
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Restart: Restart your PC after the updates are installed and try the patch again.
Step 5: The Nuclear Option: Reinstall Vanguard
If all else fails, a clean reinstallation of Vanguard is often the most reliable solution. This ensures you have fresh, uncorrupted files.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Vanguard
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Close Vanguard: First and foremost, close Vanguard from the system tray. Look for the small Vanguard shield icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen, right-click it, and select Exit Vanguard. You may be prompted to confirm.
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Open Apps & Features: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features (on Windows 10) or Settings > Apps > Installed apps (on Windows 11).
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Find and Uninstall: Find Riot Vanguard in the list, click the three dots or click on it, and select Uninstall.
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Confirm: Confirm the uninstallation.
Tip: Let the key ideas stand out.
Sub-heading: Using Command Prompt for a Clean Sweep
This step is for a more thorough clean. It's especially useful if you're getting errors like VAN -1 (uninstall failure).
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Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu, right-click it, and select "Run as administrator."
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Run Commands: Type the following commands, one by one, and press Enter after each:
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sc delete vgc -
sc delete vgk
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Restart: Restart your computer.
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Delete the Folder: Go to
C:\Program Filesand delete the Riot Vanguard folder if it still exists.
Sub-heading: Reinstalling Vanguard
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Launch the Game Client: Open your Riot Client (Valorant, League of Legends, etc.).
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Automatic Reinstallation: The client will automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to download and install it. Follow the on-screen instructions.
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Restart Again: After the installation is complete, the client will ask you to restart your computer. This is a mandatory step!
Once your PC restarts, Vanguard should be reinstalled and the game should launch without any patch issues.
Step 6: Repair Game Files
The Riot Client has a built-in repair tool that can fix corrupted game files, which might be interfering with the patch.
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Open the Riot Client.
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Go to Settings: Click on the profile icon in the top right corner and go to Settings.
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Find the Game: Select the game you're trying to patch (e.g., Valorant).
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Run Repair: Look for a "Repair" or "Scan and Repair" button. Click it and let the client check and fix any corrupted files.
FAQs
Here are 10 related frequently asked questions to help you further troubleshoot Vanguard patch issues.
QuickTip: Break reading into digestible chunks.
How to check if my system meets Vanguard's requirements? You can check your system's specifications (processor, RAM, graphics card) and compare them with the minimum requirements listed on the official Riot Games support website. Vanguard also has specific requirements for Windows 11, such as having TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled. You can check your BIOS mode and Secure Boot state in msinfo32 and TPM status in tpm.msc.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN 57? VAN 57 means Vanguard is not running. The quickest fix is to restart your PC and the Riot Client. If that doesn't work, try manually starting the vgc service as described in Step 2. If the problem persists, a clean reinstallation of Vanguard (Step 5) is recommended.
How to stop Vanguard from running in the background? You can temporarily exit Vanguard by right-clicking the shield icon in your system tray and selecting "Exit Vanguard." However, you will need to restart your PC and Vanguard will automatically launch again to play any Riot game. To permanently uninstall it, follow the steps in Step 5.
How to fix Vanguard patch stuck at 0%? This often indicates a download or file access issue. First, try restarting your PC and the client. If that doesn't work, temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall (Step 4), run the client as an administrator (Step 3), or perform a clean reinstall of Vanguard (Step 5).
How to fix Vanguard crash error? A Vanguard crash error, often resulting in a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), can be caused by software conflicts. Try disabling any overlay programs (like Discord or Nvidia GeForce Experience overlays), and ensure your drivers and Windows are up to date. A clean reinstallation of Vanguard can also resolve this.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN 9001 or VAN 9003? These errors are related to Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 on Windows 11. You need to enable these features in your BIOS/UEFI settings. Refer to your motherboard's manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions on how to do this.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN -1? This error indicates an uninstall failure. It means a previous attempt to remove Vanguard was unsuccessful. You will need to manually remove the Vanguard service and folder using the Command Prompt method in Step 5 to fully clean your system before reinstalling.
How to use the Riot Repair Tool? Riot Games provides the Riot Repair Tool (formerly Hextech Repair Tool) to gather logs and fix common issues. You can download it from the official Riot support website. Run the tool as an administrator and follow the prompts to repair game files.
How to check if Vanguard is the problem? If you're only having issues when trying to launch a Riot game, and you see a Vanguard-related error code or notification, it's highly likely that Vanguard is the culprit. If other games or applications are working fine, the problem is isolated to the anti-cheat.
How to submit a ticket to Riot Support? If you've tried all the troubleshooting steps and are still facing the issue, the best course of action is to contact Riot Games Player Support. Go to the official Riot Support website, select your game, and submit a detailed ticket with a description of your problem and the steps you've already tried. You can also use the Riot Repair Tool to gather logs and attach them to your ticket, which can help support staff diagnose the problem faster.
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