Of course! Here is a lengthy and detailed guide on how to fix Vanguard errors in Valorant.
How to Fix Vanguard Errors in Valorant: A Comprehensive Guide
Hey there, Valorant agents! We've all been there—you're hyped up for a game, ready to clutch a round, and suddenly, a wild Vanguard error appears, blocking your path. It’s incredibly frustrating when Riot's anti-cheat software, Riot Vanguard, decides to throw a wrench in your plans. But don't worry, you're not alone, and most of these issues are fixable. This guide will walk you through a step-by-step process, starting with the simplest solutions and moving to more advanced troubleshooting. Let's get you back in the game!
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| How To Fix Vanguard Error In Valorant |
Step 1: The First Line of Defense - The Basics
Before you dive into complex fixes, let's try the simplest and most effective solutions first. You'd be surprised how often a quick reboot can solve your problems.
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Have you tried turning it off and on again? Seriously, let's start there.
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Restart Valorant and the Riot Client: Close the game completely from the taskbar and the Riot Client. Re-open it and see if the error persists.
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Restart Your PC: This is the most crucial first step. A full computer restart will also restart the Riot Vanguard service, which runs at the kernel level. This can often resolve temporary conflicts or glitches.
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Check Your Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is vital. Try restarting your router and modem. Unplug them for 30 seconds, then plug them back in. This refreshes your network connection and can fix a variety of "VAN" (Vanguard) and "VAL" (Valorant) errors.
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Log Out of All Devices: Some errors, like VAL 5, can occur if your account is logged in on multiple devices. Visit the official Riot Games website, navigate to "Login Management" in your account settings, and select "Sign out of all connected devices."
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Step 2: Delving Deeper - The VGC Service and Administrator Privileges
If a simple restart didn't work, let's look at the core of the issue: the Vanguard service itself.
Sub-heading: Ensuring the VGC Service is Running
Riot Vanguard has a service called VGC that needs to be running for the game to work. If this service isn't starting correctly, you'll face errors like VAN 57 ("Vanguard not running").
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Check the VGC Service Status:
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Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
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Type
services.mscand press Enter. -
In the Services window, scroll down and find vgc.
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Right-click on vgc and select Properties.
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In the "Startup type" dropdown menu, select Automatic.
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Check the "Service status." If it's not "Running," click the Start button.
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Click Apply and then OK.
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Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This is a critical step!
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Sub-heading: Running as an Administrator
Sometimes, a lack of administrative permissions can prevent Vanguard from running correctly.
Tip: Read at your own pace, not too fast.
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Run Valorant as Administrator:
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Right-click the Valorant shortcut on your desktop.
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Select "Run as administrator."
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If this fixes the issue, you can make this permanent by right-clicking the shortcut, going to Properties, then the Compatibility tab, and checking the box for "Run this program as an administrator."
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Step 3: The Reinstallation Route - A Clean Slate
If the above steps haven't worked, it's time to consider a fresh installation of Vanguard. This is a powerful step that resolves corrupted files and misconfigurations.
Sub-heading: Reinstalling Riot Vanguard Only
You don't always need to reinstall the entire game. Let's try reinstalling just the anti-cheat.
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Uninstall Vanguard:
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Click the Start Menu or press the Windows key.
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Go to Settings -> Apps -> Apps & features (or Control Panel -> Programs and Features).
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Find Riot Vanguard in the list.
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Click on it and select Uninstall.
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Confirm the uninstallation.
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Restart Your PC: This is essential after uninstalling.
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Launch Valorant: When you open the Riot Client and launch Valorant, the game will automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it. Follow the on-screen instructions.
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Restart Again: After the new installation, you'll need one more reboot to finalize the process.
Sub-heading: A Full Clean Reinstallation of Valorant
If reinstalling Vanguard alone doesn't work, a full reinstallation of the game and Vanguard is the ultimate solution for corrupted files.
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Uninstall Valorant and Riot Vanguard:
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Go to Apps & features (or Programs and Features) and uninstall both Valorant and Riot Vanguard.
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Manually check for and delete any remaining files in the following folders:
C:\Riot GamesandC:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard.
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Restart Your PC: Power down and restart your system.
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Download and Reinstall: Go to the official Valorant website and download a fresh copy of the installer. Run the installer and let it install both the game and Vanguard.
Step 4: Advanced Troubleshooting - The BIOS and Drivers
For more specific errors like VAN 9001 or VAN 1067, you might need to adjust settings in your computer's BIOS. These errors are often related to Windows 11 compatibility and security features.
Sub-heading: Enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0
If you're on Windows 11 or recently updated, you need to ensure Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 are enabled in your BIOS. Vanguard requires these for security reasons.
Tip: Reread the opening if you feel lost.
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Enter Your BIOS/UEFI: Restart your PC and repeatedly press the key to enter your BIOS (usually F2, F10, F12, or Delete) as it boots up. The key varies by motherboard manufacturer.
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Enable Secure Boot:
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Navigate to the Boot or Security section.
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Look for Secure Boot and set it to "Enabled." You may need to change the OS Type to "Windows UEFI Mode."
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If you see "Clear Secure Boot Keys," you might need to do that first and then "Install Default Secure Boot Keys."
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Enable TPM 2.0:
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Look for a setting called "Trusted Platform Module (TPM)," "Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)," or "AMD fTPM."
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Enable it.
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Save and Exit: Save your changes and exit the BIOS. Your PC will restart.
Sub-heading: Updating Drivers and Windows
Outdated drivers, especially network and graphics drivers, can cause conflicts.
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Update Your Graphics Card Drivers: Go to the official website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers.
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Update Windows: Make sure your Windows operating system is fully up to date. Go to Settings -> Windows Update and click "Check for updates."
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Flush DNS and Reset Winsock: This can resolve network-related issues.
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Open Command Prompt as an administrator (Right-click Start -> Command Prompt (Admin)).
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Type
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter. -
Type
netsh winsock resetand press Enter. -
Restart your PC after running these commands.
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Step 5: The Last Resort - Software Conflicts and Support
If you’ve tried everything and the error persists, there might be a conflict with other software on your system.
Sub-heading: Disabling Conflicting Software
Vanguard is known to conflict with certain applications, especially other anti-cheat software, overclocking tools, or even some RGB lighting software.
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Perform a Clean Boot: This will help you identify if a third-party application is causing the conflict.
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Press the Windows key + R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. -
Go to the Services tab.
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Check "Hide all Microsoft services."
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Click "Disable all."
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Go to the Startup tab and click "Open Task Manager."
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Disable all startup items.
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Restart your computer.
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If Valorant works now, you can re-enable services and startup items one by one to find the culprit.
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Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall: Your antivirus or firewall might be blocking Vanguard. Temporarily disable it and try launching the game. If it works, add Valorant and Riot Vanguard as exceptions in your security software.
Still Stuck? Contact Riot Support!
If you've followed every step and the error is still haunting you, it's time to reach out to the pros. Submit a ticket to Riot Games' Player Support. Be sure to provide a detailed description of the error, the error code you're receiving, and a list of all the troubleshooting steps you've already taken. This will help them diagnose your problem much faster!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Vanguard errors.
QuickTip: Absorb ideas one at a time.
How to check the status of Valorant servers?
You can check the official Riot Games service status page online to see if there are any ongoing server maintenance or outages.
How to run Riot Vanguard as an administrator?
Right-click on the Valorant shortcut and select "Run as administrator." This runs both the game and Vanguard with elevated permissions.
How to check if my TPM 2.0 is enabled?
Press Windows key + R, type tpm.msc, and press Enter. A new window will open showing the status of your TPM. It should say "The TPM is ready for use."
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard from my computer?
Go to Settings -> Apps -> Apps & features, find "Riot Vanguard" in the list, and click "Uninstall."
How to restart the VGC service?
Open the Services window (services.msc), find "vgc," and restart the service from its properties or by right-clicking.
Tip: Make mental notes as you go.
How to fix Vanguard not initializing error (VAN 57)?
Restart your computer to force a reboot of Vanguard. If that fails, uninstall and reinstall Riot Vanguard.
How to fix the VAN 1067 error?
This error is often related to Windows 11. Ensure your Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 are enabled in your BIOS and that the VGC service is set to "Automatic."
How to perform a clean boot to find software conflicts?
Use the msconfig tool to disable all non-Microsoft services and startup items, then restart your PC.
How to find the Riot Vanguard icon in the system tray?
The Riot Vanguard icon (a red-orange V) should appear in your system tray on the bottom right of your screen when Valorant is running or when the service is active.
How to repair Valorant game files?
Open the Riot Client, go to your profile icon in the top-right corner, select "Settings," click on Valorant, and then click the "Repair" button.
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