Vanguard, Riot Games' proprietary anti-cheat software, is designed to ensure fair play in games like Valorant and League of Legends. While effective, its deep kernel-level integration and always-on nature can be a point of concern for some users due to potential privacy implications and system resource usage. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to close or completely uninstall Vanguard, offering various methods and troubleshooting tips.
How to Close Vanguard Anti-Cheat: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you looking to temporarily disable Vanguard or remove it entirely from your system? Perhaps you're experiencing system performance issues, privacy concerns, or simply no longer play Riot Games titles. Whatever your reason, this guide will provide you with clear, actionable steps to manage Riot Vanguard on your Windows PC.
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| How To Close Vanguard Anti Cheat |
Step 1: Understand Vanguard's Nature - Why It's Tricky to Close
Before we dive into the "how-to," it's crucial to understand why Vanguard behaves the way it does. Riot Vanguard operates at the kernel level of your operating system. This means it runs with a very high level of privilege, even higher than most administrative programs. It starts with your computer to prevent cheats from loading before the game even begins. This deep integration is what makes it so effective at catching cheaters, but also why it's not as simple as closing a typical application.
Many users are surprised to learn that Vanguard runs constantly in the background, even when you're not playing a Riot game. This is a design choice by Riot to maintain a high level of competitive integrity. However, this also means that if you want to truly stop it, you'll need to go beyond just closing the game.
Step 2: Temporarily Disabling Vanguard (for a single session)
If you just need to stop Vanguard for your current session without completely uninstalling it, this is the quickest method. Keep in mind that Vanguard will restart automatically the next time you reboot your computer.
Sub-heading: Via the System Tray Icon
This is the most straightforward way to temporarily close Vanguard.
QuickTip: Revisit posts more than once.
- Locate the System Tray: Look for the small upward-pointing arrow (caret
^) in the bottom-right corner of your Windows taskbar. Click on it to expand the system tray icons. - Find the Vanguard Icon: You'll typically see a red shield-like icon with a "V" or the Riot Vanguard logo.
- Right-Click and Exit: Right-click on the Vanguard icon. A small menu will appear.
- Select "Exit Vanguard": Click on this option.
- Confirm the Action: A prompt will appear asking for confirmation, usually stating that you won't be able to play Riot Games titles without Vanguard running. Click "Yes" to confirm.
Vanguard should now be temporarily closed. You'll need to restart your computer or manually launch a Riot game to reactivate it.
Step 3: Completely Uninstalling Vanguard (Permanent Removal)
If you no longer play Riot Games or want to fully remove Vanguard from your system, a complete uninstallation is necessary. This involves uninstalling both the game (if applicable) and Vanguard itself, and then cleaning up any leftover files.
Sub-heading: Method 1: Using Windows Settings (Recommended)
This is the standard and generally safest way to remove software from your Windows PC.
- Open Windows Settings:
- Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
- Alternatively, click on the Start Menu and select the "Settings" (gear) icon.
- Navigate to "Apps": In the Settings window, click on "Apps" (or "Apps & features" depending on your Windows version).
- Find Riot Vanguard: Scroll through the list of installed applications or use the search bar to find "Riot Vanguard." It might also be listed under "Riot Games."
- Initiate Uninstallation:
- Left-click on "Riot Vanguard" in the list.
- Click on the "Uninstall" button that appears.
- You may be prompted to click "Uninstall" again to confirm.
- Follow On-Screen Prompts: A Riot Vanguard uninstaller wizard will appear. Follow the instructions to complete the uninstallation process. You might need to grant administrative permissions.
- Restart Your PC: This step is crucial. After the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer immediately. This ensures that all Vanguard components, especially its kernel-mode driver, are properly unloaded from memory.
Sub-heading: Method 2: Using Command Prompt (Advanced)
This method can be used if the Windows Settings method fails or you prefer a command-line approach. It directly targets the Vanguard services.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Click on the Start Menu and type "CMD."
- Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results.
- Select "Run as administrator."
- Click "Yes" if User Account Control (UAC) prompts you.
- Stop Vanguard Services: In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk- These commands delete the Vanguard Game Client (vgc) and Vanguard Kernel (vgk) services.
- Restart Your PC: Immediately restart your computer after running these commands. This is critical for the changes to take effect and to properly unload the kernel-mode driver.
Sub-heading: Method 3: Manual File Deletion (After Service Deletion)
After uninstalling via Settings or deleting services via Command Prompt, you might want to manually check and delete any leftover Vanguard files to ensure a complete removal.
Tip: Take your time with each sentence.
- Open File Explorer: Press Windows key + E on your keyboard, or click on the folder icon in your taskbar.
- Navigate to Program Files: Go to your C: drive (usually "Local Disk (C:)") and then open the "Program Files" folder.
- Locate and Delete "Riot Vanguard" Folder: Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard." Right-click on it and select "Delete."
- Empty Recycle Bin: After deleting the folder, remember to empty your Recycle Bin to permanently remove the files.
Sub-heading: Checking for Remaining Riot Games Files (Optional but Recommended)
Even after uninstalling Vanguard and the game, some leftover configuration files or data might remain.
- Open Run Dialog: Press Windows key + R on your keyboard.
- Check AppData Folders: Type each of the following paths into the "Run" dialog and press Enter. If a "Riot Games" folder exists in any of these locations, you can delete it.
%appdata%(then look for "Riot Games")%LocalAppData%(then look for "Riot Games")%ProgramData%(then look for "Riot Games")C:\Riot Games(directly check this path)
- Delete any found "Riot Games" folders.
Step 4: Verify Vanguard is Gone
After following the uninstallation steps and restarting your PC, you can verify that Vanguard is no longer running.
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- Check System Tray: Look for the Vanguard icon in your system tray. It should be gone.
- Check Task Manager:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the "Processes" tab.
- Look for any processes named "Vanguard" or "vgc.exe" or "vgk.sys." If you don't see them, Vanguard is likely not running.
- Go to the "Services" tab.
- Look for services named "vgc" and "vgk." Their status should be "Stopped" or they should be completely absent if you used the
sc deletecommands.
If you encounter any issues during the uninstallation, ensure you have restarted your PC after each major step. Sometimes, a stubborn file or process can prevent complete removal until the system is rebooted.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Riot Vanguard and its management, with quick answers:
How to Temporarily Disable Vanguard Without Uninstalling?
Right-click the Vanguard icon in your system tray (bottom-right of your taskbar), and select "Exit Vanguard." Confirm when prompted.
Tip: Highlight what feels important.
How to Reinstall Vanguard After Uninstalling It?
Vanguard is automatically reinstalled when you launch a Riot Games title (like Valorant or League of Legends) that requires it. Simply open the game client, and it will prompt you to install Vanguard if it's missing.
How to Check if Vanguard is Running?
Check your system tray for the red Vanguard shield icon. You can also open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the "Processes" tab, and look for "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc.exe."
How to Fix Vanguard Errors (e.g., VAN 1067, VAN 9001)?
Many Vanguard errors can be resolved by restarting your PC. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling and reinstalling both Vanguard and the associated Riot game. For specific error codes, consult Riot Games' official support website.
How to Uninstall Valorant Completely with Vanguard?
First, close Vanguard from the system tray. Then, uninstall both "Riot Vanguard" and "Valorant" from Windows Settings > Apps. Finally, restart your PC and manually delete any remaining "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" folders from C:\Program Files, %appdata%, %LocalAppData%, and %ProgramData%.
How to Remove Vanguard Using Command Prompt?
Open Command Prompt as administrator, then type sc delete vgc and press Enter, followed by sc delete vgk and press Enter. Immediately restart your computer after executing these commands.
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
How to Prevent Vanguard from Starting with Windows?
If you've uninstalled Vanguard, it won't start with Windows. If it's installed, Vanguard is designed to start with Windows by default due to its kernel-level nature, and there's no official in-built option to prevent this without uninstalling or disrupting its functionality.
How to Know if Vanguard is Affecting My PC Performance?
While Vanguard is designed to be lightweight, if you notice significant system slowdowns, freezing, or blue screens, especially when not playing a Riot game, Vanguard could be a contributing factor. Try temporarily closing it and observe if the performance improves.
How to Deal with Vanguard if It Prevents Other Programs from Running?
Sometimes, Vanguard's deep integration can conflict with other software. Ensure all your drivers and Windows are updated. If a specific program consistently conflicts, you might need to temporarily disable Vanguard (as in Step 2) before using that program, or consider uninstalling Vanguard if Riot Games are not a priority.
How to Report a Vanguard Bug or Issue to Riot Games?
If you believe you've found a bug or are experiencing persistent issues with Vanguard, the best course of action is to submit a support ticket directly to Riot Games through their official support website. They have dedicated teams for anti-cheat and technical issues.
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