Of course! Let's get you back in the game. It can be incredibly frustrating when a program you need to run, especially a crucial anti-cheat system like Vanguard for games like Valorant, clashes with your security software. But don't worry, by adding Vanguard to your antivirus or firewall's exception list, we can create a smooth pathway for it to operate without interference.
So, are you ready to get this sorted and jump back into the action? Let's dive in.
Step 1: Identify the Culprit and Gather the Necessary Information
Before we start tinkering with your system settings, let's figure out what's causing the problem. Is it your antivirus software, your firewall, or perhaps a combination of both?
Antivirus Software: Your antivirus is designed to protect you from malicious software, but it can sometimes be a little overzealous and flag legitimate programs like Vanguard as a threat. This can lead to Vanguard being blocked, quarantined, or even deleted.
Windows Firewall: The built-in Windows Firewall controls which programs can access the internet. If Vanguard's connection is being blocked, it won't be able to communicate with the game servers, causing errors.
Other Security Programs: Do you have any other security software, like a third-party firewall, a VPN, or a malware scanner? These can also interfere.
Now, let's gather the file paths for Vanguard. This is crucial for creating the exception. The default installation path for Vanguard is usually:
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard
Within this folder, you'll find the executable file vgc.exe, which is the core of the anti-cheat. You may also need to add the game executable itself, which for Valorant is typically located at:
C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\live\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64
Keep these paths in mind as we proceed.
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| How To Add Vanguard To Exception List |
Step 2: Add Vanguard to Your Antivirus Exception List
This is often the most common solution. The steps may vary slightly depending on your antivirus software, but the general process is the same. We'll provide a guide for some of the most popular ones.
Sub-heading: For Windows Security (Windows Defender)
Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type "Windows Security."
Open the Windows Security app.
Click on "Virus & threat protection."
Under "Virus & threat protection settings," click on "Manage settings."
Scroll down to the "Exclusions" section and click on "Add or remove exclusions."
Click on "+ Add an exclusion" and select "Folder."
Navigate to and select the
Riot Vanguardfolder (usually atC:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard).Repeat the process and add the Valorant game folder:
C:\Riot Games\VALORANT.Click "Select Folder" to add them to the exclusion list.
Voila! You've now told Windows Defender to ignore these folders.
Sub-heading: For Avast Antivirus
Open the Avast user interface.
Go to
Menu>Settings.Navigate to
General>Exceptions.Click on
ADD EXCEPTION.Click on the
FILE/FOLDERtab and browse to the Vanguard and Valorant game folders using the paths we identified earlier.Click
ADD EXCEPTIONto save your changes.
Sub-heading: For Malwarebytes
Open the Malwarebytes application.
Go to
Settings>Allow List.Click on
Add.Select
Allow a folder or driveand browse to the Vanguard and Valorant game folders.Click
OKto add the exclusion.
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Sub-heading: For Bitdefender
Open Bitdefender.
Go to
Protection>Antivirus>Settings.Click on
Manage exceptions.Click
+ Add an exception.Select
Folderfrom the exclusion type and browse to the Vanguard and Valorant folders.Click
Add.
Remember to save your changes and then restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
Step 3: Allow Vanguard Through Your Windows Firewall
Even if your antivirus is playing nice, your firewall might be blocking the connection. Let's make sure Vanguard can communicate freely.
Press the Windows key and type "Windows Defender Firewall."
Open the Windows Defender Firewall app.
In the left-hand pane, click on "Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall."
Click the "Change settings" button (you may need administrator privileges).
Scroll through the list to find "Riot Vanguard" and "VALORANT."
Make sure the boxes under "Private" and "Public" are checked for both entries.
If you can't find them in the list, click on "Allow another app..."
Click "Browse..." and navigate to the
vgc.exefile in theRiot Vanguardfolder.Click "Add."
Repeat the process for the Valorant game executable in the
ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64folder.Click "OK" to save your changes.
It is strongly recommended to restart your PC after making these changes. This will ensure that all settings are applied correctly.
Step 4: Final Checks and Troubleshooting
After adding the exceptions, launch Valorant to see if the issue is resolved. If you're still facing problems, consider these additional steps:
Run as Administrator: Right-click the Riot Client or Valorant shortcut and select "Run as administrator." This can sometimes resolve permission issues.
Reinstall Vanguard: If the issue persists, a clean reinstall of Vanguard can fix corrupted files. You can uninstall it from the "Add or remove programs" section in Windows Settings.
Check for conflicting software: Some programs, especially overclocking utilities or RGB software, can be flagged by Vanguard. Temporarily disable them to see if it resolves the issue.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions to help you further troubleshoot:
1. How to find the Vanguard installation folder?
You can find the Vanguard folder at C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard by default. You can also right-click the Riot Client shortcut on your desktop, select "Properties," and then "Open File Location" to find the main Riot Games folder.
2. How to know if my antivirus is blocking Vanguard?
Your antivirus will usually display a notification or a pop-up when it blocks or quarantines a file. You can check the antivirus's quarantine or history log to see if any Vanguard-related files were flagged.
3. How to add a process to the exception list?
In most antivirus programs, you can add an exception by file path, folder, or process name. Look for the "Add an exclusion" or "Add an exception" option and select "Process" or "Program" to add vgc.exe.
4. How to disable my antivirus temporarily?
The method to temporarily disable your antivirus varies. Look for an option like "Disable until restart," "Pause protection," or "Turn off Real-time protection" in your antivirus's main dashboard or settings menu. Be careful and re-enable it after testing.
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5. How to add Vanguard to the firewall on Windows 7/8?
The steps are very similar to Windows 10/11. Go to "Control Panel" > "Windows Firewall" and follow the same steps to "Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall."
6. How to check if my firewall is enabled?
In the "Windows Defender Firewall" app, you'll see a green checkmark and a message stating "Windows Firewall is on" for your private and public networks if it is active.
7. How to fix Vanguard VAN-1067 error?
The VAN-1067 error is often caused by unusual software on your PC. Add Vanguard to your antivirus and firewall exception lists, restart your PC, and close any unnecessary background applications.
8. How to enable Secure Boot for Vanguard?
Vanguard now requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 on Windows 11. To enable Secure Boot, you need to enter your motherboard's BIOS settings (usually by pressing a key like F2, F10, or DEL during startup) and find the "Secure Boot" option in the "Boot" or "Security" tab.
9. How to fix a "Vanguard has encountered an error" message?
This can be a generic error. The first step is to restart your PC. If that doesn't work, try adding Vanguard to your exception lists, reinstalling Vanguard, or checking for Windows updates.
10. How to contact Riot Games support for Vanguard issues?
If you've tried everything and the problem persists, the best course of action is to submit a ticket to Riot Games Support through their official website. They can provide more specific guidance based on your system's error logs.
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