The integration of Riot Vanguard into League of Legends has been a significant change, aiming to combat cheating and ensure a fair playing environment. If you're a League player, understanding how Vanguard works and how to ensure its proper installation is crucial for a smooth gaming experience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Vanguard and its relationship with League of Legends.
Installing Riot Vanguard for League of Legends: Your Comprehensive Guide
Hey Summoner! Ready to dive into the Rift and climb those ranks? Before you do, let's make sure your system is ready for the latest anti-cheat measures. Riot Vanguard is now an essential component for playing League of Legends, and without it, you won't be able to queue up. Don't worry, the process is straightforward, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. Let's get started!
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| How To Install Vanguard For League Of Legends |
Step 1: Understanding Riot Vanguard – What is it and Why is it Needed?
Before we jump into the "how-to," let's briefly touch upon what Riot Vanguard is.
Riot Vanguard is Riot Games' custom-built anti-cheat software. It's designed to detect and prevent cheating in Riot titles, including VALORANT and now, League of Legends. Its primary goal is to maintain competitive integrity and ensure a level playing field for all players.
Why is it needed for League of Legends? Just like in other competitive games, cheating can severely impact the player experience. Vanguard aims to identify and ban cheaters, making the game more enjoyable and fair for everyone. This system operates with a kernel-mode driver, meaning it runs at a deep level of your operating system to effectively monitor for malicious software. While this deep integration ensures robust anti-cheat, it also means it's crucial for your system to be properly configured for Vanguard to function correctly.
Step 2: The Automatic Installation Process – Your First Interaction
Here's the good news: you generally don't need to manually download a separate installer for Riot Vanguard.
QuickTip: Let each idea sink in before moving on.
The installation of Riot Vanguard is typically automatic. When you install League of Legends or update your existing League of Legends client to a version that requires Vanguard, the anti-cheat software is downloaded and installed right alongside the game.
Here's how it usually happens:
- Initial Game Installation: If you're installing League of Legends for the first time or performing a fresh installation, Vanguard will be part of the package.
- Game Update: If you already have League of Legends installed, a game update will trigger the Vanguard installation. Riot has integrated Vanguard with patch 14.9 for global release, so if your game client updates to this version or newer, Vanguard will be included.
- System Reboot: After the game (or its update) installs Vanguard, you will likely be prompted to restart your computer. This reboot is crucial for Vanguard to fully integrate with your system and start its operations. Do not skip this step!
Step 3: Verifying Vanguard's Presence and Operation
Once you've installed or updated League of Legends and restarted your PC, you'll want to confirm that Vanguard is running correctly.
Sub-heading 3.1: Checking the System Tray
The easiest way to tell if Riot Vanguard is active is by looking at your system tray.
- Look for a small, shield-like icon, often in the hidden icons section (you might need to click the "up arrow" in your taskbar to reveal all icons). This is the Riot Vanguard icon.
- If you see this icon, Vanguard is running. You can right-click on it for a few options, though for general gameplay, you'll simply want it active.
Sub-heading 3.2: Launching League of Legends
The ultimate test!
Tip: Reading twice doubles clarity.
- Launch the League of Legends client. If Vanguard is successfully installed and running, the game should launch without any issues or error messages related to Vanguard.
- If you encounter an error (we'll cover common ones in the FAQ), it indicates a problem with Vanguard's installation or operation.
Step 4: Troubleshooting Common Vanguard Installation Issues
Sometimes, things don't go as smoothly as planned. If you're having trouble getting Vanguard to work, here are some common issues and their solutions.
Sub-heading 4.1: Restart Your PC and Riot Client
This is often the simplest and most effective fix for many Vanguard-related issues.
- Completely close both the League of Legends client and the Riot Client. Ensure they are not running in the background (check Task Manager if unsure).
- Restart your entire computer. This allows Vanguard to reinitialize properly.
- After the reboot, try launching League of Legends again.
Sub-heading 4.2: Reinstalling Riot Vanguard (and League of Legends)
If a simple restart doesn't work, a clean reinstallation can often resolve corrupted files or incomplete installations.
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Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
- Press the Windows Key (or click the Windows icon on your taskbar), and type "Add or remove programs." Press Enter.
- Scroll through the list until you find Riot Vanguard.
- Click on it and then click Uninstall. You'll be prompted to confirm.
- Allow the application to make changes to your device.
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Restart Your Computer:
- This step is crucial after uninstalling Vanguard to ensure all components are removed.
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Launch League of Legends:
- When you launch the League of Legends client after uninstalling Vanguard, it should automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to reinstall it. Follow the on-screen instructions.
- If for some reason it doesn't prompt you, try a fresh reinstallation of League of Legends itself, as Vanguard is bundled with it.
Sub-heading 4.3: Checking System Compatibility (Windows 10/11, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot)
Riot Vanguard has specific system requirements, especially concerning security features on modern Windows versions.
- Windows Version: Ensure you are running a supported version of Windows. For Windows 10, this means at least version 1803 (Redstone 4) or newer. For Windows 11, Vanguard requires specific security features.
- TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module): On Windows 11, Vanguard often requires TPM 2.0 to be enabled.
- How to check: Press Windows Key + R, type
tpm.msc, and press Enter. This will open the TPM Management console. Look for "Specification Version" to see if it's 2.0. If not, or if it says "Compatible TPM cannot be found," your system might not have it or it might be disabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. - How to enable: Enabling TPM 2.0 usually requires entering your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings. The process varies by motherboard manufacturer. Look for settings related to "Security," "Boot," or "Advanced" and find "TPM" or "Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)" or "AMD fTPM Control." Enable it, save changes, and exit.
- How to check: Press Windows Key + R, type
- Secure Boot: This is another security feature that Vanguard may require, especially on Windows 11.
- How to check: Press Windows Key + R, type
msinfo32, and press Enter to open System Information. Look for "Secure Boot State." If it's "Off," you may need to enable it. - How to enable: Like TPM, Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. Look for settings related to "Boot," "Security," or "Authentication" and find "Secure Boot." Enable it, save changes, and exit.
- Important Note on Secure Boot: Enabling Secure Boot can sometimes cause issues with older graphics cards or specific drivers if their Option ROM isn't signed. If you experience a black screen after enabling Secure Boot, you might need to disable it again or connect to integrated graphics to troubleshoot.
- How to check: Press Windows Key + R, type
Sub-heading 4.4: Addressing Software Conflicts
Vanguard, being a kernel-level anti-cheat, can sometimes conflict with other software.
Tip: Read aloud to improve understanding.
- Antivirus/Firewall: Your antivirus software or firewall might be incorrectly flagging Vanguard as a threat.
- Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall (or add exceptions for Riot Vanguard and League of Legends) and try launching the game. Remember to re-enable them after testing!
- Refer to your antivirus software's documentation for how to add exceptions.
- Unusual Background Processes: Sometimes, other programs running in the background can interfere.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
- Go to the "Processes" tab and look for any suspicious or unusual programs running. Try ending tasks for non-essential applications one by one and test League of Legends to identify the culprit.
- Consider running a malware scan if you suspect malicious software.
- Virtual Machines: Vanguard is designed to prevent playing on virtual machines. If you are attempting to run League of Legends within a virtual machine, you will encounter errors (e.g., VAN 138). You must install and play League of Legends on a native Windows installation.
Step 5: Staying Updated and Seeking Further Support
Keeping your game and system updated is key to avoiding issues.
- League of Legends Updates: Always allow your League of Legends client to download and install the latest updates. Vanguard updates are often bundled with these.
- Windows Updates: Ensure your Windows operating system is fully up to date. This includes important security patches and driver updates that Vanguard might rely on.
- Graphics Drivers: Keep your graphics card drivers updated to the latest version from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
If you've tried all the above steps and are still facing issues, the best course of action is to contact Riot Games Support directly. They have dedicated teams to assist with Vanguard-related problems and can provide more specific troubleshooting based on your unique system and error codes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Riot Vanguard and League of Legends
Here are 10 common questions related to Riot Vanguard and its installation for League of Legends, with quick answers:
How to know if Riot Vanguard is running?
You can check for the small, shield-like Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray (bottom-right of your screen, possibly in the hidden icons section). If it's there, Vanguard is active.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard?
Go to "Add or remove programs" in Windows settings, find "Riot Vanguard," and click uninstall. After uninstalling, restart your computer to fully remove it.
QuickTip: Revisit key lines for better recall.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN 0, VAN 1, VAN 6, VAN 68, VAN 84?
These are typically connection errors. Restart League of Legends and the Riot Client. Ensure your internet connection is stable.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN -81, VAN -102, VAN -104, VAN 128?
These are also connection-related. Restart your PC and the Riot Client. If the problem persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling both Riot Vanguard and League of Legends.
How to fix Vanguard error VAN 57 (Vanguard Not Running)?
Restart your PC and the Riot Client. If it continues, uninstall Riot Vanguard and League of Legends, then perform a fresh reinstallation of both. You may also need to check if the 'vgc' service is set to 'Automatic' in services.msc.
How to enable TPM 2.0 for Vanguard?
You need to enable TPM 2.0 in your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings. The exact location varies by motherboard, but usually, it's under "Security," "Boot," or "Advanced" options, looking for "TPM" or "Intel PTT" / "AMD fTPM Control."
How to enable Secure Boot for Vanguard?
Like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. Look for it under "Boot," "Security," or "Authentication" options.
How to deal with Vanguard conflicts with antivirus software?
Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall, then try launching League of Legends. If it works, add exceptions for Riot Vanguard and League of Legends in your antivirus settings. Remember to re-enable your security software afterwards.
How to play League of Legends without Vanguard?
You cannot. Riot Vanguard is a mandatory anti-cheat system for League of Legends. Without it installed and running, you will not be able to launch or play the game.
How to check my Windows version for Vanguard compatibility?
Press Windows Key + R, type winver, and press Enter to see your Windows version and build number. Vanguard requires at least Windows 10 version 1803 or a compatible Windows 11 version with TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled.
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