How To Know If Vanguard Is Uninstalled

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Is Vanguard Gone for Good? A Comprehensive Guide to Confirming its Uninstallation

So, you've decided to part ways with Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software that accompanies Valorant and other Riot Games titles. Maybe you're freeing up system resources, or perhaps you're simply taking a break from the gaming grind. Whatever your reason, you've initiated the uninstall process. But how do you really know if Vanguard is completely gone? It's a question many users ask, as this kernel-level anti-cheat can be quite persistent.

Don't worry, we're here to guide you through a thorough check, step-by-step, to ensure Vanguard is truly uninstalled from your system. Let's dive in!

Step 1: Initial Check - Is it Still Lurking in Your System Tray?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's start with the most obvious place.

Sub-heading: The System Tray Snooper
- Engage with the user: First things first, have you checked your system tray? This is the area on the right side of your taskbar, usually near the clock, where background applications often reside.
- Look for a small red shield icon with a white "V" (or sometimes just a red Riot Games fist icon if Vanguard is still running its service).
- If you see it, right-click on it. You should see an option like "Exit Vanguard" or "Disable Vanguard." If this option is present and clickable, it means Vanguard is still active. Click it and confirm.
- Pro Tip: Sometimes, even after exiting from the system tray, the service might still be running. This initial check is just the first layer of confirmation.

Step 2: The Standard Removal - Checking Programs and Features

This is the conventional way to uninstall most applications on Windows.

Sub-heading: The Windows Settings Route
- Press the Windows key + I to open your Settings app.
- Click on Apps, then select Installed apps (or "Apps & features" depending on your Windows version).
- In the search bar provided, type "Riot Vanguard."
- If you find "Riot Vanguard" listed, click on it and then select the "Uninstall" button. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
- Important Note: Even if Valorant is uninstalled, Vanguard might still be present as a separate program. This is a common point of confusion.
Sub-heading: The Control Panel Classic
- For those who prefer the older method, open the Control Panel. You can do this by searching for "Control Panel" in your Windows search bar.
- Under "Programs," click on "Uninstall a program."
- Browse the list and look for "Riot Vanguard."
- If it's there, right-click it and choose "Uninstall." Proceed with the uninstallation wizard.

Step 3: The Deep Dive - Command Prompt Verification

Riot Vanguard installs a kernel-mode driver, and sometimes, even after a standard uninstall, remnants of this driver can remain. Using Command Prompt provides a more definitive check and removal method for these core components.

Sub-heading: Checking and Deleting Services
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator. To do this, search for "CMD" in your Windows search bar, then right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."
- Once the Command Prompt window is open, type the following command and press Enter:
  sc query vgc
  If Vanguard is still installed or its service is active, you might see information about the "vgc" service. If it says [SC] OpenService FAILED 1060: The specified service does not exist as an installed service., that's a good sign it's gone.
- Now, regardless of the previous output, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
  sc delete vgc sc delete vgk
  - If these commands execute successfully, they will attempt to delete the Riot Vanguard services (vgc and vgk). You should see a "SUCCESS" message if the service was found and deleted. If it says "The specified service does not exist," then it was already gone.
- Crucial Step: After running these commands, restart your computer immediately. This ensures any lingering kernel-level components are released and removed.

Step 4: The File Hunt - Manual Deletion of Residual Files

Even after uninstalling, some folders and files related to Riot Vanguard (and Valorant, if you uninstalled that too) might be left behind. These are typically harmless but take up space.

Sub-heading: Program Files Cleanup
- Open File Explorer (you can press Windows key + E).
- Navigate to your main drive, usually C:.
- Go to Program Files.
- Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard."
- If it exists, right-click on it and select "Delete." Confirm the deletion.
Sub-heading: AppData and ProgramData Purge
- These folders store application data, and Riot Games often leaves behind traces here.
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type %appdata% and press Enter. This will open the Roaming folder within AppData.
  - Look for a folder named "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard." If found, delete it.
- Repeat the Windows key + R step.
- Type %localappdata% and press Enter. This opens the Local folder within AppData.
  - Again, look for "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" and delete it if present.
- Repeat the Windows key + R step.
- Type %programdata% and press Enter. This opens the ProgramData folder (it might be hidden, so ensure "Show hidden items" is enabled in File Explorer's View tab).
  - Look for "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" and delete it if present.
- Don't forget: Empty your Recycle Bin after deleting these files and folders!

Step 5: The Registry Scan (Optional but Recommended for a Clean Sweep)

The Windows Registry stores configuration settings for applications. While not always necessary, cleaning up residual registry entries can ensure a truly clean uninstall. Be cautious when editing the registry, as incorrect modifications can cause system instability. If you're unsure, skip this step or use a reputable registry cleaner.

Sub-heading: Using a Third-Party Cleaner (Safer Option)
- Tools like CCleaner or RegSeeker can scan your registry for leftover entries and safely remove them. Many users find these helpful for a comprehensive cleanup after uninstalling software.
- Follow the instructions provided by the software you choose. They typically have a "scan for issues" and "fix selected issues" function.
Sub-heading: Manual Registry Editing (Advanced Users Only!)
- Press Windows key + R and type regedit, then press Enter. Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.
- Navigate to the following paths (be very careful not to delete anything unrelated):
  - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games
  - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games
- If you find any keys related to Riot Vanguard or Valorant within these paths (e.g., a "Riot Vanguard" subkey), you can right-click on them and select "Delete."
- Exercise extreme caution here. Only delete keys that are clearly related to Riot Vanguard and nothing else. If in doubt, do not delete it.

Final Confirmation:

After completing all these steps, especially the restart, Vanguard should be completely uninstalled. If you attempt to launch Valorant or another Riot Game that requires Vanguard, it will likely prompt you to reinstall it. This is a good indicator that it's gone.

10 Related FAQ Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about uninstalling Riot Vanguard, starting with 'How to':

How to know if Valorant is uninstalled correctly?
- Check your "Installed apps" in Windows Settings and the Control Panel. Also, look for the Valorant game folder in "C:\Riot Games" or wherever you installed it, and delete it if present.
How to disable Riot Vanguard temporarily without uninstalling?
- Right-click the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." Confirm the prompt. Note that you won't be able to play Riot Games that require Vanguard until you restart your computer or the Vanguard service.
How to prevent Riot Vanguard from automatically starting with Windows?
- Riot Vanguard is designed to start with Windows due to its anti-cheat nature. If you don't want it to run, you'll need to uninstall it. There's no straightforward in-app setting to disable its automatic startup while keeping it installed.
How to re-install Riot Vanguard after uninstalling it?
- Simply launch a Riot Game that requires Vanguard (like Valorant). The game client will detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to download and install it. You'll likely need to restart your PC after installation.
How to fix "Riot Client is running" error when trying to uninstall Valorant/Vanguard?
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and ensure no Riot Client or Valorant/Vanguard processes are running. End any related tasks. Also, make sure you've exited Vanguard from the system tray before attempting uninstallation.
How to remove residual Riot Games files after uninstalling everything?
- Manually check and delete the "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" folders in C:\Program Files, %appdata%, %localappdata%, and %programdata%. Remember to empty your Recycle Bin afterward.
How to know if Vanguard is interfering with other software on my PC?
- Vanguard runs at a kernel level, which can sometimes cause conflicts. If you experience unusual system behavior or crashes after installing Vanguard, or if certain programs stop working, it might be the culprit. Uninstalling Vanguard and testing your system without it can help confirm.
How to troubleshoot if Vanguard won't uninstall normally?
- Try restarting your PC first. If it still fails, use the Command Prompt method (sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk) as an administrator, then restart your PC and attempt manual file deletion. You might also consider booting into Safe Mode to uninstall.
How to ensure all registry entries related to Riot Vanguard are gone?
- For a truly comprehensive cleanup, use a reputable third-party registry cleaner like CCleaner. If you're an advanced user, you can manually check HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games in the Registry Editor, but proceed with extreme caution.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard on a Mac?
- On a Mac, the process is generally simpler. You can typically drag the Riot Vanguard application from your Applications folder to the Trash. Some sources also mention a riot-uninstall.sh script located in /Library/Application Support/.

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