A Comprehensive Guide: How to Exit or Uninstall Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat
Hello, fellow PC users! Ever found yourself wondering how to temporarily disable or completely remove Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software that comes with games like VALORANT and League of Legends? It's a kernel-level program, meaning it runs deep within your system, and you might have noticed it's always running in the background. While it's crucial for ensuring fair play in your favorite Riot titles, it can sometimes interfere with other software or you might simply want to free up system resources when you're not gaming.
Don't worry, you've come to the right place. This lengthy, step-by-step guide will walk you through the process, from a simple temporary exit to a full, clean uninstall. So, let's dive right in and take back control of your PC!
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| How To Exit Vanguard Anti Cheat |
Step 1: Engage with the System Tray - The Quick Exit
This is the easiest and most common way to temporarily exit Vanguard. It doesn't uninstall the software, but it stops the anti-cheat from running in the background. This is perfect if you just need to free up resources for a bit and plan on playing a Riot game again later.
1.1. Find the Hidden Icons: Look at the bottom-right corner of your taskbar. You'll see a small upward-pointing arrow (caret, ^). This is your system tray, where background applications often reside.
1.2. Locate the Vanguard Icon: Click on the caret to expand the system tray. You should see a red-orange shield icon with a "V" on it. This is the Riot Vanguard icon. If you don't see it, it might be hidden, so try expanding the tray first.
1.3. Right-Click and Exit: Right-click on the Vanguard icon. A small menu will pop up. The option you're looking for is "Exit Vanguard." Click on it.
1.4. Confirm Your Action: A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation. It will usually state that exiting Vanguard will prevent you from playing Riot games that require it. Click "Yes" to confirm and shut it down.
Important Note: After exiting Vanguard this way, you will need to restart your computer before you can play VALORANT or League of Legends again. Vanguard is an on-boot application, which means it starts with your PC.
Step 2: The Full Removal - Uninstalling from your PC
If you're done with VALORANT or any other Riot game that requires Vanguard and want to completely remove it from your system, this is the way to go. Be aware that uninstalling Riot Vanguard will prevent you from playing those games until you reinstall it. Uninstalling the game itself does not automatically uninstall Vanguard.
QuickTip: Slow down when you hit numbers or data.
2.1. Close All Riot Processes: Before you start the uninstall, make sure the Riot Client and any Riot games are completely closed. You can check your Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and end any tasks related to Riot or VALORANT.
2.2. Use Windows Settings: This is the standard, user-friendly method for uninstalling applications.
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Go to "Apps" and then "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" depending on your Windows version).
Scroll through the list of installed programs until you find "Riot Vanguard."
Click on it and select the "Uninstall" button.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process. You may need to confirm the action again.
2.3. The Classic Control Panel Method: If you prefer the old-school way, you can use the Control Panel.
Press the Windows key + R, type
Control Paneland press Enter.Go to "Programs" and then "Uninstall a program."
Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list, right-click on it, and select "Uninstall."
Follow the instructions to finish the removal.
Step 3: The Deep Clean - Removing Leftover Files
Sometimes, even after a standard uninstall, some residual files or folders can be left behind. This step ensures a complete and thorough removal of all traces of Vanguard.
3.1. Restart Your PC: This is a crucial step after uninstalling. It helps to finalize the removal of the kernel-level driver. Do not skip this!
3.2. Delete the Program Folder: After restarting, open File Explorer and navigate to your
C:\Program Filesdirectory. Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard." If you find it, right-click and delete it.3.3. Check for Other Riot Folders: While you're at it, you might want to check for other Riot-related folders in your system to ensure a completely clean slate.
Press the Windows key + R and type
%appdata%. Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete it.Repeat this process for
%LocalAppData%and%ProgramData%. Look for any remaining "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" folders and delete them.
Step 4: The Command Line Method - For the Tech-Savvy User
This method is for users who are comfortable with the Command Prompt. It can be a very effective way to manually remove the Vanguard services.
4.1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
Click on the Start Menu, type
CMD, and then right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator." This is essential for this method to work.
4.2. Run the Commands: In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each one:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgkThese commands tell Windows to delete the Vanguard services. You should see a message confirming the deletion.
4.3. Restart and Clean Up: After running the commands, restart your PC. Then, follow the steps in Step 3 to delete the remaining "Riot Vanguard" folder from your
Program Filesdirectory.
Disclaimer: Using the command line requires caution. Make sure you type the commands exactly as they are written. If you're not comfortable with this method, stick to the Windows Settings or Control Panel uninstall.
10 FAQ Subheadings with Quick Answers
QuickTip: Slowing down makes content clearer.
How to re-enable Vanguard after exiting it?
You simply need to restart your computer. Vanguard is designed to start automatically when your PC boots up.
How to check if Vanguard is running?
Look for the red-orange shield icon with a "V" in your system tray (the bottom-right corner of your taskbar). You can also open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look for vgcs.exe or vgc in the "Services" tab.
How to fix a "Vanguard has crashed" error?
First, try restarting your PC. If that doesn't work, you may need to reinstall Riot Vanguard. You can do this by opening the Riot client for VALORANT or League of Legends, which will prompt you to reinstall the necessary components.
How to uninstall VALORANT and Vanguard together?
Tip: Compare what you read here with other sources.
Unfortunately, uninstalling VALORANT does not automatically uninstall Vanguard. You must uninstall them separately, following the steps outlined in this guide, starting with Vanguard.
How to play a Riot game without Vanguard?
You cannot. Riot Vanguard is a mandatory anti-cheat and must be active to launch and play games like VALORANT or League of Legends.
How to know if the Vanguard driver is removed?
After following the uninstall steps and restarting your PC, check your C:\Program Files directory for the "Riot Vanguard" folder. If it's gone, the main files are removed. You can also check your Installed Apps list in Windows Settings.
How to stop Vanguard from running on startup?
If you just want to prevent it from starting with your computer, you can disable it in the Windows Task Manager's Startup tab. Find "Vanguard tray notification" and disable it. However, remember that you'll need to re-enable it and restart your PC to play a Riot game.
QuickTip: Skip distractions — focus on the words.
How to find the Vanguard icon if it's hidden?
In the system tray, click the caret symbol (^) to show all hidden icons. The Vanguard icon should be there.
How to handle the "Vanguard won't uninstall" error?
If you're having trouble, make sure all Riot processes are closed and try restarting your PC. If the issue persists, the Command Line Method (Step 4) is a reliable alternative.
How to ensure a complete removal of all files?
After uninstalling, follow Step 3 to manually delete any leftover folders in your Program Files, %appdata%, %LocalAppData%, and %ProgramData% directories.
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