It's incredibly frustrating when you're all geared up to jump into a game of League of Legends, only to be stopped dead in your tracks by a pesky Vanguard error. Trust me, we've all been there. That feeling of anticipation turning into annoyance is something every gamer knows well. But don't worry, you've come to the right place. We're going to tackle this issue head-on, step-by-step, and get you back on the Rift where you belong.
Step 1: The First Line of Defense: The Simple Restart
Before we dive into any technical wizardry, let's start with the most basic yet surprisingly effective solution. This isn't just about turning it off and on again; it's about giving your system a clean slate.
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Have you tried turning it off and on again? Yes, seriously. This classic troubleshooting step works wonders. First, completely close the Riot Client and League of Legends from your taskbar or system tray. Then, right-click on the Riot Client shortcut and select "Run as administrator." This simple act can often resolve temporary glitches.
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A full system reboot. If restarting the client doesn't work, take it a step further. Close all applications and perform a full system reboot. This ensures that any background processes or services that might be conflicting with Vanguard are properly shut down and reloaded.
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| How To Fix Vanguard Error League Of Legends |
Step 2: The Vanguard-Specific Fixes
Vanguard is Riot's anti-cheat software, and it's designed to run at a deep level on your system. Because of this, it can sometimes conflict with other programs or system settings. Here's how to address those specific issues.
Sub-heading: Reinstalling Riot Vanguard
This is a very common and effective solution for many Vanguard errors, especially those like VAN -1 (Uninstall Failure) or VAN 57 (Vanguard Not Running).
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Uninstall Vanguard. Go to your Control Panel or Settings and navigate to "Apps" or "Programs and Features." Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list, right-click, and select "Uninstall."
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Restart your PC. This is a crucial step after uninstalling. It allows your system to properly clean up any leftover files.
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Re-launch the Riot Client. When you open the Riot Client after restarting, it should automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to reinstall it. Click "Update" or "Install" and follow the on-screen instructions.
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Restart your computer one more time. After the reinstallation is complete, a final reboot is necessary to ensure Vanguard is loaded correctly.
Sub-heading: Checking the VGC Service
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Vanguard relies on a service called VGC to run in the background. If this service isn't set to start automatically, you'll likely encounter errors.
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Open the Services window. Press the
Windows key + Rto open the Run dialog box. Typeservices.mscand press Enter. -
Find the VGC service. In the list of services, scroll down until you find "vgc."
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Check its startup type. Right-click on "vgc" and select "Properties." Look at the "Startup type" dropdown menu.
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Set it to "Automatic." If it's set to "Manual" or "Disabled," change it to "Automatic."
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Start the service. If the service status is "Stopped," click the "Start" button.
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Apply and reboot. Click "Apply" and then "OK." Restart your computer to make sure the changes take effect.
Step 3: System-Level Troubleshooting
If the basic Vanguard fixes don't work, the problem might be with your system's configuration. Vanguard is known to be picky, especially on Windows 11.
Sub-heading: Enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (VAN9001, VAN9002, etc.)
For Vanguard to function on Windows 11, you often need to have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled in your BIOS.
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Access your BIOS/UEFI settings. This usually involves restarting your computer and pressing a specific key during startup (like F2, F10, F12, or Del). The key varies by motherboard manufacturer, so you may need to look up your specific model.
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Find the security settings. Once in the BIOS, navigate to the security or boot section.
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Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Look for options like "TPM Device Selection," "TPM State," "Secure Boot," or "Boot Mode." Enable both TPM and Secure Boot. You may also need to set the "Boot Mode" to UEFI instead of Legacy or CSM.
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Save and exit. Save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your computer will restart.
Warning: Changing BIOS settings can be risky if you don't know what you're doing. Proceed with caution and refer to your motherboard's manual for specific instructions.
Sub-heading: Updating Windows and Graphics Drivers
Outdated system components can cause compatibility issues.
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Update Windows. A simple Windows update can resolve a surprising number of errors. Go to
Settings > Windows Updateand click "Check for updates." Install any available updates and restart your computer. -
Update your graphics drivers. Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your GPU. A simple search for "Nvidia drivers" or "AMD drivers" will take you to the right place. Keeping your drivers up-to-date is crucial for smooth gameplay anyway!
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Step 4: The Last Resort: A Clean Reinstallation
If you've tried everything and the error persists, a complete clean reinstall of both League of Legends and Vanguard is the most thorough solution.
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Uninstall League of Legends and Riot Vanguard. Use the "Apps" or "Programs and Features" section in Windows to uninstall both programs.
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Manually delete leftover files. After uninstalling, navigate to your installation directory (by default,
C:\Riot Games) and delete any remaining files or folders related to League of Legends or Riot Games. -
Run a registry cleaner. For a truly clean slate, you can use a trusted registry cleaner like CCleaner to remove any lingering registry entries. Be careful when using such tools.
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Download a fresh installer. Go to the official League of Legends website and download the game installer again.
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Run the installer as administrator. Right-click the installer and select "Run as administrator" to ensure it has the necessary permissions.
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Follow the installation prompts. Let the game and Vanguard install completely. After the installation, a final restart is recommended.
You've made it through the guide! Hopefully, one of these steps has successfully vanquished the Vanguard error and you're now ready to join your teammates on the Summoner's Rift. Good luck, and have fun!
How to fix Vanguard error League of Legends: 10 FAQs
How to restart Riot Client to fix Vanguard errors?
To restart the Riot Client, right-click the Riot icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen), and select "Exit." Then, re-launch it from your desktop or Start Menu.
How to uninstall and reinstall Riot Vanguard?
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Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features or Settings > Apps, find "Riot Vanguard," and click "Uninstall." After uninstalling, restart your PC, and then launch the Riot Client. It will automatically prompt you to reinstall Vanguard.
How to check if the VGC service is running?
Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. In the Services window, find "vgc" and check its status. It should say "Running" and the Startup type should be "Automatic."
How to enable TPM 2.0 in BIOS?
Restart your PC and press the key to enter your BIOS/UEFI settings (commonly F2, F10, F12, or Del). Look for a "Security" or "Boot" tab and find the option for TPM or Trusted Platform Module. Enable it, save your changes, and exit.
How to enable Secure Boot in BIOS?
Similar to enabling TPM, access your BIOS/UEFI settings and find the "Secure Boot" option, often under the "Boot" or "Security" tab. Enable it, save, and exit. You might need to disable CSM (Compatibility Support Module) first.
Tip: Highlight sentences that answer your questions.
How to update my graphics card drivers?
Visit the official website for your graphics card manufacturer (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel) and use their driver download tool to get the latest version for your specific GPU.
How to run League of Legends as an administrator?
Right-click the Riot Client shortcut on your desktop, select "Properties," go to the "Compatibility" tab, and check the box that says "Run this program as an administrator." Click "Apply" and "OK."
How to check for Windows updates?
Go to Settings > Windows Update and click on "Check for updates." Install any pending updates and restart your computer if prompted.
How to perform a clean installation of League of Legends?
Completely uninstall both League of Legends and Riot Vanguard. Then, manually delete any remaining folders in the installation directory. Download the latest installer from the official website and run it as an administrator.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN 128?
This is a connection error. The official Riot support suggests restarting your PC and the Riot Client. If that doesn't work, a clean reinstallation of both Vanguard and League of Legends is recommended. You can also check Riot's official troubleshooting guide for more specific steps.
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