Oh, so you're diving into the world of Riot Games, perhaps getting ready to drop into a Valorant match or ensure fair play in League of Legends? Excellent! One of the most common questions that pops up when talking about Riot Games' titles, especially those requiring a robust anti-cheat, is: How much space does Riot Vanguard actually take up?
It's a crucial question, especially in today's gaming landscape where every gigabyte counts on our precious storage drives. Let's break it down, step-by-step, and demystify the size of Riot Vanguard, along with some vital information you should know!
Unpacking Riot Vanguard: More Than Just a Tiny File
You might be surprised to learn that Riot Vanguard itself isn't a massive standalone application. However, its presence is intrinsically linked to the Riot game it protects, like Valorant. So, when we talk about "how many gigabytes is Riot Vanguard," we're really looking at the combined footprint of the game and its anti-cheat system, with Vanguard being a small but essential part of that.
Step 1: Let's Address the Elephant in the Room – What Exactly IS Riot Vanguard?
Before we talk about numbers, let's get on the same page. Are you familiar with what Riot Vanguard is? It's Riot Games' custom-built kernel-mode anti-cheat software. This means it runs at a very deep level of your operating system to detect and prevent cheating in real-time. It's designed to ensure competitive integrity, making the playing field fair for everyone. Think of it as a vigilant guardian, constantly scanning for unauthorized modifications or programs that might give players an unfair advantage.
Now that we've cleared that up, let's move on to the actual space requirements!
Step 2: The Minimal Footprint of Vanguard Itself
Here's the interesting part: Riot Vanguard, as a separate installable component, is surprisingly light.
Sub-heading: The Initial Download and Installation of Vanguard
When you download a Riot game like Valorant, Vanguard is typically installed alongside it. The core Vanguard component, including its software and game logs, is generally reported to take up a very small amount of space – often around 30-40 MB. Yes, you read that right, megabytes, not gigabytes! This is because Vanguard's primary function isn't about storing large files, but rather about its constant, low-level monitoring.
Step 3: The Real Estate Agent: Valorant's Influence on the Total Size
While Vanguard itself is tiny, it's the game it protects that consumes the significant disk space. For most users, when they ask "how many gigabytes is Riot Vanguard," they are implicitly asking about the total installation size of the game with Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Valorant's Current Storage Requirements
As of mid-2025, the full installation of Valorant, including Riot Vanguard, generally requires somewhere in the range of 20 GB to 30 GB of free storage space.
Important Note: Some sources might state a larger figure, potentially up to 50-60 GB, especially when accounting for future updates and high-resolution assets. While the initial unpacked install is around 20-30 GB, it's always wise to have more space than the minimum recommended to accommodate patches, new content, and temporary files.
Sub-heading: Why Does Valorant Take Up This Much Space?
Even for an esports title, Valorant's size might seem substantial. Here's why:
- High-Quality Assets: Despite its stylized art style, Valorant utilizes high-resolution textures, detailed character models, and intricate map designs. These visual elements require significant storage.
- Frequent Updates and Patches: Riot Games regularly releases updates, patches, and new content (agents, maps, cosmetic items). Each update adds to the overall size of the game.
- Anti-Cheat Integration: While Vanguard is small, its deep integration with the game means it's an inseparable part of the overall package, and its effectiveness relies on the game's structure.
Step 4: Beyond Installation: The Impact on Your System
It's not just about how many gigabytes Riot Vanguard is; it's also about its ongoing impact.
Sub-heading: CPU Usage and Performance
Riot Vanguard, being a kernel-mode anti-cheat, runs continuously in the background while you're playing a Riot game. This constant monitoring can consume a portion of your CPU resources. While Riot Games has made efforts to optimize it, some users, especially those with older or less powerful systems, might notice a slight performance impact. It's designed to be efficient, but it's a trade-off for a cheat-free environment.
Sub-heading: RAM Consumption
Similar to CPU usage, Vanguard also utilizes a small amount of RAM to operate. This is generally negligible for most modern gaming setups, but it's something to be aware of if you're running on minimal RAM.
Step 5: Managing Your Storage for Riot Games and Vanguard
To ensure a smooth gaming experience and avoid storage headaches, here are some tips:
Sub-heading: Regular System Maintenance
- Clear temporary files: Over time, your computer accumulates temporary files that can hog space. Regularly clear your temporary files using Windows Disk Cleanup or third-party tools.
- Monitor updates: Keep an eye on Riot Games' announcements for upcoming patches and content updates. This will help you anticipate any significant increases in game size.
Sub-heading: Considering Reinstallation
If you encounter persistent storage issues or suspect corrupted files are taking up excessive space, a clean reinstallation of Valorant (which will also reinstall Vanguard) can often resolve the problem. This ensures you only have the necessary files.
Sub-heading: The "Always Have More" Rule
It's always a good practice to have at least 10-20 GB of free space beyond the game's stated requirements on your primary gaming drive. This allows for smooth operation, temporary file creation, and future updates without immediately hitting a storage wall.
Step 6: The Uninstallation Process: A Two-Part Harmony
If you decide to uninstall Valorant, remember that Riot Vanguard is a separate component and will not automatically uninstall with the game. This is a crucial distinction.
Sub-heading: Exiting Vanguard Before Uninstallation
Before you attempt to uninstall either Valorant or Vanguard, it's important to ensure Vanguard is not actively running. You can usually do this by:
- Looking for the Riot Vanguard icon (often a red shield or a small "V") in your system tray (bottom-right corner of your taskbar).
- Right-clicking on the icon.
- Selecting "Exit Vanguard" or "Disable Vanguard." You might be prompted to confirm.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Valorant
You can uninstall Valorant like any other application through Windows Settings or the Control Panel:
- Go to Windows Settings (Windows Key + I) > Apps > Installed Apps (or Apps & Features).
- Find VALORANT in the list, click on it, and select Uninstall.
- Follow the on-screen prompts.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard Separately
After uninstalling Valorant, you must uninstall Riot Vanguard manually:
- Go to Windows Settings (Windows Key + I) > Apps > Installed Apps.
- Find Riot Vanguard in the list, click on it, and select Uninstall.
- You will likely be prompted to restart your PC after this. It's highly recommended to do so for a complete uninstallation.
Sub-heading: Checking for Leftover Files (Optional but Recommended)
Even after using the uninstallers, sometimes small leftover files can remain. For a truly clean sweep, you can manually check these locations (be careful not to delete anything else important!):
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard(if the folder still exists, delete it)%appdata%\Riot Games%LocalAppData%\Riot Games%ProgramData%\Riot GamesC:\Riot Games
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about Riot Vanguard, starting with "How to," and their quick answers:
How to check if Riot Vanguard is running?
You can usually see the Riot Vanguard icon (often a red shield or "V") in your system tray, in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, when it's active.
How to disable Riot Vanguard temporarily?
Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." You will need to restart your PC to play a Riot game again after exiting.
How to fix Riot Vanguard error codes?
Most Vanguard error codes (like VAN 0, VAN 1, VAN 57, etc.) often resolve by simply restarting your PC and the Riot Client. If the issue persists, reinstalling both the game and Vanguard, or checking for specific Windows requirements like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, might be necessary. Riot Games' support page has a comprehensive list of error codes and solutions.
How to allow Riot Vanguard through my firewall?
Riot Vanguard usually handles this automatically. If you're having connection issues, you might need to manually add exceptions for Valorant and Vanguard in your Windows Firewall or any third-party antivirus/firewall software you use.
How to update Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard updates automatically with your Riot Games client and game updates. There's no separate manual update process for Vanguard itself.
How to install Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard is automatically installed when you install a Riot Games title that requires it, such as Valorant or League of Legends. You don't download it separately.
How to know if my PC is compatible with Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard requires a 64-bit version of Windows (Windows 10/11) and may necessitate TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled on Windows 11 systems. Check Riot Games' official system requirements for the specific game you want to play.
How to prevent Riot Vanguard from using too much CPU?
Riot Vanguard's CPU usage is generally low but can sometimes spike. Close unnecessary background programs, update your system and drivers, and if the issue persists, contact Riot Games support. Adjusting its process priority in Task Manager (to "Below Normal" or "Low") might help in some cases, but do so with caution.
How to completely remove Riot Vanguard from my computer?
First, exit Vanguard from the system tray. Then, uninstall Valorant (or the Riot game) via Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. After that, find and uninstall "Riot Vanguard" separately from the same location. It's recommended to restart your PC afterwards.
How to troubleshoot common Riot Vanguard installation issues?
Ensure your Windows is up to date, especially if you're on Windows 11 (TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled). Temporarily disable any antivirus or firewall during installation. If the problem persists, a clean reinstallation or contacting Riot Games Support is recommended.
There you have it! A comprehensive guide to understanding Riot Vanguard's size, its relationship with Riot Games' titles, and how to manage it on your system. Happy gaming!
