Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software bundled with Riot Games' popular titles like Valorant and League of Legends, has often been a topic of discussion among PC users. Its kernel-level access and always-on nature raise concerns for some about privacy, system performance, and overall control over their computer. While Vanguard is essential for playing Valorant, many users wish to avoid its constant presence when not actively gaming.
If you're one of those users who wants to regain control over your system and only have Vanguard active when you absolutely need it, then you've come to the right place! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various methods to manage Riot Vanguard, ensuring it doesn't run unnecessarily in the background.
The Quest to Tame Vanguard: A Step-by-Step Guide
Before we dive into the technicalities, let's understand why Vanguard is designed this way. Riot Games implemented Vanguard as a deep-rooted anti-cheat to combat the rampant issue of cheating in competitive games. By operating at the kernel level (the deepest part of your operating system), Vanguard can detect and prevent cheats more effectively than traditional anti-cheat solutions. However, this also means it has a more pervasive presence on your system.
Engage User in the First Step:
Alright, let's get started! Before you do anything, ask yourself: "Am I absolutely sure I want to manage Vanguard, knowing that Valorant (and potentially other Riot games in the future) will require it to be active to run?" If your answer is a resounding yes, then let's proceed to give you more control over your machine!
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| How To Avoid Installing Vanguard |
Step 1: Understanding Vanguard's Core Components
To effectively manage Vanguard, it's crucial to understand what it actually is and what parts of it operate on your system.
1.1 The Vanguard Application (vgtray.exe)
This is the visible part of Vanguard, typically found in your system tray (the bottom-right corner of your Windows taskbar). It's the user-facing component that allows you to interact with Vanguard, such as exiting it or seeing its status.
QuickTip: Stop to think as you go.
1.2 The Vanguard Services (vgc and vgk)
These are the true core of Vanguard. They run as Windows services in the background, even when vgtray.exe is not visible.
vgc(Vanguard Game Client): This service is responsible for the actual anti-cheat monitoring and communication with Riot's servers.vgk(Vanguard Kernel): This is the kernel-mode driver, the most intrusive part, which operates at a very low level of your operating system to detect and prevent cheating. This is the component that often causes the most concern.
It's important to remember that simply closing the system tray icon does not stop the kernel-mode driver from running.
Step 2: The Easiest Way - Exiting Vanguard from the System Tray (Temporary)
This method is the simplest, but it's temporary. Vanguard will restart automatically the next time you reboot your computer. This is useful if you just want to temporarily disable it for a specific session.
2.1 Locating the Vanguard Icon
- Look for a red shield icon in your system tray, usually in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar. You might need to click the "^" (Show hidden icons) arrow to reveal it.
2.2 Exiting Vanguard
- Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon.
- From the context menu, select ***"Exit Vanguard"***.
- A confirmation prompt will appear. Click "Yes" to confirm.
Result: Vanguard's application and services will shut down. However, as mentioned, they will automatically restart with your next system boot.
Step 3: Controlling Vanguard's Startup Behavior (More Persistent)
This method involves modifying Windows services to prevent Vanguard from automatically launching with your computer. This provides a more persistent solution than simply exiting it from the tray.
3.1 Accessing Services Manager
- Press
Windows Key + Rto open the Run dialog. - Type
services.mscand pressEnter. This will open the Services management console.
3.2 Locating and Modifying Vanguard Services
- In the Services window, scroll down and find two services:
vgc(Vanguard Game Client)vgk(Vanguard Kernel Mode Driver)
- For each of these services:
- Right-click on the service.
- Select ***"Properties"***.
- In the "General" tab, find the "Startup type" dropdown menu.
- Change the "Startup type" from "Automatic" to ***"Disabled"***.
- Click ***"Apply"***, then ***"OK"***.
- Optional but Recommended: If the service status is "Running," click the "Stop" button to stop it immediately.
Result: Vanguard will no longer automatically start when you boot your computer. To play Valorant, you will need to manually set these services back to "Automatic" and restart your computer, or in some cases, Valorant might prompt you to restart and re-enable them.
Tip: Keep scrolling — each part adds context.
Step 4: Using Command Prompt for Advanced Control (Powerful & Quick)
For users comfortable with the command line, this method offers a quick and effective way to disable or even uninstall Vanguard services. This is particularly useful if you encounter issues with the graphical interface or want to script the process.
4.1 Opening Command Prompt as Administrator
- Search for
CMDin the Windows Start menu. - Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select ***"Run as administrator"***. This is crucial for making system-level changes.
4.2 Disabling Vanguard Services (Similar to Step 3)
- To disable the
vgcservice from starting automatically, type the following command and pressEnter:sc config vgc start= disabled - To disable the
vgkservice from starting automatically, type the following command and pressEnter:sc config vgk start= disabled - To stop the running services immediately (optional), type the following commands and press
Enterafter each:net stop vgc net stop vgk - To close the Vanguard tray icon if it's still running:
taskkill /IM vgtray.exe /F
Result: These commands will disable Vanguard's automatic startup and stop its running processes. Remember that you'll need to re-enable them (by changing disabled to auto in the sc config commands) and restart your PC to play Valorant again.
Step 5: Full Uninstallation of Vanguard (If You Don't Play Valorant)
If you've decided to completely move on from Valorant or any other Riot game that requires Vanguard, you can uninstall it entirely. Be aware: if you uninstall Vanguard, you cannot play Valorant until you reinstall it, which usually happens automatically when you try to launch Valorant again.
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5.1 Using Windows Settings (Recommended)
- Press
Windows Key + Ito open Settings. - Go to ***"Apps"***, then select "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" on older Windows versions).
- Scroll down the list and find ***"Riot Vanguard"***.
- Click on it, then click ***"Uninstall"***.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. You may be asked to confirm several times and might need to restart your computer.
5.2 Manual Uninstallation via Command Prompt (Advanced)
This method is useful if the standard uninstallation fails.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator (as in Step 4.1).
- Type the following command and press
Enter:sc delete vgc - Type the following command and press
Enter:sc delete vgk - Restart your computer. This is a crucial step for the changes to take full effect and allow deletion of the remaining files.
- After restarting, open File Explorer and navigate to
C:\Program Files. - Locate and right-click on the "Riot Vanguard" folder.
- Select ***"Delete"***.
- Finally, empty your Recycle Bin to completely remove the files.
Result: Riot Vanguard will be completely removed from your system.
Step 6: Verifying Vanguard's Status
After performing any of the above steps, it's good practice to verify that Vanguard is indeed behaving as you intend.
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6.1 Check System Tray
- Look for the red shield icon in your system tray. If you've exited or disabled Vanguard, it should not be present.
6.2 Check Task Manager
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escto open Task Manager. - Go to the "Details" tab.
- Look for
vgc.exe,vgk.sys, andvgtray.exe. If Vanguard is truly disabled or uninstalled, these processes should not be running.
6.3 Check Services Manager
- Open Services Manager (as in Step 3.1).
- Verify the "Startup type" and "Status" of
vgcandvgkservices align with your desired outcome (e.g., "Disabled" and "Stopped" if you don't want it running).
Final Thoughts on Managing Vanguard
While Riot Vanguard is an integral part of Riot's anti-cheat strategy, you do have options to manage its presence on your system. Choosing the right method depends on your needs: temporary shutdown for a quick break, disabling startup for general use, or full uninstallation if you're no longer playing Vanguard-dependent games. Always remember that for Valorant to run, Vanguard must be active.
By following these steps, you can strike a balance between enjoying your favorite games and maintaining control over your PC's resources and privacy.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to check if Vanguard is currently running on my PC?
You can check if Vanguard is running by looking for the red shield icon in your system tray (bottom-right of your screen, possibly hidden behind the "^" arrow). You can also open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the "Details" tab, and look for vgtray.exe, vgc.exe, and vgk.sys.
How to temporarily stop Vanguard without uninstalling it?
To temporarily stop Vanguard, right-click on the red shield icon in your system tray and select ***"Exit Vanguard"***. Confirm your choice. This will stop the running processes until your next system restart.
How to prevent Vanguard from launching automatically with Windows?
Open the Services manager (services.msc), find vgc and vgk services, right-click on each, go to "Properties," and change their "Startup type" to ***"Disabled"***. You may also stop them manually.
How to re-enable Vanguard if I disabled it to play Valorant?
Open the Services manager (services.msc), find vgc and vgk services, right-click on each, go to "Properties," and change their "Startup type" back to ***"Automatic"***. You will then need to restart your computer for Vanguard to fully re-enable and Valorant to launch.
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How to uninstall Riot Vanguard completely from my computer?
Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or "Apps & features"), find "Riot Vanguard" in the list, click on it, and select ***"Uninstall"***. Follow the on-screen prompts and restart your PC if requested.
How to troubleshoot Vanguard if it's causing performance issues?
First, ensure your drivers are updated. You can also try adjusting Vanguard's process priority in Task Manager to "Below Normal" or "Low" (Details tab, right-click on vgc.exe or vgtray.exe, Set Priority). If issues persist, consider a clean reinstallation of both Valorant and Vanguard.
How to know if Vanguard is conflicting with other software on my PC?
Vanguard is designed to be very low-level, so conflicts can be difficult to diagnose. Common signs include game crashes, blue screens of death (BSODs), or other software failing to launch. Check Riot's support articles for known conflicts, or temporarily disable other security software (antivirus, firewall) to see if the issue resolves.
How to deal with Vanguard's constant background activity and privacy concerns?
While Vanguard's kernel-level access is a core part of its design for anti-cheat, if you're concerned about its constant background activity and privacy, the only true way to avoid it is to not play games that require it. Otherwise, the methods outlined above allow you to disable or uninstall it when you're not gaming, mitigating its presence.
How to check if Valorant needs Vanguard to be installed?
Yes, Valorant absolutely requires Riot Vanguard to be installed and running to play the game. If Vanguard is not detected or is not running correctly, Valorant will display an error message and will not launch.
How to ensure all Vanguard files are removed after uninstallation?
After uninstalling via Windows Settings or Command Prompt and restarting your PC, manually check the C:\Program Files directory for any remaining "Riot Vanguard" folders and delete them. You can also check %appdata%, %LocalAppData%, and %ProgramData% for any remaining Riot Games folders, though this is usually less critical for Vanguard itself.
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