How To Reinstall Riot Vanguard On Pc

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Have you been encountering frustrating error messages like VAN 1067, VAN -1, or perhaps just a persistent feeling that something isn't quite right with your Valorant or League of Legends experience? Often, the culprit is Riot Vanguard, Riot Games' proprietary anti-cheat system. While essential for fair play, it can sometimes become corrupted or encounter conflicts, leading to game instability.

Don't worry, you're not alone! Reinstalling Riot Vanguard is a common and effective troubleshooting step. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, ensuring a clean slate for your gaming sessions.

Understanding Riot Vanguard: Why Reinstall?

Riot Vanguard operates at a kernel level on your PC, meaning it runs with high privileges to effectively detect and prevent cheating. This deep integration, while powerful, also makes it susceptible to issues like:

Corrupted files: Downloads can sometimes be incomplete or files can become damaged over time.
Software conflicts: Vanguard might clash with other programs or drivers on your system.
Outdated versions: While usually updated automatically, manual intervention might be needed in rare cases.
Residual files from previous installations: Leftover files can interfere with a fresh installation.

Reinstalling ensures you have the latest, clean version of Vanguard, resolving most of these underlying problems.

Step 1: Prepare for Reinstallation - Close Everything Down!

Before we dive into the uninstallation process, let's make sure everything is in order. Think of this as preparing your workspace for a thorough cleaning.

1.1 Close All Riot Games and Related Processes

This is a crucial first step. Any active Riot Games applications (like Valorant, League of Legends, or the Riot Client itself) and their associated background processes can prevent Vanguard from being properly uninstalled.

Check your system tray: Look for the Riot Vanguard icon (a small red shield) in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock. If you see it, right-click on it and select "Exit Vanguard" or "Exit". Confirm any prompts that appear.
Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.
- Go to the "Processes" tab.
- Look for any processes related to Valorant, League of Legends, Riot Client, or anything starting with "Riot" or "Vanguard."
- For each one you find, right-click it and select "End task". Be thorough!

1.2 Save Your Work and Close Other Applications

While not strictly necessary for Vanguard, it's good practice to save any open documents and close other programs. This minimizes potential interference and ensures a smooth restart later.

Step 2: Uninstall Riot Vanguard

Now that your system is clear, we can proceed with removing the existing Riot Vanguard installation. There are a couple of methods you can use.

2.1 Method A: Using Windows Settings (Recommended)

This is the most straightforward and generally recommended method for uninstalling programs on Windows.

Open Windows Settings:
- Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
- Alternatively, click the Start menu (Windows icon) and then the gear icon to open Settings.
Navigate to Apps:
- In the Settings window, click on "Apps" from the left-hand menu.
- Then, select "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" depending on your Windows version).
Locate and Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
- Scroll down the list of installed applications until you find "Riot Vanguard". You can also use the search bar at the top of the list to type "Vanguard" for quicker access.
- Click on "Riot Vanguard" once you find it.
- Click the "Uninstall" button that appears.
- You will likely be prompted to confirm your choice. Click "Uninstall" again in the pop-up window.
- Allow the app to make changes to your device if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
- Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.

2.2 Method B: Using Control Panel (Alternative for Older Windows Versions)

If you're on an older version of Windows or prefer the classic Control Panel, this method is for you.

Open Control Panel:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type control panel and press Enter.
Navigate to Programs:
- In the Control Panel, click on "Programs" and then "Uninstall a program" (under "Programs and Features").
Locate and Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
- Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list of installed programs.
- Right-click on it and select "Uninstall".
- Follow the on-screen prompts and confirm the uninstallation.

Step 3: Restart Your PC (Essential!)

This step is absolutely critical for a successful reinstallation. Riot Vanguard's kernel-mode driver needs to be properly unloaded from your system's memory.

Once the uninstallation process is complete, you will likely be prompted to restart your computer. If not, manually restart your PC.
Do NOT skip this step. Restarting ensures all components of Riot Vanguard are fully removed and your system is ready for a fresh installation.

Step 4: Reinstall Riot Vanguard (Automatic Process)

Unlike many applications, you generally don't need to download Riot Vanguard separately. It's designed to automatically reinstall when you launch a Riot game that requires it.

4.1 Launch Your Riot Game

Open the Riot Client (the launcher for Valorant, League of Legends, etc.).
Launch the game you wish to play (e.g., Valorant or League of Legends).

4.2 Observe the Automatic Installation

The Riot Client will detect that Riot Vanguard is missing.
You will typically see a message indicating that Vanguard is being installed or updated. This usually happens automatically in the background.
Be patient as this process can take a few minutes depending on your internet speed and system.

4.3 Another Essential Restart

Once Riot Vanguard has finished installing, the Riot Client will almost certainly prompt you to restart your computer again.
Perform this second restart. This is necessary for Vanguard's kernel-mode driver to load correctly with the new installation.

Step 5: Verify the Installation

After the second restart, it's time to confirm that Riot Vanguard has been successfully reinstalled and is running as expected.

5.1 Check the System Tray

Look for the Riot Vanguard icon (the red shield) in your system tray (bottom-right corner of your taskbar). Its presence indicates that Vanguard is active.
You can also right-click the icon to see options like "Exit Vanguard" or "More...".

5.2 Launch Your Game and Play!

Open your Riot game again (Valorant, League of Legends, etc.).
You should now be able to launch and play without any Vanguard-related error messages.

Advanced Troubleshooting: If the Above Steps Don't Work

While the standard reinstallation process resolves most issues, sometimes you might encounter persistent problems. Here are some advanced steps:

Manual Uninstallation (If Vanguard Won't Uninstall)

If you're unable to uninstall Riot Vanguard via Windows Settings or Control Panel, you might need to resort to a manual removal.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Click the Start menu and type cmd.
- Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".
Execute Commands:
- Type the following command and press Enter: sc delete vgc
- Type the next command and press Enter: sc delete vgk
- These commands delete the Vanguard services.
Reboot Your Computer. This is critical after deleting the services.
Delete the Riot Vanguard Folder:
- Open File Explorer (Windows key + E).
- Navigate to C:\Program Files\
- Locate the "Riot Vanguard" folder.
- Right-click on it and select "Delete".
- Empty your Recycle Bin afterwards.

Check for Leftover Riot Games Files

Even after uninstalling, some residual files might remain. While not always necessary, a complete cleanup can sometimes prevent future conflicts.

Open Run Dialog: Press Windows key + R.
Access Hidden Folders and Delete Riot Games Folders:
- Type %appdata% and press Enter. Look for and delete any "Riot Games" folders.
- Repeat the process for:
  - %LocalAppData%\Riot Games
  - %ProgramData%\Riot Games
- Go to C:\Riot Games\ (if it exists) and delete any remaining files or folders.

Update Windows and Drivers

Outdated operating systems or graphics drivers can sometimes cause conflicts with anti-cheat software.

Windows Updates: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for any available updates.
Graphics Drivers: Visit your graphics card manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific model.

Disable Antivirus/Firewall Temporarily

Occasionally, overzealous antivirus or firewall software can interfere with Vanguard's installation or operation.

Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall only during the reinstallation process.
Remember to re-enable them immediately afterward for your system's security.
If this resolves the issue, you might need to add exceptions for Riot Vanguard and your Riot Games in your security software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are 10 common questions related to reinstalling Riot Vanguard:

How to check if Riot Vanguard is running?

You can check for the Riot Vanguard (red shield) icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner of your taskbar). Its presence indicates it's running. You can also see the vgc.exe and vgk.sys processes in Task Manager.

How to disable Riot Vanguard temporarily?

Right-click the Riot 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 my Riot Vanguard installation is corrupted?

Common signs include persistent error codes (like VAN -1, VAN 128, VAN 1067) when launching Riot Games, inability to connect to game servers, or general game instability directly linked to anti-cheat issues.

How to find Riot Vanguard error codes?

When you encounter a Vanguard-related issue, an error message with a specific code (e.g., VAN 0, VAN 128, VAN 9001) will usually appear on your screen or in the Riot Client.

How to fix Vanguard if it won't uninstall through regular methods?

You'll need to perform a manual uninstallation using Command Prompt as administrator to delete the vgc and vgk services, followed by manually deleting the Riot Vanguard folder in C:\Program Files.

How to ensure a clean reinstallation of Riot Vanguard?

The most effective way is to follow all steps in this guide, including closing all Riot processes, uninstalling Vanguard, restarting your PC twice (once after uninstalling, once after the automatic reinstallation), and potentially checking for leftover files if issues persist.

How to deal with "Vanguard needs a restart" message?

Simply restart your computer. This message means the Vanguard driver needs to be reloaded into your system's kernel, which happens during a full reboot.

How to fix Vanguard compatibility issues with Windows 11?

Ensure your Windows 11 system has TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings, as these are often required for Vanguard on Windows 11. Also, keep your Windows up to date.

How to prevent Vanguard issues in the future?

Keep your Windows operating system updated, ensure your graphics drivers are current, and avoid running suspicious or conflicting software in the background while playing Riot Games.

How to contact Riot Games support for persistent Vanguard issues?

If you've tried all troubleshooting steps and still face problems, the best course of action is to submit a support ticket to Riot Games via their official support website. Provide as much detail as possible about your issue and the steps you've already taken.

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