Of course! Let's dive into the world of Riot Vanguard and its system tray icon. This lengthy guide will help you check the Vanguard tray, troubleshoot common issues, and understand why it's there in the first place.
Are you having trouble launching your game, or is the Vanguard icon simply not showing up where you expect it to? Let's figure this out together!
Step 1: The Initial Check - Is Vanguard Running?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of troubleshooting, let's confirm if Riot Vanguard is even active. The easiest way to do this is to look for its icon in the system tray.
What is the system tray? The system tray is the area on your Windows taskbar, usually in the bottom-right corner, near the clock and network icons. It holds icons for programs that are running in the background.
What does the Vanguard icon look like? The Riot Vanguard icon is a red shield with a 'V' on it. It might be hidden, so you may need to click the small up arrow () to expand the tray and see all the hidden icons.
So, did you find it? If you see the red shield icon, that's a great sign! It means Vanguard is running as intended. You can right-click it to see options like "Exit Vanguard" or "Uninstall Vanguard". If you don't see it, don't worry, we'll troubleshoot that in the next steps.
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| How To Check Vanguard Tray |
Step 2: A Deeper Look - Checking Services and Processes
If the icon isn't visible in the system tray, it doesn't necessarily mean Vanguard isn't running. It could simply be a setting preventing the icon from displaying. Let's check the services and processes to be sure.
Sub-heading 2.1: Checking the 'Services' Panel
This is where you can see all the background services running on your computer, including those for Riot Vanguard.
Open the 'Run' dialog: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
Type 'services.msc' into the dialog box and hit Enter.
A new window titled "Services" will pop up.
In the list of services, look for 'vgc'. This is the core service for Riot Vanguard.
Check the "Status" and "Startup Type" columns.
The "Status" should be "Running".
The "Startup Type" should be "Automatic".
If the status is "Stopped", right-click on
vgcand select 'Start'.If the startup type is not "Automatic", right-click on
vgc, select 'Properties', and change the "Startup type" to 'Automatic' from the dropdown menu.
Tip: Reread slowly for better memory.
Sub-heading 2.2: Using the Task Manager
The Task Manager provides a real-time view of all running processes.
Open the Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard.
Go to the "Details" tab.
In the list of processes, look for
vgtray.exeandvgc.exe.vgtray.exeis the process responsible for the system tray icon.vgc.exeis the main Vanguard client.If you see
vgtray.exe, it means the tray icon process is running, but it might be hidden. If you don't see it, that's a strong indicator that the icon is not being launched.
Step 3: Bringing the Tray Icon Back
So, you've confirmed that Vanguard is running, but the tray icon is still playing hide-and-seek. Let's fix that.
Sub-heading 3.1: Checking Taskbar Settings (Windows 10/11)
Sometimes, Windows settings simply hide the icon.
Right-click on your taskbar and select "Taskbar settings".
In the Taskbar settings menu, find the section for "Taskbar corner overflow" or "Select which icons appear on the taskbar" (the name varies slightly between Windows versions).
Look for "Riot Vanguard" or "Vanguard tray notification" in the list.
Make sure the toggle next to it is turned on. This will force the icon to be visible in the system tray.
Sub-heading 3.2: Manually Launching the Tray Icon
If the icon is still missing, you can try to launch the executable file for the tray icon directly.
QuickTip: Re-reading helps retention.
Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Go to the "Startup" tab.
Look for an entry related to "Vanguard" or "Riot Vanguard".
If it's disabled, right-click it and select "Enable".
Even if it's enabled, you can try to find the location of the file. Right-click on the entry and select "Open file location".
This will open a folder with the Vanguard files. Look for
vgtray.exeand double-click it to launch the tray icon manually.
Step 4: The Last Resort - Reinstallation
If you've tried all the steps above and are still having issues, a clean reinstallation can often solve stubborn problems.
Uninstall Vanguard:
Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features (or "Installed apps" on Windows 11).
Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list and click 'Uninstall'.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
Uninstall the Riot Client/Game:
While you're in the Apps & features menu, also uninstall the game that uses Vanguard (e.g., Valorant or League of Legends).
Restart your PC. This is a crucial step to ensure all Vanguard-related processes and services are stopped and removed.
Reinstall the game. When you reinstall the game client, Riot Vanguard will be automatically reinstalled along with it.
Restart your PC again. This is required for Vanguard to properly initialize its kernel-level driver.
After these steps, you should see the Vanguard tray icon upon your next boot-up.
10 Related FAQs
How to Exit Vanguard?
You can exit Vanguard by right-clicking its icon in the system tray and selecting "Exit Vanguard". Keep in mind that you will need to restart your computer to play any Riot Games title that requires Vanguard.
How to Uninstall Vanguard?
QuickTip: Skim slowly, read deeply.
You can uninstall Vanguard from the "Apps & features" menu in your Windows Settings. Alternatively, you can right-click the tray icon and select "Uninstall Vanguard".
How to make the Vanguard tray icon visible?
You can make the icon visible by going to your Taskbar settings, navigating to "Taskbar corner overflow," and enabling the toggle for "Riot Vanguard" or "Vanguard tray notification."
How to check if Vanguard is running from Task Manager?
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the "Details" tab, and look for the processes vgtray.exe and vgc.exe. If they are present, Vanguard is running.
How to fix the 'Vanguard requires a restart' error?
This error usually means Vanguard's kernel-level driver needs to be initialized. A simple restart of your PC will typically resolve this issue.
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
How to fix Vanguard not launching on startup?
Go to Task Manager, navigate to the "Startup" tab, and ensure that the "Vanguard tray notification" is enabled.
How to check the status of the 'vgc' service?
Open the Services panel by typing services.msc in the Run dialog. In the list, find vgc and check its status. It should be "Running" and set to "Automatic" startup.
How to manually launch the Vanguard tray icon?
You can manually launch the tray icon by finding vgtray.exe in the Vanguard installation folder (usually in C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard) and double-clicking it.
How to disable Vanguard temporarily without uninstalling?
The only way to temporarily disable Vanguard is to right-click its tray icon and select "Exit Vanguard." You will be unable to play Vanguard-protected games until you restart your computer.
How to check for Vanguard updates?
Vanguard updates are typically handled automatically through the Riot Client. When you launch a game like Valorant, the client will check for and apply any necessary Vanguard updates.
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