Ah, the dreaded Riot Vanguard error! Few things are more frustrating than being hyped for a game of Valorant or League of Legends, only to be met with an error message blocking your way. Don't worry, you're not alone in this digital struggle. Riot Vanguard, while essential for maintaining fair play, can sometimes be a bit... stubborn. But fear not, for this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and steps to banish those errors and get you back into the action!
Let's get you back in the game, shall we? Before we dive into the technicalities, let's take a deep breath. Fixing these issues often involves a bit of systematic troubleshooting, and with each step, we'll get closer to a smooth gaming experience. Ready? Let's begin!
Step 1: The Universal First Aid - Restart Everything!
You'd be surprised how often a simple restart can resolve complex software glitches. Riot Vanguard is a low-level anti-cheat system, and sometimes it just needs a fresh start to properly initialize.
Sub-heading: A Full System Reboot
This isn't just about restarting the game; it's about restarting your entire computer. A full system reboot clears out any temporary conflicts, refreshes services, and allows Vanguard to load cleanly.
- Close all Riot Games applications: Make sure Valorant, League of Legends, and the Riot Client are completely closed. Check your system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen, near the clock) for any lingering Riot icons and right-click to exit them.
- Perform a full system restart: Go to your Start Menu, click the Power icon, and select Restart. Do not just shut down and power on, as some Windows versions use a "fast startup" that doesn't fully refresh the system.
- Launch the Riot Client and your game: After your computer has fully restarted, open the Riot Client and then try launching your game (Valorant or League of Legends). See if the error persists.
Sub-heading: Restarting Riot Services Manually
If a full reboot didn't do the trick, sometimes the Vanguard service itself needs a nudge.
- Open Services Manager:
- Press
Windows Key + Rto open the Run dialog. - Type
services.mscand press Enter.
- Press
- Locate 'vgc' service: In the Services window, scroll down and find the service named vgc. This is the Riot Vanguard service.
- Restart the 'vgc' service:
- Right-click on
vgcand select Properties. - Under the "General" tab, ensure that "Startup type" is set to Automatic.
- If the "Service status" is "Stopped", click Start. If it's "Running", click Stop and then Start again.
- Click Apply and then OK.
- Right-click on
- Restart your computer: Even after manually restarting the service, a full computer restart is often necessary for the changes to take full effect. Then, try launching your game again.
Step 2: Ensure Vanguard is Not Being Blocked
Riot Vanguard, due to its low-level operation, can sometimes be flagged by security software or even Windows itself. This is a common culprit for various "VAN" error codes.
Sub-heading: Whitelist Vanguard in your Antivirus/Firewall
Your antivirus or firewall might be mistakenly identifying Vanguard as a threat.
- Access your Antivirus/Firewall settings: The exact steps vary depending on your security software (e.g., Windows Defender, Avast, Norton, McAfee). Generally, you'll find an option for "Exclusions," "Whitelisting," or "Allowed Apps."
- Add Riot Vanguard and Riot Games folders to exceptions:
- Look for the installation directory of Riot Vanguard (typically
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard). - Also, add the main Riot Games folder (e.g.,
C:\Riot Games). - Add the game's executable (
VALORANT.exefor Valorant,LeagueClient.exefor League of Legends).
- Look for the installation directory of Riot Vanguard (typically
- Temporarily disable Antivirus/Firewall: As a temporary troubleshooting step, try disabling your antivirus and firewall briefly (and only when you are not Browse the internet or downloading anything) to see if it resolves the issue. If it does, you've found your culprit, and you can then refine your exception settings. Remember to re-enable them immediately after testing!
Sub-heading: Check Windows Exploit Protection Settings
Windows has built-in exploit protection features that can sometimes interfere with Vanguard.
- Open Exploit Protection settings:
- Search for "Exploit Protection" in the Windows search bar and open it.
- Adjust Program Settings:
- Go to the "Program settings" tab.
- Click "Add a program to customize" and select "Add by program name."
- Add
VALORANT.exe,LeagueClient.exe, and any other relevant Riot Games executables. - For each added program, scroll through the settings and ensure that Control Flow Guard (CFG), Data Execution Prevention (DEP), and Arbitrary Code Guard (ACG) are set to "Use Default" or Off for testing purposes.
- Important: If you make changes here, restart your computer afterward.
Step 3: Reinstall Riot Vanguard (The Tried and True Method)
If the above steps haven't worked, a corrupted Vanguard installation is a likely cause. A clean reinstall often resolves a multitude of problems.
- Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
- Method A (Recommended):
- Press
Windows Key + R, typeappwiz.cpland press Enter to open "Programs and Features" (or go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Installed apps" in Windows 10/11). - Find Riot Vanguard in the list, right-click on it, and select Uninstall. Follow any on-screen prompts.
- Press
- Method B (Manual/Force Uninstall - use if A fails):
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search for "cmd", right-click, and select "Run as administrator").
- Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
- Restart your computer immediately. This is crucial for the manual uninstall.
- After rebooting, navigate to
C:\Program Files\and manually delete the "Riot Vanguard" folder if it still exists.
- Method A (Recommended):
- Reinstall Riot Vanguard:
- Once Vanguard is uninstalled and your PC has restarted, simply launch the Riot Client (for Valorant or League of Legends).
- The client should automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it. Follow the on-screen instructions. This process might take a few minutes.
- Restart your computer again: After Vanguard is reinstalled, another restart is often required for it to properly integrate with your system.
Step 4: System Updates and Drivers - Keeping Your PC Healthy
Outdated operating systems or graphics drivers can lead to compatibility issues with Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Update Your Windows Operating System
Riot Vanguard often requires specific Windows versions, especially for newer security features.
- Check for Windows Updates:
- Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" (Windows 10) or "Windows Update" (Windows 11).
- Click "Check for updates" and install any available updates.
- Restart your PC after any major Windows updates.
Sub-heading: Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated graphics drivers can cause various game crashes and might indirectly affect Vanguard.
- Identify your Graphics Card:
- Press
Windows Key + R, typedxdiagand press Enter. - Go to the "Display" tab to see your graphics card model.
- Press
- Download Latest Drivers:
- Visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
- Navigate to their "Drivers" or "Support" section.
- Download the latest drivers compatible with your specific graphics card model and Windows version.
- Perform a Clean Installation: Many driver installers offer a "clean installation" option, which is recommended to avoid conflicts with old driver files.
Step 5: Advanced Troubleshooting - When All Else Fails
If you've meticulously followed the above steps and are still facing issues, it's time to dig a little deeper.
Sub-heading: Check for Conflicting Software
Certain background applications can interfere with Vanguard's operation.
- Perform a Clean Boot:
- Search for
msconfigin the Windows search bar and open "System Configuration." - Go to the "Services" tab.
- Check "Hide all Microsoft services" and then click "Disable all."
- Go to the "Startup" tab and click "Open Task Manager."
- In Task Manager, disable all startup items one by one.
- Restart your computer. This will start Windows with only essential services.
- If the game launches without error, gradually re-enable services and startup items (a few at a time) to pinpoint the conflicting application.
- Common culprits: VPNs, overclocking software, monitoring tools, or other anti-cheat clients from different games.
- Search for
- Disable Overlays: In-game overlays from Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software, or other applications can sometimes cause conflicts. Try disabling them in their respective settings.
Sub-heading: Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (Especially for Windows 11)
Many modern games, including those using Vanguard, are increasingly requiring security features like Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and Secure Boot, especially on Windows 11. Error codes like VAN 9001, VAN 9003, or VAN 9005 often point to these.
- Check TPM and Secure Boot Status:
- For TPM: Press
Windows Key + R, typetpm.msc, and press Enter. Look at the "Status" and "Specification Version." It should say "The TPM is ready for use" and "Version 2.0." - For Secure Boot: Press
Windows Key + R, typemsinfo32, and press Enter. In "System Information," look for "BIOS Mode" (should be UEFI) and "Secure Boot State" (should be On).
- For TPM: Press
- Enable in BIOS/UEFI (Requires caution!):
- Accessing your BIOS/UEFI settings is unique to your motherboard or PC manufacturer (e.g., pressing
Del,F2,F10,F12during startup). Consult your motherboard manual or PC manufacturer's website for specific instructions. - Once in the BIOS, look for settings related to Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and ensure your BIOS Mode is set to UEFI (not Legacy).
- Warning: Incorrect BIOS settings can prevent your computer from booting. If you are unsure, seek professional help.
- Accessing your BIOS/UEFI settings is unique to your motherboard or PC manufacturer (e.g., pressing
- Disable Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) / Core Isolation (If TPM/UEFI is not an option): If you cannot enable TPM 2.0 and UEFI/Secure Boot, and are still facing VAN errors, you might need to disable VBS or Core Isolation. This is a workaround and not ideal for security.
- Search for "Core isolation" in Windows and turn off "Memory integrity."
- Alternatively, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off - Restart your PC after making these changes.
Sub-heading: Run as Administrator
Ensure both the Riot Client and your game are running with administrator privileges.
- Right-click on the Riot Client shortcut (and the game shortcut if separate).
- Select "Properties."
- Go to the "Compatibility" tab.
- Check "Run this program as an administrator."
- Click Apply and OK.
Step 6: Contact Riot Support
If you've exhausted all these troubleshooting steps and the Riot Vanguard error persists, it's time to reach out to Riot Games Support. They have dedicated teams for technical issues and can often provide more specific solutions based on your system logs.
- Gather Information: Note down the exact error code you're receiving, the steps you've already tried, and any relevant system specifications (Windows version, CPU, GPU, RAM).
- Submit a Ticket: Visit the official Riot Games Support website (support.riotgames.com for League of Legends or support-valorant.riotgames.com for Valorant) and submit a detailed support ticket. Attach any screenshots of the error or relevant system information.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check which Riot Vanguard error code I am getting?
Most Riot Vanguard errors display a specific "VAN" error code directly in the error message pop-up. Make a note of this code as it helps in pinpointing the issue. You can also sometimes find error details in your game's log files.
How to confirm Riot Vanguard is running on my system?
You can usually see a small Riot Vanguard shield icon in your Windows system tray (bottom-right corner, near the clock). If it's there, it indicates Vanguard is active. You can also check the "vgc" service in the Services Manager as described in Step 1.
How to stop Riot Vanguard from running in the background when not playing?
Riot Vanguard is designed to run on system boot for continuous anti-cheat protection. However, you can temporarily exit it by right-clicking the Vanguard shield icon in the system tray and selecting "Exit Vanguard." Keep in mind that you'll need to restart your computer to re-enable it for playing Riot Games titles.
How to ensure my Windows is compatible with Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard generally supports Windows 10 (version 2004 or later) and Windows 11. Ensure your operating system is fully updated through Windows Update. Older versions of Windows (like Windows 7 or 8) may no longer be supported.
How to perform a clean installation of graphics drivers?
When installing new graphics drivers, choose the "Custom" or "Advanced" option during the installer process and look for a checkbox that says "Perform a clean installation" or "Clean install." This removes previous driver components before installing new ones.
How to find my Riot Games installation folders?
By default, Riot Games titles are installed in C:\Riot Games. Inside this folder, you'll find subfolders for specific games (e.g., C:\Riot Games\VALORANT, C:\Riot Games\League of Legends) and C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard for the anti-cheat itself.
How to disable third-party overlays that might conflict with Vanguard?
Most applications with overlays have a dedicated setting within their client to enable or disable them. For example, in Discord, go to "User Settings" > "Game Overlay." In NVIDIA GeForce Experience, go to "Settings" and toggle off "In-Game Overlay."
How to access my computer's BIOS/UEFI settings?
The key to access BIOS/UEFI varies by manufacturer. Common keys include Del, F2, F10, F12. You usually need to press this key repeatedly as soon as you power on your computer. Check your PC or motherboard manual for the exact key.
How to convert my disk from MBR to GPT for UEFI mode?
Converting a disk from MBR to GPT is a more advanced procedure and should be done with caution, as it can lead to data loss if not done correctly. It often involves reformatting the drive or using specific Windows tools like MBR2GPT.exe. It's recommended to back up your data and research the process thoroughly or seek professional assistance before attempting this.
How to submit a detailed support ticket to Riot Games?
Visit the official Riot Games Support website for your game (e.g., support-valorant.riotgames.com). Log in to your Riot Games account, click on "Submit a Ticket," select the appropriate category (e.g., "Technical Issues" or "Riot Vanguard"), and provide as much detail as possible about your problem and the steps you've already taken. Attaching screenshots of the error is always helpful.
