How To Know If Vanguard Is Running

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It's frustrating when you're all set to dive into a game like Valorant or League of Legends, only to be met with an error message telling you Vanguard isn't running. Riot Vanguard, Riot Games' proprietary anti-cheat software, is an essential component for playing these titles, designed to ensure a fair and competitive environment. But how do you know if it's actually doing its job, or if it's decided to take an unexpected coffee break?

Don't worry, you're not alone! Many players encounter issues with Vanguard, and the good news is that most of them can be resolved with a few simple steps. Let's get you back in the game!

How to Know if Vanguard is Running: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide will walk you through various methods to check Vanguard's status, from quick visual checks to more in-depth troubleshooting.

Step 1: The Quick Visual Check – Your First Line of Defense!

Alright, before we dive into anything technical, let's start with the easiest way to see if Vanguard is active. Have you checked your system tray?

Sub-heading: The System Tray Icon

When Riot Vanguard is running correctly, its icon should be visible in your Windows system tray. The system tray is typically located in the bottom-right corner of your screen, near the clock. It might be hidden, so you may need to click the small "up" arrow (Show hidden icons) to reveal all the icons.

Look for a shield-shaped icon, often with the Riot Games logo or a stylized 'V'. If you see it, that's a good sign! You can even right-click on it to see options like "Exit Vanguard" (though you generally don't want to do that if you plan on playing a Riot game).

If you don't see the icon, don't panic yet! It simply means Vanguard isn't visibly active in your system tray, but it might still be running in the background. Proceed to the next steps.

Step 2: Checking Through Task Manager – The Process Detective

The Task Manager is your go-to tool for seeing what's actually running on your computer, including background processes.

Sub-heading: Accessing Task Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc: This is the quickest way to open the Task Manager.
Alternatively: Right-click on an empty space on your Windows taskbar and select "Task Manager."

Sub-heading: Finding Vanguard Processes

Once Task Manager is open:

Navigate to the "Processes" tab.
Scroll through the list and look for anything related to "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc." You might see processes like:
- vanguard.exe
- vgtray.exe
- vgc (This is the Riot Vanguard user-mode service)

If you see these processes running, especially vgc, it indicates that Vanguard is active on your system. If they are not present, Vanguard is likely not running.

Step 3: Verifying Services Status – The Core of Vanguard

Vanguard relies on a core Windows service to function. Checking its status can provide definitive proof of whether it's running.

Sub-heading: Opening Services Manager

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type services.msc and press Enter. This will open the Services window.

Sub-heading: Locating and Checking the 'vgc' Service

In the Services window, scroll down the list and find the service named vgc.
Look at the "Status" column. If Vanguard is running, it should say "Running".
Also, check the "Startup type" column. It should ideally be set to "Automatic". If it's anything else (e.g., "Manual" or "Disabled") and Vanguard isn't running, this is likely your culprit.
- If the status is not "Running": Right-click on vgc and select "Start." If it starts without issues, great! Try launching your game.
- If the startup type is not "Automatic": Double-click on vgc, change the "Startup type" to "Automatic" from the dropdown menu, click "Apply," then "OK." Then, try starting the service.

Step 4: Launching Your Game – The Ultimate Test

Ultimately, the most direct way to know if Vanguard is running and allowing you to play is by launching the Riot game it's designed to protect (e.g., Valorant or League of Legends).

Sub-heading: Observing Game Behavior

If Vanguard is running correctly, the game should launch without any Vanguard-related error messages.*
If you encounter an error message like "Vanguard not initialized," "Vanguard error code VAN 68," or "Vanguard error code VAN 57," then Vanguard is not running as expected or is encountering a conflict. These error codes are direct indicators that you need to troubleshoot Vanguard.

Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Vanguard Issues (If It's Not Running)

If you've gone through the steps above and found that Vanguard isn't running, here are some common troubleshooting steps:

Sub-heading: Restart Your PC

This is often the simplest and most effective solution. A fresh reboot can resolve temporary conflicts and allow Vanguard to start correctly.

Sub-heading: Reinstall Riot Vanguard

Sometimes, Vanguard's installation can become corrupted. Reinstalling it often fixes these issues.

Uninstall Vanguard:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features (on Windows 10) or Settings > Apps > Installed apps (on Windows 11).
- Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list.
- Click on it and select "Uninstall". Follow the on-screen prompts.
- You might also need to open Command Prompt as Administrator and run sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk.
Reboot Your PC: This is crucial after uninstalling.
Launch Your Riot Game: When you launch Valorant or League of Legends, the Riot client should automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to reinstall it. Allow it to do so.

Sub-heading: Disable Conflicting Software

Certain software, especially other anti-cheat programs, VPNs, or aggressive antivirus/firewall software, can conflict with Vanguard.

Temporarily disable any third-party antivirus or firewall and try launching the game. If it works, you'll need to add exceptions for Vanguard and your Riot game in your security software.
Check for other anti-cheat software running in the background.

Sub-heading: Update Windows and Drivers

Ensure your Windows operating system and all your drivers (especially graphics card drivers) are up to date. Outdated components can sometimes cause conflicts.

Sub-heading: Check for Secure Boot and TPM (Windows 11 Specific)

For Windows 11 users, Vanguard often requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings for optimal functionality. If you're encountering specific error codes (like VAN9001 or VAN9003), this is likely the issue. You'll need to enter your motherboard's BIOS/UEFI settings to enable these. Consult your motherboard's manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions.

Step 6: Contact Riot Support – When All Else Fails

If you've tried all the above steps and Vanguard still isn't running or you're getting persistent error messages, it's time to reach out to Riot Games Support. They have dedicated teams to help with these specific issues and can provide more personalized troubleshooting based on your system's logs.

Visit the official Riot Games Support website (support.riotgames.com or support-valorant.riotgames.com).
Submit a detailed support ticket with all the steps you've already taken, any error codes you're receiving, and relevant system information.

10 Related FAQ Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about Riot Vanguard and its operation:

How to know if Vanguard is interfering with other programs?

You'll typically notice performance issues, crashes, or specific error messages from other applications, or from Vanguard itself indicating a conflict. Check your event viewer for crash logs.

How to check Vanguard's version?

While there isn't a direct "check version" button, Vanguard is automatically updated with your Riot client and game. Keeping your game updated usually means Vanguard is also up to date.

How to disable Vanguard temporarily?

You can right-click the Vanguard icon in the system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." However, remember that you won't be able to play Riot games like Valorant or League of Legends until you restart your computer or re-enable Vanguard.

How to make Vanguard run automatically on startup?

Ensure the vgc service in services.msc has its "Startup type" set to "Automatic." Vanguard is designed to start with your system.

How to fix "Vanguard not initialized" error?

This error often means Vanguard failed to launch. Try restarting your PC, checking the vgc service status, or reinstalling Vanguard.

How to resolve Vanguard conflicts with antivirus software?

Add exclusions for the Riot Games folder and the Riot Vanguard folder (usually in C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard) to your antivirus and firewall settings.

How to know if my Windows version is compatible with Vanguard?

Vanguard generally supports modern Windows versions (Windows 10 and 11). For specific requirements, especially regarding TPM and Secure Boot, check Riot Games' official support articles related to Vanguard error codes like VAN9001 or VAN9006.

How to check if Secure Boot is enabled for Vanguard?

Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. In the System Information window, look for "BIOS Mode" (should be UEFI) and "Secure Boot State" (should be On).

How to check if TPM 2.0 is enabled for Vanguard?

Press Win + R, type tpm.msc, and press Enter. The Trusted Platform Module Management window will show your TPM status and version. It should state "The TPM is ready for use" and list version 2.0.

How to get more detailed Vanguard logs for troubleshooting?

While not user-friendly, Riot Support may ask for specific log files located within your Riot Games installation directories. These are typically in C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\Logs or C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\Logs.

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