How To Check If Vanguard Is Uninstalled

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Of course! Here is a very lengthy and detailed guide on how to check if Vanguard is uninstalled from your PC, complete with step-by-step instructions and a comprehensive FAQ section.

How to Confirm That Riot Vanguard is Completely Uninstalled

Have you recently uninstalled VALORANT, but you're not sure if Riot Vanguard, the game's anti-cheat software, is truly gone? It's a common question, and for a good reason. Vanguard is a kernel-level anti-cheat, which means it runs deep within your system, even when you're not playing a Riot game. It's designed to be persistent and can be a bit tricky to remove completely. So, let's dive in and confirm its uninstallation together!

Step 1: The Initial Check – Is It Running in the Background?

Before you start digging into system files, let's check the most obvious place. This is where you'll usually find the Vanguard icon if it's active.

Check the System Tray: Look for the system tray in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock. You might need to click the small upward arrow (^) to show hidden icons.
Look for the Red Shield: The Riot Vanguard icon is a distinctive red shield with a "V" on it. If you see this icon, Vanguard is still running. You can right-click it and select "Exit Vanguard" to temporarily disable it. But to confirm it's uninstalled, we need to go further.
Check Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Go to the "Processes" or "Details" tab and look for any processes related to Riot Vanguard. You might see vgtray.exe, vgc.exe, or other Riot-related processes. If you find them, right-click and select "End task." This is another temporary measure, but it's a good sign that files are still present.

If you see the icon or the processes, you can be sure Vanguard is not uninstalled. If you don't, it's time to move on to the next steps to verify its absence.

Step 2: Check for Uninstallation through Windows Settings

The first and most common method for uninstalling any program is through the Windows Settings or Control Panel. Even if you think you uninstalled it, it's worth checking again.

Sub-heading: Using Windows 10/11 Settings
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to Apps > Installed Apps (or "Apps & features" on older Windows 10 versions).
3. In the search bar at the top, type "Riot Vanguard".
4. If "Riot Vanguard" appears in the list, it's still installed. Click on the three dots next to it and select "Uninstall". Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
5. Even after uninstalling from here, you should continue to the next steps to ensure all remnants are gone.
Sub-heading: Using the Control Panel (Classic Method)
1. Press the Windows key + R, type control panel, and hit Enter.
2. Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Look through the list of installed programs for "Riot Vanguard".
4. If you find it, right-click it and select "Uninstall".

If you find "Riot Vanguard" in either of these lists, it means the main program is still on your system, and it's not uninstalled.

Step 3: The Deep Dive – Checking for Leftover Files and Folders

A standard uninstallation doesn't always remove every single file. This is especially true for a kernel-level anti-cheat like Vanguard. You need to manually check for lingering folders.

Open File Explorer: Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the Program Files Directory: Go to the C: drive (or the drive where you installed Windows). Then, navigate to the Program Files folder.
Look for the Riot Vanguard Folder: Inside the Program Files folder, look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard".
Check for other Riot Games folders: While you're at it, you might also want to check for the "Riot Games" folder in the same location. Inside this folder, you might find leftover VALORANT files, but Vanguard's dedicated folder is a key indicator.
Check AppData and ProgramData: These are hidden folders where application data is often stored.
- Press Windows key + R, type %localappdata%, and hit Enter. Look for a folder named "Riot Games" and check its contents.
- Repeat the process by typing %appdata% in the Run window.
- Finally, type %programdata% (this one is usually hidden) and check for a "Riot Games" folder.

If you find the "Riot Vanguard" folder in C:\Program Files, or any other Riot Games folders with Vanguard-related logs and files, it is still not fully uninstalled. You should delete these folders to complete the removal.

Step 4: The Command Line Verification

For the most thorough check, you can use the Command Prompt to see if the Vanguard services are still active. This is a very reliable method as it checks for the low-level drivers that Vanguard installs.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Click on the Start Menu, type cmd.
- Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".
Check for the Vanguard Service: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sc query vgc
Analyze the Output:
- If you see a message that says [SC] EnumQueryServicesStatus:OpenService FAILED 1060: The specified service does not exist as an installed service., this is a good sign. It means the vgc (Vanguard Game Client) service is gone.
- If you see information about the service's STATE and RUNNING status, it's still present on your system.
Check for the Vanguard Kernel Driver: Repeat the process with the following command: sc query vgk
Analyze the Output:
- Similarly, if you get the FAILED 1060 error, the vgk (Vanguard Kernel) driver is uninstalled.
- If you see the service information, it's still there.

If either sc query vgc or sc query vgk return a running service, then Riot Vanguard is definitely not uninstalled and is still active on your system. You will need to manually remove these services.

Step 5: The Ultimate Confirmation – Checking for System Drivers

This is a step for users who want to be absolutely certain. The kernel-mode driver (vgk.sys) is the most persistent part of Vanguard.

Open File Explorer: Go to your C: drive.
Navigate to the Drivers folder: Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers.
Search for the driver: In the search bar at the top-right of the window, type vgk.sys.
Check the results: If the file vgk.sys appears in the search results, the kernel driver is still on your system.

The presence of this file is a strong indicator that Vanguard's core components have not been fully removed.

10 Related FAQs

Here are some quick answers to common questions about uninstalling and checking for Vanguard.

How to uninstall Riot Vanguard from Windows Settings? Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find "Riot Vanguard," and click "Uninstall."

How to completely remove all Riot Vanguard files? After using the Windows uninstaller, manually delete the "Riot Vanguard" folder from C:\Program Files and the "Riot Games" folder from %localappdata%, %appdata%, and %programdata%.

How to check if the Vanguard service is still running? Open Task Manager and look for vgc.exe and vgtray.exe in the "Processes" tab. For a deeper check, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type sc query vgc.

How to manually delete the Vanguard driver? Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the commands sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk. Then, restart your PC and manually delete the Riot Vanguard folder from C:\Program Files.

How to fix "Riot Vanguard prevents uninstallation"? First, exit Vanguard from the system tray icon by right-clicking it and selecting "Exit Vanguard." Then, try the uninstallation process again. If it fails, use the manual Command Prompt method.

How to uninstall Vanguard if it's not in the programs list? If it doesn't appear in the apps list, you will need to use the manual removal methods, such as deleting the service via Command Prompt (sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk) and manually deleting the folder.

How to know if the Vanguard kernel driver is gone? Check for the presence of the vgk.sys file in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder. Its absence confirms the driver has been removed.

How to check for leftover Riot Games files? Use the Run command to access hidden folders: type %localappdata%, %appdata%, and %programdata% in the Run window (Windows key + R) and check for any "Riot Games" folders.

How to reinstall Vanguard after uninstalling? Simply launch the VALORANT or Riot Client. The client will detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to reinstall it. You will need to restart your computer to complete the installation.

How to get rid of Vanguard without reinstalling Windows? Follow the steps in this guide, including checking for the system tray icon, using the Windows uninstaller, manually deleting files and folders, and using Command Prompt to remove the services.

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