Hey there! So, you're looking to take a break from Valorant and want to know how to disable Vanguard, the game's anti-cheat software? You've come to the right place. Disabling or uninstalling Vanguard can be a bit more involved than just removing a regular application, as it's designed to run at a deep system level to prevent cheating. Let's walk through this process together, step by step.
Step 1: Understand What You're Disabling
Before we dive in, let's get on the same page. Riot Vanguard is a kernel-level anti-cheat system. This means it runs from the moment your computer boots up, even before you launch Valorant. This deep integration is what makes it so effective at detecting and preventing cheats, but it's also why some users want to disable it.
Disabling Vanguard will prevent you from playing Valorant until you enable it again and, in most cases, restart your PC. It's a key requirement for the game to function. So, if you're planning a quick gaming session, you'll need to go through this process to get it running again.
Ready? Let's proceed.
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| How To Disable Vanguard Valorant |
Step 2: The Easiest Way - Exiting from the System Tray
This is the quickest and simplest method if you just want to temporarily stop Vanguard without fully uninstalling it.
Sub-heading: Finding the Vanguard Icon
Look at the bottom-right corner of your screen, in the system tray (next to your clock). You might need to click the small upward-pointing arrow (caret) to show all the icons. You should see a red shield icon, which is the Riot Vanguard icon.
QuickTip: Read line by line if it’s complex.
Sub-heading: The Exit Option
Right-click the Vanguard icon.
A small menu will appear.
Select "Exit Vanguard" from the options.
A pop-up will ask for confirmation. Click "Yes".
Once you do this, the Vanguard service will be stopped. However, you will not be able to launch Valorant until you restart your computer. This method is great for those who just want to stop the service from running in the background for a while.
Step 3: The Complete Removal - Uninstalling Vanguard
If you want to get rid of Vanguard completely, you'll need to uninstall it just like any other program. This is the best option if you're not planning to play Valorant for a long time.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling via Windows Settings
This is the standard and most user-friendly method for uninstalling applications on Windows.
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to "Apps" and then "Installed Apps" (or "Apps & features" depending on your Windows version).
Scroll down the list of installed programs and find "Riot Vanguard".
Click on it, and then select "Uninstall".
A confirmation prompt will appear. Click "Uninstall" again.
You may be asked to allow the app to make changes to your device; click "Yes".
Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
Crucially, after the uninstallation is complete, you should restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect and the kernel-level driver is properly removed.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling via the Control Panel
This is another classic Windows method that works just as well.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type "Control Panel" and press Enter.
In the Control Panel window, go to "Programs" and then select "Uninstall a program".
Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list of programs.
Right-click on it and choose "Uninstall".
Follow the prompts to finish the uninstallation.
Remember to restart your PC after this process is done.
QuickTip: Repetition signals what matters most.
Step 4: A More Technical Approach - Using Command Prompt
For those who are comfortable with the Command Prompt, you can use a couple of simple commands to disable the Vanguard services. This is a very direct way to stop the services.
Open the Start menu and search for "CMD".
Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator". This is very important, as you need administrator privileges to run these commands.
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
sc delete vgcNext, type the following command and press Enter:
sc delete vgkYou should see a message confirming that the services were deleted successfully.
Now, you must restart your computer to ensure the changes take full effect.
This method essentially deletes the services that make Vanguard run on startup. You will still have the Vanguard files on your system, but the services won't be active until you reinstall them.
Step 5: Verifying the Removal and Cleaning Up
After you've uninstalled Vanguard, it's a good idea to check for any leftover files to ensure a clean removal.
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the following location:
C:\Program FilesLook for a folder named "Riot Vanguard". If you see it, right-click and select "Delete".
Empty your Recycle Bin to permanently remove the files.
You can also check for remaining files in the following hidden folders by typing the paths into your File Explorer address bar:
%appdata%%localappdata%%programdata%Look for any folders named "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" and delete them if you find any.
Important Note: If you also have other Riot Games titles like League of Legends installed, simply uninstalling Valorant will not remove Vanguard. You must manually uninstall Vanguard as a separate program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to disable Vanguard from running at startup?
The most effective way to disable Vanguard from starting automatically is to uninstall it completely. If you only want to temporarily disable it, you can exit the program from the system tray icon, but it will automatically start again when you reboot your PC.
Tip: Every word counts — don’t skip too much.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard using Command Prompt?
Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the commands sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk one by one. After running these, restart your computer.
How to know if Vanguard is still running on my PC?
You can check your system tray for the red shield icon. You can also open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the "Startup" tab, and see if "Vanguard Tray Notification" is listed. Additionally, you can check the "Services" tab for "vgc" and "vgk" services.
How to re-enable Vanguard after disabling it?
You cannot manually re-enable the services once they are uninstalled. To re-enable Vanguard, simply launch Valorant. The game will detect that Vanguard is not running and will prompt you to reinstall it. You will need to restart your computer after the reinstallation to play.
How to uninstall Vanguard if I get an error?
If you encounter an error during uninstallation, first try exiting Vanguard from the system tray. If that doesn't work, restart your computer and try the uninstallation process again. If the issue persists, use the Command Prompt method to delete the services.
Tip: Each paragraph has one main idea — find it.
How to remove leftover Vanguard files?
After uninstalling, check the C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard folder and other hidden app data folders (%appdata%, %localappdata%, %programdata%) for any remaining files or folders related to Vanguard and delete them.
How to stop Vanguard without uninstalling it?
The only way to stop it without uninstalling is to right-click the system tray icon and select "Exit Vanguard." This will stop the service until your next reboot.
How to play Valorant after disabling Vanguard?
You cannot play Valorant with Vanguard disabled. The game will not launch and will give you an error message, prompting you to restart your computer to enable Vanguard.
How to fix Vanguard-related issues?
If you're having issues with Vanguard, first try restarting your computer. If the problem persists, you can try repairing or reinstalling Vanguard from the Windows Settings or by launching Valorant.
How to check the status of Vanguard services?
You can open Command Prompt and type sc query vgk and sc query vgc and press enter. The output will show you the state of the services (e.g., "STOPPED" or "RUNNING").
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