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How to Check if Vanguard is Running via Command Prompt: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey there, fellow gamer! Ever wonder if that pesky anti-cheat software, Riot Vanguard, is actually running in the background, consuming your precious system resources? It's a common question, especially for those of us who like to keep a close eye on our system's performance.

Let's dive into how you can easily check if Vanguard is up and running using a powerful but simple tool: the Command Prompt.

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt

First things first, let's get the Command Prompt open. There are a couple of ways to do this.

The Easy Way: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type cmd and press Enter.
The Pro Way: Click the Start button and type cmd in the search bar. Right-click on "Command Prompt" from the results and select Run as administrator. This is the best option for troubleshooting, as it gives you elevated permissions.

You'll know it's open when you see a black window with white text. It's the command center of your computer!

Step 2: Check for the Vanguard Service

Now that you're in the Command Prompt, we'll use a specific command to look for the Vanguard service.

The command you'll use is sc query vgc.

sc stands for "Service Control," a command-line tool for interacting with services.
query is the action we want to perform.
vgc is the name of the Vanguard anti-cheat service.

How to Execute the Command:

In the Command Prompt window, type sc query vgc
Press Enter.

Step 2.1: Interpreting the Output

After you press Enter, you'll see a bunch of information pop up. This is where we figure out if Vanguard is running.

Case 1: Vanguard is Running

If Vanguard is running, you will see a response similar to this:

SERVICE_NAME: vgc
        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
                STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_SHUTDOWN)
                                                        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
                                                                SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
                                                                        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
                                                                                WAIT_HINT          : 0x0
                                                                                

Key Indicator: The most important line is STATE : 4 RUNNING. This tells you definitively that the Vanguard service is active and operational.
You can also see other details like the service type and its exit codes.

Case 2: Vanguard is Not Running

If Vanguard is not running, you will see a response like this:

[SC] EnumQueryServicesStatus:OpenService FAILED 1060:
                                                                                
                                                                                The specified service does not exist as an installed service.

Key Indicator: The message [SC] EnumQueryServicesStatus:OpenService FAILED 1060: indicates that the service is either not installed or not active. It could also mean you need to run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Another possible output might be STATE : 1 STOPPED if the service is installed but not currently active.

Step 3: Check for the Vanguard Process

While checking the service is a great first step, you can also check for the running process itself. This is a bit more in-depth.

The command for this is tasklist | findstr vgk.sys

tasklist lists all the running processes on your system.
| is a "pipe" that sends the output of the first command to the second command.
findstr is a powerful command that finds strings of text in a file or output.
vgk.sys is the name of the Vanguard kernel-level driver.

How to Execute the Command:

In the Command Prompt window, type tasklist | findstr vgk.sys
Press Enter.

Step 3.1: Interpreting the Output

Case 1: Vanguard Process is Found

If the process is running, you will see an output like this:

vgk.sys                     1234 Services                   0    12,345 K

Key Indicator: You'll see the filename vgk.sys along with a process ID and memory usage. This confirms that the kernel driver is loaded into memory.
The number will vary each time, but the presence of the filename is the key.

Case 2: Vanguard Process is Not Found

If the process is not running, you will see nothing at all. The Command Prompt will simply return to the next line, showing a blank output.

Key Indicator: An empty response means findstr didn't find the vgk.sys string in the tasklist output.

Step 4: Use the System Information Tool (msinfo32)

For a more graphical view, you can check Vanguard's status in the System Information tool.

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type msinfo32 and press Enter.
In the System Information window, navigate to Software Environment > Services.
Look for a service named vgc in the list.
Check the "State" column. It will say either "Running" or "Stopped".

This is a great visual way to confirm what you saw in the Command Prompt.

Step 5: Check the Task Manager

Finally, for a quick and easy check, you can use the Task Manager.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Go to the "Details" tab.
Look for vgk.sys or vgc in the list of processes.

While vgk.sys is a kernel driver and might not always appear as a regular process, vgc service will often be listed here.

10 Related FAQs

How to check if Riot Vanguard is enabled?

You can check if Riot Vanguard is enabled by looking for the vgc service in the services.msc window (Services app). If its startup type is set to "Automatic" and its status is "Running," it is enabled.

How to stop Riot Vanguard from running?

You can stop Riot Vanguard by opening the Services app (services.msc), finding the vgc service, right-clicking it, and selecting "Stop." However, keep in mind that you will not be able to play any Riot Games that require Vanguard while it is stopped.

How to uninstall Riot Vanguard from my PC?

To uninstall Vanguard, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features (on Windows 10) or Settings > Apps > Installed apps (on Windows 11), find "Riot Vanguard," and click "Uninstall." You'll be prompted to confirm the uninstallation.

How to know if Vanguard is running in the background?

The quickest way to know if Vanguard is running is to check your system tray (the icons on the right side of your taskbar). If you see the Riot Vanguard icon (a shield-like icon), it is running.

How to restart the Vanguard service?

To restart the Vanguard service, open the Services app (services.msc), find vgc, right-click on it, and select "Restart."

How to fix Vanguard not initialized?

If you get a "Vanguard not initialized" error, try restarting your computer. If that doesn't work, reinstalling Riot Vanguard or your Riot Game (like Valorant) can often fix the issue.

How to check if a service is running using PowerShell?

You can check if a service is running in PowerShell by using the command Get-Service -Name "service_name". For Vanguard, the command would be Get-Service -Name "vgc".

How to see all running processes in Command Prompt?

To see all running processes in Command Prompt, use the command tasklist. This will display a list of all processes, their PIDs, and memory usage.

How to check system uptime using CMD?

You can check system uptime using the Command Prompt with the command systeminfo | find "System Boot Time". This will show you the exact date and time your computer was last booted.

How to prevent Vanguard from starting with Windows?

You can prevent Vanguard from starting with Windows by setting the vgc service's startup type to "Manual" in the Services app. However, this will require you to start the service manually every time you want to play a Riot game.

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How To Check If Vanguard Is Running Cmd