A Comprehensive Guide: How to Check if Vanguard is Installed on Your PC
Hey there, fellow gamer! Have you ever tried to jump into a game of Valorant or League of Legends, only to be hit with an error message saying you can't play without Vanguard? It can be a little frustrating, right? But don't worry, you're in the right place. This guide is going to walk you through multiple ways to confirm if Riot Vanguard is installed on your PC, what it is, and what to do if you can't find it.
So, let's start by figuring out if you've got this pesky-yet-powerful anti-cheat software running on your system.
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| How To Check If Vanguard Is Installed |
Step 1: The Easiest Way - Check Your System Tray
Let's begin with the quickest and most straightforward method. This is where you'll find a little icon that serves as a big clue.
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Look for the shield icon with a red circle in it. When Riot Vanguard is active and running, you'll see a small red shield icon in your system tray, located on the bottom right of your taskbar. It looks a bit like a medieval shield with a 'V' on it.
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Can't see it? The system tray sometimes hides icons. Click the small up arrow (also known as the "Show hidden icons" arrow) to expand the tray and reveal all the icons. If the Vanguard shield is there, you've found your answer!
If you see the icon, great! You're ready to go. You can even right-click it to see a few options, like "Exit Vanguard." But if you don't see it, don't panic. Let's move on to the next step.
Step 2: Check Your Installed Programs List
If the system tray is being shy, we can go to the source. Let's check your computer's list of installed applications.
Sub-heading: Using Windows' "Add or remove programs"
Tip: Remember, the small details add value.
This is the most reliable way to see if Vanguard is listed as an installed program on your system.
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Open the Windows Settings. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type "Add or remove programs" in the search bar. Click on the result to open the "Apps & features" settings window.
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Search for Riot Vanguard. In the search box that says "Search this list," type "Riot Vanguard."
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Look for the entry. If it's installed, you'll see "Riot Vanguard" listed in the search results. This confirms that the program is on your computer, even if it's not currently running.
If you find it, you can even use this same window to uninstall it if you no longer play Riot Games that require it.
Step 3: Dive into the File System
For those who like to get their hands a little dirtier and verify the installation location, this step is for you. Riot Vanguard has a default installation path, and we can check if the folder exists.
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Open File Explorer. Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard, or click the folder icon on your taskbar.
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Navigate to the C drive. Go to your local disk, usually designated as
C:\. -
Find the "Riot Vanguard" folder. Inside the
C:\Program Files\folder, look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard."
The typical installation path is: C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard. If you find this folder with its contents, you can be certain that Vanguard has been installed on your system.
Step 4: The Task Manager Method
This step is for when you want to know if Vanguard is currently running in the background.
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Open Task Manager. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard. Alternatively, right-click on your taskbar and select "Task Manager."
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Go to the "Details" tab. In the Task Manager window, click on the Details tab.
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Look for
vgc.exeandvgtray.exe. In the list of processes, look forvgc.exe(Vanguard User Mode Service) andvgtray.exe(Vanguard System Tray Icon). If you see these processes running, it means Vanguard is active and doing its job.
You might also see a "Vanguard User Mode Service" entry in the Processes tab. If you find it, you've confirmed that the service is running.
QuickTip: Revisit posts more than once.
Step 5: The Command Prompt Check
This is a more advanced method, but it's a great way to check the status of Vanguard's kernel-mode driver, which is a crucial part of the anti-cheat system.
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Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press the Windows key, type "cmd", right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."
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Run the status command. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
sc query vgk -
Interpret the result. If Vanguard is installed and the driver is running, you'll see a
STATEof4 RUNNINGin the output. If it's not installed or not running, the state will be different, or you'll get an error saying the service does not exist.
This method is a bit more technical, but it provides a definitive answer about the state of the core driver.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Riot Vanguard.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard?
You can uninstall Riot Vanguard just like any other program. Go to "Add or remove programs" in Windows Settings, find "Riot Vanguard," and click on "Uninstall."
How to disable Vanguard temporarily?
QuickTip: Don’t rush through examples.
If you see the Vanguard icon in your system tray, you can right-click it and select "Exit Vanguard." This will temporarily disable the anti-cheat. You will need to reboot your computer to re-enable it for playing games like Valorant.
How to check if Vanguard is a virus?
Riot Vanguard is not a virus. It is an anti-cheat system developed by Riot Games. However, due to its deep system integration, some antivirus programs may flag it. If you have concerns, you can verify its authenticity by checking the publisher in your program list, which should be "Riot Games, Inc."
How to fix Vanguard not installing?
If you have trouble installing Vanguard, try running the game installer as an administrator. Make sure you have enough disk space and a stable internet connection. You may also need to temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall.
How to allow Vanguard to run on my PC?
Vanguard is designed to run automatically when you launch a compatible game. If it's not starting, you might need to check for conflicts with other software or ensure that it's not being blocked by your antivirus or firewall.
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
How to update Riot Vanguard?
Vanguard updates automatically with the game client. When you update games like Valorant, the Vanguard component is also updated.
How to check for Vanguard errors?
If there's a problem with Vanguard, you'll typically see an error code or message when you try to launch the game. You can look up the error code on the official Riot Games support website for a specific solution.
How to find the Vanguard logs?
Vanguard logs are typically located in the C:\ProgramData\Riot Games\Riot Vanguard\Logs directory. These logs can be helpful for troubleshooting issues with Riot Games support.
How to ensure Vanguard is compatible with my system?
Vanguard has specific system requirements, including a modern operating system (Windows 10/11) and certain security features enabled, like Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. You can check these settings in your system's BIOS and msinfo32 utility.
How to know if my PC is ready for Valorant?
To play Valorant, your PC needs to meet the game's system requirements and have Riot Vanguard installed and running. You can check for both on the official Valorant website. If you can launch the game and play without errors, you're good to go!
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