Absolutely! Let's get you sorted. It can be a little confusing to figure out if Riot Vanguard is actually running, especially when it's designed to be a background process. Don't worry, we'll go through all the steps to confirm its status and even troubleshoot some common issues.
How to Know if Riot Vanguard is Running: A Complete Guide
Hey there, fellow gamer! Have you ever tried to launch VALORANT or League of Legends, only to be met with an error message saying that Riot Vanguard isn't running? It's a common and frustrating situation. Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software, is a crucial component for playing these games, but it often operates quietly in the background, making it hard to know if it's doing its job.
Let's dive into this step-by-step guide to check its status and make sure you're ready to jump into your next match.
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| How To Know If Riot Vanguard Is Running |
Step 1: Check the System Tray - The Easiest Way!
So, you've just booted up your PC and are wondering if Vanguard is active. The first and most straightforward place to look is your system tray.
The system tray is that little area on the right side of your taskbar, near the clock and network icons. It's where background applications often place their icons for quick access and status updates.
Look for the red Riot Vanguard icon. It's a small, stylized "V" inside a red shield.
If you see it, congratulations! It means Riot Vanguard is running and active. You can right-click on the icon to see a menu with options like "Exit Vanguard" or to check its status.
If you don't see the icon immediately, click the small upward-facing arrow (often called the "show hidden icons" arrow) to expand the system tray. The icon might be tucked away in there.
If you find the icon, you're good to go. But what if it's missing? Don't panic! Move on to the next step.
Step 2: Verify its Status in Task Manager
The Task Manager is your Windows PC's nerve center. It gives you a detailed look at all the processes running on your system. This is a reliable way to check if Riot Vanguard is active, even if its system tray icon is missing.
QuickTip: Every section builds on the last.
Open Task Manager: You can do this by pressing
Ctrl + Shift + Escon your keyboard. Alternatively, right-click on your taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the menu.Navigate to the 'Processes' tab: Once the Task Manager is open, you'll see a list of applications and background processes.
Look for 'vgc' and 'vgtray': These are the two main processes associated with Riot Vanguard.
vgc: This is the core Riot Vanguard service. You should see it listed under the "Background processes" section.
vgtray.exe: This is the process for the system tray icon. It might be listed under "Apps" or "Background processes."
Check the status: If you see both
vgcandvgtray.exerunning, it means Vanguard is active. If you only seevgc, it means the service is running, but the tray icon isn't displaying for some reason. If neither is present, then Vanguard is not running.
Step 3: Check the Services Console
This is a slightly more advanced step but gives you a definitive answer on whether the Riot Vanguard service is running and configured to start automatically.
Open the Services console: Press the
Windows key + Rto open the Run dialog box. Typeservices.mscand press Enter.Find the 'vgc' service: In the list of services, scroll down until you find a service named "vgc" (Vanguard user mode service).
Check the 'Status' and 'Startup Type' columns:
Status: This should show "Running". If it's empty, the service is not active.
Startup Type: This should be set to "Automatic". This ensures that Vanguard starts with your PC every time.
If the status is not "Running," you can try to start it manually by right-clicking on it and selecting "Start." However, if it's not starting, it could indicate a deeper issue that needs troubleshooting.
Step 4: Launch a Riot Game
This is the ultimate test. If Riot Vanguard isn't running or isn't functioning correctly, the Riot Client will tell you.
Launch VALORANT or League of Legends: Open the Riot Client and try to launch one of the games that requires Vanguard.
Look for an error message: If Vanguard is not running, you will likely see a specific error code, such as VAN 57 ("Vanguard Not Initialized") or a message stating that you need to have Vanguard running to play.
If the game launches without any issues, you can be confident that Vanguard is working as intended.
Troubleshooting: What to do if it's not running?
So, you've checked and confirmed that Vanguard isn't running. Here are a few things you can try:
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Sub-heading: Restart Your PC It's a classic for a reason. A simple reboot can often resolve temporary software glitches.
Tip: Keep the flow, don’t jump randomly.
Sub-heading: Run as Administrator Right-click on your Riot Client and select 'Run as administrator'. This can sometimes give the application the necessary permissions to launch Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Check for Windows Updates Ensure your Windows operating system is fully up-to-date. Outdated OS versions can sometimes have compatibility issues with Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Repair/Reinstall Riot Vanguard If the problem persists, a fresh installation is often the best solution.
Uninstall: Go to 'Apps & features' in Windows Settings, find 'Riot Vanguard', and uninstall it. You might also need to manually delete the 'Riot Vanguard' folder from
C:\Program Files\.Restart: Restart your PC after uninstalling.
Reinstall: Launch your Riot game client (VALORANT, League of Legends). It will automatically prompt you to reinstall Riot Vanguard. Follow the on-screen instructions.
10 Related FAQs
How to force Riot Vanguard to start?
You can't "force" it to start in the same way you would a regular program, as it's a kernel-level service. The best way to ensure it starts is to set its startup type to 'Automatic' in the Windows Services console (services.msc) and then restart your PC.
How to fix the 'Vanguard not initialized' error?
This error (VAN 57) is often resolved by restarting your computer, running the Riot Client as an administrator, or reinstalling Riot Vanguard.
Tip: Share one insight from this post with a friend.
How to tell if Riot Vanguard is causing my PC to lag?
You can check the Task Manager's 'Performance' tab to see CPU and memory usage. While Vanguard does use some resources, a significant spike might indicate a conflict. Try disabling it temporarily (by exiting from the system tray icon) and see if your performance improves.
How to disable Riot Vanguard?
You can temporarily disable it by right-clicking the system tray icon and selecting 'Exit Vanguard'. This will prevent you from playing Riot's games until you restart your PC.
How to check if I have Riot Vanguard installed?
Go to 'Apps & features' in your Windows Settings and search for 'Riot Vanguard'. If it's listed there, it is installed on your system.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard?
You can uninstall it like any other program from 'Apps & features' in Windows Settings. After uninstalling, a restart of your PC is highly recommended.
QuickTip: Keep a notepad handy.
How to make the Riot Vanguard icon appear in the system tray?
If the icon is hidden, you can click the upward-facing arrow in the system tray to reveal hidden icons. If it's not there at all, check Task Manager to see if vgtray.exe is running. If not, you may need to reinstall Vanguard.
How to fix Vanguard error codes?
Riot Games has a support page with a list of Vanguard error codes (e.g., VAN 1, VAN 6, VAN 1067) and their corresponding solutions. It's best to check the official Riot Games support website for the most accurate information.
How to know if Vanguard is interfering with another program?
Some security or system monitoring software can conflict with Vanguard. Check for error messages that mention conflicts, or try temporarily disabling other background programs to see if the issue resolves.
How to ensure Vanguard is updated?
Vanguard automatically updates itself when you launch a Riot game. If there is a new version, the game client will prompt you to update before you can play.
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