Welcome, fellow gamer! Have you ever tried to uninstall Valorant or another Riot Games title, only to be met with a stubborn program that just won't go away? Or perhaps you've noticed a new icon in your system tray and wondered what it is and why it's always running. The program you're likely dealing with is Riot Vanguard, a kernel-level anti-cheat software developed by Riot Games. While it's crucial for maintaining competitive integrity in games like Valorant, its deep integration into your system can sometimes cause issues or simply be an unwanted presence when you're not playing.
If you're here, you're probably looking for a way to manage or even completely remove it. Don't worry, you've come to the right place. Let's walk through the steps together, so you can take back control of your PC.
Step 1: Engage with Vanguard, the Right Way!
Before you do anything else, let's start with a simple and crucial first step. Look at your system tray, which is the area in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock. Do you see a small, red icon that looks like a shield? That's Riot Vanguard! Right-click on it. A small menu will pop up. What do you see? You should see an option that says "Exit Vanguard."
Clicking this will temporarily disable Vanguard. You'll be prompted with a confirmation message, so go ahead and click "Yes" to confirm. This is the most basic way to stop Vanguard from running in the background when you're not playing a Riot game. Remember, however, that you will need to restart your computer to play any game that requires Vanguard again. This is a vital first step, as trying to uninstall the program while it's still running can lead to errors.
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| How To Avoid Riot Vanguard |
Step 2: The Uninstallation Journey
Now that you have Vanguard properly disabled, we can begin the uninstallation process. You have a few different methods to choose from, each with its own level of thoroughness.
Tip: Reading on mobile? Zoom in for better comfort.
Sub-heading 2.1: The Standard Windows Method (Recommended for most users)
This is the simplest and most common way to uninstall software on your Windows PC.
Open "Add or Remove programs" in Settings. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + I to open Settings, and then navigating to Apps > Installed Apps (or "Apps & features" on older versions of Windows).
Locate Riot Vanguard in the list. The list might be long, so you can use the search bar at the top to find it quickly. It will be listed as "Riot Vanguard."
Click on it and select "Uninstall." You may be prompted to confirm the action. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Do the same for Valorant. If you're uninstalling Valorant, repeat the process for the game itself.
A quick note: Uninstalling Valorant does not automatically remove Vanguard. They are separate programs, so you need to uninstall both to completely remove them from your system.
Sub-heading 2.2: The Command Prompt Power User Method
If the standard method fails or you just prefer a more hands-on approach, you can use the Command Prompt.
Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press the Windows key, type
CMD, right-click on the Command Prompt result, and select "Run as administrator."Enter the following commands, one by one. Type each command and press Enter after each one:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
Restart your computer. This is a critical step to ensure the changes take effect.
Delete the Vanguard folder. After your computer reboots, open File Explorer and navigate to
C:\Program Files. Locate the folder named "Riot Vanguard" and right-click to delete it. Empty your Recycle Bin to permanently remove it.
This method is more forceful and can be particularly helpful if you encounter errors during the standard uninstallation.
Tip: Pause if your attention drifts.
Step 3: A Deeper Clean: Removing Leftover Files
Even after uninstalling the programs, some leftover files and folders might remain on your system. This is a good practice for keeping your PC clean and tidy.
Open the Run dialog box. Press Windows key + R.
Enter the following locations one by one:
%appdata%%LocalAppData%%ProgramData%
Look for any "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" folders and delete them. Be careful not to delete any other important files.
Check the main installation directory. Go to
C:\Riot Gamesand delete any remaining files or folders.
By following these steps, you can ensure a thorough and complete removal of Riot Vanguard from your system.
Step 4: Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are some common problems you might encounter and how to solve them.
QuickTip: Skim slowly, read deeply.
Sub-heading 4.1: "VALORANT is running in the background"
Open Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Look for any Riot-related processes. This includes
RiotClientServices.exe,VALORANT.exe, orvgtray.exe.Right-click on them and select "End task." Then, try the uninstallation process again.
Sub-heading 4.2: Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or System Instability
Some users have reported system instability or BSOD errors after installing Vanguard. This is a serious issue that often requires further investigation.
Ensure your Windows is up to date. Outdated Windows versions can cause compatibility issues with Vanguard. Check for updates in your Windows settings.
Check for conflicting drivers. Vanguard can sometimes conflict with other drivers on your system, especially those related to overclocking, security, or virtualization. Try updating all your drivers, especially graphics and motherboard drivers.
Check BIOS settings. Some Vanguard errors, particularly on Windows 11, are related to a lack of TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot being enabled. You may need to access your BIOS/UEFI settings to enable these features.
How to check for TPM 2.0: Press Windows key + R, type
tpm.msc, and press Enter.How to check for Secure Boot: Press Windows key + R, type
msinfo32, and check "Secure Boot State" and "BIOS Mode."Enabling these features can be complex and depends on your motherboard. Look for guides specific to your motherboard manufacturer.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Riot Vanguard.
How to check if Riot Vanguard is running? Look for the red shield icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar). If you see it, Vanguard is active.
Tip: Keep the flow, don’t jump randomly.
How to temporarily disable Riot Vanguard? Right-click the Vanguard icon in the system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." You will need to restart your computer to enable it again.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard without uninstalling Valorant? You can follow the uninstallation steps for Riot Vanguard in Windows Settings or using the Command Prompt, as it is a separate program from the game itself.
How to fix "Vanguard not running" error? Restart your PC and the Riot Client. If the issue persists, a fresh reinstallation of both Riot Vanguard and the game is often the best solution.
How to fix "This build of Vanguard is out of compliance"? Update your Windows, repair your game files through the Riot client, or enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 in your BIOS settings.
How to check if my PC meets Vanguard's requirements? Vanguard has very low system requirements, generally the same as Valorant. For Windows 11, you need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled.
How to find leftover Riot Vanguard files after uninstalling?
Check the %appdata%, %LocalAppData%, %ProgramData% directories, and the C:\Program Files or C:\Riot Games folders.
How to resolve conflicts between Vanguard and other programs? Check for driver updates, especially for your motherboard and graphics card. If you're using overclocking software or other system-level tools, they may cause conflicts.
How to re-install Riot Vanguard? After you uninstall Vanguard, simply launching a Riot game like Valorant will prompt you to reinstall it automatically.
How to know if a kernel-level anti-cheat is safe? Kernel-level anti-cheat software has deep access to your system. While companies like Riot Games state they are thoroughly checked for vulnerabilities and don't collect personal data, some users remain concerned. It's up to you to weigh the benefits of a cheat-free environment against your personal privacy and security comfort level.
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