Of course! Let's get you ready to dive into the world of Riot Games with a comprehensive guide on how to get Riot Vanguard.
A Comprehensive Guide to Downloading and Installing Riot Vanguard
Hey there, future champion! Are you ready to experience the competitive integrity and thrilling gameplay that Riot Games' titles like VALORANT and League of Legends offer? If so, you're going to need a very important piece of software: Riot Vanguard.
You might be wondering, "What is Riot Vanguard, and why do I need it?" It's a kernel-level anti-cheat system designed to prevent cheaters from ruining the game for everyone. It's a crucial part of the Riot ecosystem, ensuring a fair and competitive environment. Think of it as a bouncer at a very exclusive club – it makes sure no one gets in who isn't playing by the rules.
Now, let's get you set up. Forget looking for a separate download file for Vanguard itself; the process is much more integrated. Here's your step-by-step guide to downloading and installing Riot Vanguard.
Step 1: Get the Game, Get the Anti-Cheat
QuickTip: Read section by section for better flow.
Alright, let's start with the most important part: you can't download Riot Vanguard on its own. It comes bundled with the Riot Games you want to play. So, the first and most engaging step is to decide which Riot game you want to play!
Are you looking to master the tactical shooter gameplay of VALORANT? Or perhaps you want to dominate the Summoner's Rift in League of Legends? Once you've chosen your game, you're ready to proceed.
Go to the official Riot Games website or the game's specific website (e.g., playvalorant.com).
Download the game's client. This will be the main installer for the game itself.
Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the game.
Variety is the spice of life, so feel free to explore their other titles like Teamfight Tactics or Legends of Runeterra, though be aware that the Vanguard requirement is primarily for their competitive, PvP-focused games like VALORANT and League of Legends.
Step 2: The Automatic Vanguard Installation
This is where the magic happens, and it's something many users don't even realize is a separate step.
After you have successfully installed your chosen Riot game, you will need to restart your computer.
Upon rebooting, you'll see a prompt or notification. This is the Riot Vanguard installer beginning its work. It's an automatic process that happens in the background.
Let the installation complete. It's designed to be quick and seamless, but it's crucial that you let it finish without interruption. The size of Vanguard is quite small, typically around 37 MB to 200 MB, so it won't take up a lot of space.
Pro-Tip: Do not try to force quit the installation or shut down your PC during this time. This can lead to corrupted files and installation issues.
QuickTip: Skim the intro, then dive deeper.
Step 3: Confirming Vanguard is Active
Once your computer has restarted, you can check to see if Riot Vanguard is running and ready to go.
Look in your system tray (the area on your taskbar with small icons, usually near the clock).
You should see a red Riot Vanguard icon. This is your visual confirmation that the software is active and running in the background.
You can right-click this icon to see options like "Exit Vanguard." Be warned: If you exit Vanguard, you will not be able to play your Riot game until you restart your computer and let it launch again.
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Step 4: Troubleshooting Common Issues
While the installation process is generally smooth, you might encounter some hiccups. Don't worry, here are some common issues and their fixes.
Sub-heading: "VAN" Error Codes
Tip: Reading twice doubles clarity.
You may encounter an error code that begins with "VAN." These are Vanguard-specific errors. Some common ones include:
VAN 57: This often means Vanguard is not running. The fix is usually as simple as restarting your PC and the Riot Client.
VAN 68, VAN 84, VAN -101, etc.: These are connection errors. Check your network connection, restart your Riot Client, and if the problem persists, a full restart of your computer is often the solution.
VAN9001: This is a modern requirement. It indicates that your system's TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 and UEFI are not enabled. This is a crucial security setting for Windows 10 (build 19041+) and Windows 11. You will need to enable these in your BIOS settings.
Sub-heading: Reinstalling Vanguard
Sometimes, a clean reinstall is the only way to fix persistent issues.
Uninstall Vanguard: Go to your Windows "Apps and Features" or "Add or remove programs" settings. Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list and click "Uninstall."
Delete Remaining Files: After uninstalling, you might need to manually delete the Riot Vanguard folder from "C:\Program Files" to ensure a clean slate.
Restart your PC.
Launch your Riot game. The client will automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it again. Follow the steps in the previous section.
Remember, Vanguard is a kernel-level anti-cheat, which means it starts up with your computer. This is a critical design choice to prevent cheaters from loading their hacks before the game even launches. While this has raised some privacy concerns, Riot Games has been very transparent about its function and has a bug bounty program to address any vulnerabilities.
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| How To Download Vanguard Riot Games |
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Riot Vanguard.
Tip: Every word counts — don’t skip too much.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard? You can uninstall Riot Vanguard just like any other program through Windows' "Apps and Features" or "Add or remove programs" settings. Find it in the list and click uninstall.
How to update Riot Vanguard? Riot Vanguard updates automatically with the game client. You don't need to manually download updates.
How to check if Riot Vanguard is running? Look for the red Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray on the taskbar.
How to fix Vanguard not launching? Restart your computer. If that doesn't work, try a clean reinstall of Vanguard as described in the troubleshooting section above.
How to enable TPM 2.0 for Vanguard? You need to go into your computer's BIOS settings (usually by pressing a key like F2, F10, or DEL on startup) and enable the TPM (or PTT for Intel) and UEFI settings.
How to stop Vanguard from running at startup? You can't. Vanguard is designed to run at system startup to prevent certain types of cheats. If you exit it, you will not be able to play Riot games.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN 6? This is a connection error. Check your internet connection, restart your Riot Client, and if needed, restart your PC.
How to check Vanguard's version? The Vanguard icon in your system tray doesn't show the version directly, but it updates with the game client. You can assume you have the latest version if your game is up to date.
How to fix Vanguard blocking software? Vanguard can sometimes block software it deems a security risk. Try temporarily disabling or uninstalling conflicting software. If the issue persists, you may need to submit a ticket to Riot Support.
How to reinstall Vanguard without reinstalling the game? Follow the uninstall steps in the troubleshooting section. When you launch your Riot game afterward, it will automatically prompt you to reinstall Vanguard.
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