Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software that accompanies Valorant, runs deep within your PC's system. While it's crucial for maintaining fair play in Valorant, some users may wish to remove it entirely, whether for system optimization, privacy concerns, or troubleshooting. This guide will walk you through the complete removal of Riot Vanguard from your PC, ensuring no lingering files or registry entries are left behind.
Let's get started! Have you ever wondered why Vanguard seems to stick around even after you've uninstalled Valorant? It's because it's designed to be a persistent anti-cheat, operating at a kernel level. But don't worry, we'll tackle this systematically.
Step 1: Disabling Riot Vanguard (The Crucial First Move)
Before you attempt to uninstall anything, it's absolutely essential to disable Vanguard first. If you try to uninstall while it's still running in the background, you're likely to encounter errors.
QuickTip: A slow read reveals hidden insights.
Sub-heading: Through the System Tray
Look for the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray (usually located in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock). It's typically a red shield icon.
Right-click on this icon.
From the context menu that appears, select "Exit Vanguard."
A prompt will appear asking for confirmation. Click "Yes" to stop the Vanguard anti-cheat service.
Sub-heading: Force Quitting via Task Manager (If System Tray Fails)
If you can't find the Vanguard icon or it won't exit, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Go to the "Processes" tab.
Look for any processes related to "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc" or "vgk".
Right-click on them and select "End task." Be persistent, as there might be a few.
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| How To Fully Remove Vanguard From Pc |
Step 2: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard and Valorant (The Standard Approach)
Once Vanguard is disabled, you can proceed with the uninstallation. It's generally recommended to uninstall Riot Vanguard before uninstalling Valorant itself.
Sub-heading: Using Windows Settings (Recommended)
Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Click on "Apps" (or "Apps & features" in older Windows versions).
In the "Apps & features" list, scroll down or use the search bar to find "Riot Vanguard."
Click on "Riot Vanguard" and then click the "Uninstall" button.
Follow any on-screen prompts to confirm the uninstallation.
Repeat the process for "Valorant" in the same list.
Sub-heading: Using Control Panel (Alternative Method)
Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" dialog box.
Type
appwiz.cpland press Enter. This will open the Programs and Features window.In the list of installed programs, find "Riot Vanguard."
Right-click on it and select "Uninstall/Change."
Follow the uninstallation wizard.
Do the same for "Valorant."
Tip: Context builds as you keep reading.
Step 3: Manual Removal via Command Prompt (For Stubborn Cases)
Sometimes, the standard uninstallation might not fully remove Vanguard, especially if it was encountering issues. This manual method ensures the core Vanguard services are stopped.
Sub-heading: Running Commands as Administrator
Press the Windows key or click on the Start menu.
Type
CMDin the search bar.Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."
In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
These commands delete the Vanguard game client and kernel driver services.
Restart your PC immediately after running these commands. This step is crucial for the changes to take effect and to allow for the deletion of files in the next step.
Step 4: Deleting Leftover Files and Folders (The Deep Clean)
QuickTip: Pause at lists — they often summarize.
Even after uninstallation, Vanguard and Valorant can leave behind residual files and folders. Deleting these ensures a truly clean slate.
Sub-heading: Riot Games Installation Directory
Open File Explorer (Windows key + E).
Navigate to your C: drive, specifically to
C:\Program Files\.Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard" and delete it.
Also, check
C:\Riot Games\and delete any remaining folders associated with Valorant or Riot Client.
Sub-heading: AppData and ProgramData Folders
Press Windows key + R to open the "Run" dialog box.
Type
%appdata%and press Enter. This will open the Roaming folder within your AppData.Look for a folder named "Riot Games" and delete it.
Repeat this process for the
LocalAppDatafolder:Press Windows key + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter.Delete any "Riot Games" folder you find here.
Repeat for
ProgramData(this folder is often hidden):Press Windows key + R, type
%ProgramData%and press Enter.Delete any "Riot Games" folder you find here. You might need to enable "Show hidden items" in File Explorer's View tab to see it.
Step 5: Cleaning Registry Entries (Optional but Recommended for Thoroughness)
Warning: Modifying the Windows Registry incorrectly can cause serious system instability. Proceed with extreme caution and only if you are comfortable. If unsure, consider backing up your registry first or skipping this step.
Tip: Read mindfully — avoid distractions.
Sub-heading: Using Registry Editor
Press Windows key + R to open the "Run" dialog box.
Type
regeditand press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.Navigate to the following paths and delete any keys/folders related to "Riot Games," "Valorant," or "Vanguard." Be very careful not to delete unrelated entries.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\(for 64-bit systems, where 32-bit programs' registry entries are stored)
Look for entries like:
Riot Games
Riot Vanguard
Valorant
Right-click on these folders/keys and select "Delete."
Sub-heading: Using a Third-Party Cleaner (Alternative)
If you're uncomfortable with manual registry editing, consider using a reputable registry cleaner tool like CCleaner or RegSeeker. These tools can often identify and remove leftover registry entries safely. Always download such software from their official websites to avoid malware.
Step 6: Restart Your PC (Final Confirmation)
After completing all the above steps, it's highly recommended to restart your PC one final time. This ensures all services are stopped, and any cached files or processes are cleared.
Congratulations! You have now performed a very lengthy and thorough uninstallation of Riot Vanguard from your PC.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some common questions about removing Riot Vanguard, with quick answers:
How to check if Vanguard is completely removed? After following all the steps, check your Task Manager for any "vgc" or "vgk" processes, and search your C: drive for "Riot Vanguard" folders. If nothing appears, it's likely gone.
How to uninstall Valorant without uninstalling Vanguard? You can uninstall Valorant via Windows Settings or Control Panel. Vanguard will remain installed and running unless you specifically uninstall it separately.
How to deal with "Vanguard prevents uninstallation" errors? Ensure you've exited Vanguard from the system tray before attempting uninstallation. If it persists, use the manual Command Prompt method (
sc delete vgcandsc delete vgk) followed by a restart.How to reinstall Valorant after removing Vanguard? Simply download the Valorant installer from the official Riot Games website. When you install Valorant, Riot Vanguard will be automatically reinstalled alongside it. You will likely need to restart your PC after the reinstallation.
How to fix Vanguard errors like VAN -1 or VAN 128? Many Vanguard errors can be fixed by restarting your PC or performing a fresh reinstallation of both Valorant and Vanguard. For specific error codes, check Riot's official support page as solutions can vary (e.g., enabling TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot).
How to disable Vanguard temporarily without uninstalling? Right-click the Vanguard icon in your system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." You'll need to restart your PC to re-enable it.
How to know if Vanguard is running? Look for the red shield icon in your system tray. If it's there, Vanguard is active.
How to remove Riot Client if it's still present? If the Riot Client remains, uninstall it via Windows Settings or Control Panel, similar to how you uninstalled Valorant and Vanguard. Also, check the
C:\Riot Games\folder and related AppData/ProgramData folders for any leftover files.How to prevent Vanguard from installing with other Riot games? Riot Vanguard is a core anti-cheat system for many Riot Games titles (like Valorant and increasingly League of Legends). If you install a game that requires Vanguard, it will be installed automatically. There's no official way to prevent its installation if you want to play those games.
How to clean up registry entries for other Riot Games? The process is similar to Step 5. In the Registry Editor, search for keys related to specific Riot games (e.g., "League of Legends") and delete them with caution, ensuring you're not deleting unrelated system entries.
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