How to Exit Riot Vanguard: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide
Hey Valorant players! Ever found yourself wanting to close down Vanguard, the anti-cheat software that runs in the background even when you're not playing? Whether you're troubleshooting an issue, trying to free up system resources, or simply want to know how to manage it, this guide is for you. We'll walk you through the proper steps to exit Vanguard, from the simple to the more advanced.
Let's dive in and take back control of your system!
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| How To Exit Vanguard Valorant |
Step 1: The Quick and Easy Way - Using the System Tray
Let's start with the most straightforward method. This is the official and recommended way to exit Riot Vanguard.
1. Locate the System Tray Icon:
Look at the bottom-right corner of your taskbar on your Windows PC. You'll see a small collection of icons, often hidden behind a small upward-pointing arrow (^). This is your system tray.
2. Find the Riot Vanguard Icon: Among the icons in your system tray, you'll find a distinctive red icon that looks like a shield with a V in the center. This is the Riot Vanguard icon, and it signifies that the anti-cheat is currently running.
3. Right-Click and Exit:
Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon.
A small menu will pop up.
Click on "Exit Vanguard."
4. Confirm Your Action: A confirmation pop-up window will appear, asking if you are sure you want to turn off Vanguard.
Click "Yes" to confirm.
Congratulations! You have successfully exited Riot Vanguard. It will no longer be running in the background until you restart your computer or launch a Riot Games title that requires it (like Valorant or League of Legends).
Keep in mind, you will need to restart Vanguard to play any Riot Games title again.
Step 2: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard (For a more permanent solution)
If you want to remove Vanguard from your PC entirely, perhaps because you're no longer playing Valorant, you'll need to uninstall it. It's crucial to know that uninstalling Valorant does not automatically uninstall Vanguard. You need to do it separately.
QuickTip: Pay attention to first and last sentences.
Sub-heading: Method 1: Using Windows Settings
This is the most common and user-friendly method for uninstalling applications.
1. Open Windows Settings:
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Alternatively, click on the Start Menu and then click the Settings gear icon.
2. Navigate to "Apps":
In the Settings window, click on "Apps."
Then, click on "Installed apps" or "Apps & features," depending on your Windows version.
3. Find and Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
Scroll down the list of installed applications until you find "Riot Vanguard."
Click on the three dots next to it (or click on the app name) and select "Uninstall."
A confirmation window will appear. Click "Uninstall" again to begin the process.
4. Follow the Prompts: Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. You may be asked for administrator permission.
Sub-heading: Method 2: Using the Control Panel
This is another classic Windows method for managing programs.
1. Open Control Panel:
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type
Control Paneland press Enter.
2. Go to "Uninstall a Program":
In the Control Panel, under the "Programs" heading, click on "Uninstall a program."
3. Locate and Uninstall:
Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list of programs.
Right-click on it and select "Uninstall."
Follow the instructions to finish the uninstallation.
Important Note: After uninstalling Vanguard, it is highly recommended to restart your PC to ensure all files and services are properly removed.
Step 3: Checking for Leftover Files and Services
QuickTip: Reading twice makes retention stronger.
Even after a successful uninstall, sometimes a few files or services can be left behind. This step is for those who want to be extra thorough.
Sub-heading: Manually Deleting Remaining Files
1. Open File Explorer:
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the Installation Directory:
Go to your local disk drive, usually
C:.Navigate to
C:\Program Files.Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard" and delete it.
If you can't delete it, you might need to restart your PC and try again, or ensure the service is stopped (see the next sub-heading).
3. Check AppData and ProgramData:
Press Windows key + R, type
%appdata%and press Enter. Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete any Vanguard-related files.Repeat the process for
%localappdata%and%programdata%.
Sub-heading: Stopping the VGC Service via Command Prompt
This is a more technical approach to ensure the Vanguard service is stopped. Use this method with caution, as incorrect commands can affect your system.
1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
Click on the Start Menu.
Type
cmd.Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."
2. Stop the Services:
In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:
sc stop vgcsc stop vgk
3. Delete the Services:
To completely remove the services from your system, type:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
You will see a success message for each command.
4. Restart Your PC:
Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
QuickTip: Stop scrolling if you find value.
Here are 10 related FAQ questions to help you further manage Riot Vanguard.
How to Exit Vanguard without restarting the computer?
You can exit Vanguard from the system tray icon, as explained in Step 1. This will stop the service until you launch a Riot game or reboot your PC.
How to Check if Vanguard is running?
Look for the red shield icon in your system tray at the bottom-right corner of your taskbar. If you see it, Vanguard is running. You can also check in the Task Manager under the "Processes" or "Details" tab for vgtray.exe and vgc.exe.
How to Make Vanguard not run on startup?
Vanguard is designed to run on startup to prevent cheating from the moment a computer boots up. The simplest way to stop it is to exit it from the system tray after you boot your PC. There are community-made scripts online to automate this, but use them at your own risk.
How to fix the 'Vanguard user-mode service high CPU' issue?
First, try exiting and restarting Vanguard from the system tray. If the issue persists, a full reinstallation of Valorant and Vanguard might be necessary. Check for conflicting software, as some programs can cause this issue.
How to restart the VGC service manually?
QuickTip: Re-reading helps retention.
You can restart the VGC service through the Windows Services app.
Press Windows key + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter.Find "vgc" in the list.
Right-click on it and select "Restart." If it's stopped, you can click "Start."
How to uninstall Valorant and Vanguard completely?
First, uninstall Valorant and then uninstall Riot Vanguard from Windows Settings or Control Panel. After that, manually delete any leftover "Riot Games" and "Riot Vanguard" folders from your Program Files, AppData, and ProgramData directories.
How to fix Vanguard not running errors?
Restart your PC first. If that doesn't work, try reinstalling Vanguard. The Riot client will usually prompt you to do this automatically when you launch the game if it detects that Vanguard is missing.
How to run Valorant without Vanguard?
You cannot. Valorant requires Riot Vanguard to be running to launch and play the game. If Vanguard is not active, you will receive an error message.
How to update Riot Vanguard?
Vanguard updates automatically with Valorant. When there is a new game patch, you'll be prompted to restart your computer after the update, which allows Vanguard to update its kernel-level driver.
How to tell if Vanguard is interfering with other programs?
If you notice other programs or games crashing, not launching, or having performance issues while Vanguard is running, it might be the cause. Try exiting Vanguard from the system tray and see if the problem goes away. Some known conflicts have occurred with certain anti-virus software, overclocking tools, and RGB control software.
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