You're looking to completely remove Vanguard's kernel-mode driver from your system? Excellent! It's a common request, especially for those who've uninstalled games like Valorant or League of Legends and want to ensure no remnants of the anti-cheat software are left behind. While Vanguard is designed to prevent cheating, its deep integration can sometimes cause concerns or conflicts with other software.
This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you understand each action and can confidently remove Vanguard's kernel-mode driver. Let's get started!
How to Delete Vanguard Kernel Mode Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
Deleting Vanguard's kernel-mode driver requires a few careful steps, as it operates at a low level within your operating system. It's not just a simple "uninstall" like other programs. Follow these instructions precisely to ensure a clean removal.
Step 1: Confirm Vanguard is Not Running
Before we do anything drastic, let's make sure Vanguard isn't actively running in the background. This is crucial for a smooth uninstallation.
Sub-heading: Checking the System Tray
Look for the Vanguard Icon: Go to your system tray, usually located in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar. You might need to click the "Show hidden icons" arrow (^) to reveal all icons.
Identify the Red Shield: Look for a distinctive red shield icon. This is typically the Riot Vanguard icon.
Exit Vanguard: Right-click on the Vanguard icon. A small menu will appear. Select "Exit Vanguard" or "Disable Vanguard." You'll likely get a confirmation prompt. Click "Yes" to confirm. This will temporarily stop the Vanguard service.
Sub-heading: Verifying with Task Manager
Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously to open the Task Manager.
Check Processes: Go to the "Processes" tab. Look for any processes related to "Riot Vanguard," "vgc," or "vgk."
End Task (if necessary): If you find any Vanguard-related processes still running, right-click on them and select "End task." While exiting from the system tray should stop it, this is a good double-check.
Step 2: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard via Windows Settings or Control Panel
This is the standard method for uninstalling applications and should remove most of Vanguard's components.
Sub-heading: Using Windows Settings (Windows 10/11)
Open Settings: Press the Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Apps: Click on "Apps" and then select "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" on older Windows versions).
Locate Riot Vanguard: Scroll down the list or use the search bar to find "Riot Vanguard."
Uninstall: Click on "Riot Vanguard" and then click the "Uninstall" button. You might need to confirm your choice by clicking "Uninstall" again in a pop-up window.
Follow On-Screen Prompts: A Riot Vanguard uninstaller wizard may appear. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation. You might be asked to grant administrative privileges; click "Yes."
Sub-heading: Using Control Panel (Older Windows Versions or Alternative)
Open Control Panel: Search for "Control Panel" in the Windows search bar and open it.
Go to Programs: Click on "Programs" and then "Programs and Features" (or "Uninstall a program").
Find Riot Vanguard: Locate "Riot Vanguard" in the list of installed programs.
Uninstall: Right-click on "Riot Vanguard" and select "Uninstall." Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the process.
Step 3: Removing Kernel Mode Drivers using Command Prompt
This is the critical step for specifically targeting and removing the kernel-mode drivers that Vanguard installs.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
Press the Windows Key (or click the Start button).
Type "cmd" in the search bar.
Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results.
Select "Run as administrator." This is essential for these commands to work. You'll be asked for permission; click "Yes."
Execute Commands: In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands exactly as shown, pressing Enter after each one:
DOSsc delete vgc sc delete vgksc delete vgc: This command deletes the "vgc" service, which is a component of Riot Vanguard. You should see a "SUCCESS" message if it works.sc delete vgk: This command deletes the "vgk" service, which is the core kernel-mode driver of Riot Vanguard. Again, you should see a "SUCCESS" message.
Note: If you receive a message like "The specified service does not exist as an installed service," it means that particular component was already removed, which is a good sign.
Restart Your Computer: This step is absolutely crucial. Restarting your computer ensures that the changes to the kernel-mode drivers take full effect and that any lingering Vanguard processes are terminated.
Go to the Start menu, click the Power icon, and select "Restart."
Step 4: Deleting Residual Files and Folders
Even after uninstalling and running the CMD commands, some empty folders or leftover files might remain. Cleaning these up ensures a complete removal.
Open File Explorer: Press Windows Key + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to Program Files: Go to your primary drive (usually C:) and then open the "Program Files" folder.
Delete Riot Vanguard Folder: Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard." If it exists, right-click on it and select "Delete." Confirm the deletion if prompted.
Occasionally, you might also find a "Riot Games" folder here. If you've uninstalled all Riot Games products, you can consider deleting this as well, but be cautious if you have other Riot games installed that you wish to keep.
Check Program Files (x86): Repeat the above step for the "Program Files (x86)" folder as well, just in case any 32-bit components were installed there.
Empty Recycle Bin: After deleting the folders, right-click on your Recycle Bin on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin" to permanently remove the files.
Step 5: (Optional) Cleaning Up Registry Entries
Caution: Modifying the Windows Registry incorrectly can cause serious system issues. Proceed with extreme care and only if you are comfortable. If unsure, skip this step.
While typically not strictly necessary for most users, advanced users might want to clean up any remaining registry entries related to Vanguard.
Open Registry Editor:
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type "regedit" and press Enter.
Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.
Backup the Registry (Highly Recommended): Before making any changes, it's highly recommended to back up your registry.
In Registry Editor, go to File > Export...
Choose a location to save the
.regfile (e.g., your Desktop), select "All" for the Export range, and give it a memorable name like "RegistryBackup_BeforeVanguardRemoval." Click "Save."
Search for Vanguard Entries:
Press Ctrl + F to open the "Find" dialog.
Type "Riot Vanguard" and click "Find Next."
If any keys or values are found, right-click on them and select "Delete." Be extremely cautious about what you delete. Only delete entries that clearly pertain to "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc"/"vgk."
Press F3 to find the next occurrence. Repeat until the search is complete.
You can also try searching for "vgc" and "vgk" separately, but again, exercise extreme caution.
Close Registry Editor: Once you're done, close the Registry Editor.
Congratulations!
You have successfully deleted Vanguard's kernel-mode driver and thoroughly cleaned its remnants from your system. If you experienced issues with Vanguard conflicting with other software or simply wanted it gone, your efforts should now be rewarded with a cleaner, potentially more stable system.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to: Check if Vanguard is fully uninstalled?
You can check the "Installed apps" list in Windows Settings, look for the Vanguard icon in your system tray (it should be gone), and try running the
sc delete vgcandsc delete vgkcommands in an elevated Command Prompt. If they return a "service does not exist" message, it's a good sign.
How to: Reinstall Valorant after uninstalling Vanguard?
Simply download the Valorant installer from the official Riot Games website. When you run it, it will automatically reinstall both Valorant and the necessary Riot Vanguard anti-cheat. You will likely need to restart your PC after installation.
How to: Fix "Vanguard won't uninstall" errors?
The most common fix is to ensure Vanguard is completely exited from the system tray before attempting the uninstall. If that fails, using the Command Prompt method (
sc delete vgcandsc delete vgk) is often effective, followed by a restart and manual folder deletion.
How to: Uninstall Valorant completely?
To completely uninstall Valorant, you must first uninstall Riot Vanguard (using the steps above), then uninstall Valorant itself from Windows Settings or Control Panel, and finally, manually delete any remaining "Riot Games" or "Valorant" folders from
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86).
How to: Disable Vanguard temporarily without uninstalling?
Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." This will temporarily disable it. You'll need to restart your computer to re-enable it for playing Riot Games.
How to: Resolve "Vanguard Not Running" error messages?
Often, restarting your PC and the Riot Client will fix this. If not, try uninstalling and reinstalling both Riot Vanguard and the game (e.g., Valorant or League of Legends) for a fresh installation.
How to: Deal with Vanguard conflicts with other programs?
If Vanguard is conflicting with specific programs, try disabling Vanguard temporarily (as described above) before running the conflicting program. If persistent issues occur, a clean uninstall and reinstallation of Vanguard (or the conflicting program) might be necessary. Check Riot Games support for known conflicts.
How to: Use a third-party uninstaller for Vanguard?
Some third-party uninstaller tools (like Revo Uninstaller) can help remove programs and their leftover files and registry entries more thoroughly. If you're having trouble with manual methods, these tools can be a good option, but always download them from reputable sources.
How to: Access Safe Mode to uninstall Vanguard?
If you're having trouble deleting files or uninstalling Vanguard due to it being "in use," booting into Safe Mode can help. To enter Safe Mode in Windows:
Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
Under "Advanced startup," click "Restart now."
After your PC restarts to the "Choose an option" screen, select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart."
Press 4 or F4 to enable Safe Mode. From Safe Mode, you can try the uninstall steps.
How to: Reinstall Vanguard if needed?
Vanguard is typically reinstalled automatically when you install or launch a Riot Game that requires it (like Valorant or League of Legends). If you've uninstalled it and now need it again, simply launch the game client, and it should prompt you to install Vanguard.