Hey there, Summoner or Agent! Are you running into pesky issues with Riot Vanguard, getting those frustrating error messages, or maybe just wanting a fresh start? You're in the right place! Reinstalling Riot Vanguard can often be the magic bullet for many game-related problems, from "Vanguard Not Initialized" errors to inexplicable crashes.
Let's get you back in the game, completely cheat-free and with a smooth experience. Follow this detailed, step-by-step guide to reinstall Riot Vanguard and get your favorite Riot Games titles running flawlessly again.
A Comprehensive Guide to Reinstalling Riot Vanguard
Before we dive in, remember that Riot Vanguard is a crucial anti-cheat component for games like VALORANT and League of Legends. It runs at a kernel level, meaning it interacts deeply with your system to detect and prevent cheating. This is why sometimes it can cause conflicts or require a full reinstallation to resolve issues.
Step 1: Prepare for the Uninstall - Close Everything Down!
Are you ready to begin your journey to a smoother gaming experience? Great! The very first and most crucial step is to ensure that Riot Vanguard and any related Riot Games clients are completely shut down. If they're running in the background, the uninstallation process won't work correctly.
1.1 Check Your System Tray
Look for the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray (the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock). It usually looks like a red shield or "V" icon.
- Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon.
- Select "Exit Vanguard" or ***"Exit Riot Vanguard"***.
- You'll likely get a confirmation prompt asking if you're sure you want to exit. Click ***"Yes"***.
1.2 Close Riot Client and Any Games
Make sure your Riot Games client (Valorant, League of Legends, etc.) is fully closed. You can do this by:
- Right-clicking on the Riot Client icon in your system tray and selecting ***"Exit"***.
- If a game (like VALORANT or League of Legends) is open, close it normally.
- For good measure, open your Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the "Processes" tab, and ensure there are no lingering processes related to "Riot Games," "Valorant," "League of Legends," or "Riot Vanguard." If you find any, select them and click "End Task."
Step 2: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard - The Clean Sweep
Now that everything is shut down, it's time to remove the old Vanguard installation. We'll cover two primary methods for this.
2.1 Method A: Using Windows Settings (Recommended)
This is the most straightforward method for most users.
- Press the Windows Key + I to open your Settings app.
- Click on ***"Apps"***, then select "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" on older Windows versions).
- Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find "Riot Vanguard."
- Click on "Riot Vanguard" once you find it.
- Click the "Uninstall" button that appears.
- You might be prompted with another confirmation pop-up. Click "Uninstall" again.
- Allow the application 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 Command Prompt (For Persistent Issues or Manual Clean-up)
If the standard uninstallation method fails or you want to ensure a deeper clean, using the Command Prompt can be very effective.
- Press the Windows Key and type ***"CMD"***.
- Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results and select "Run as administrator." This is crucial!
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
- You should see a message indicating "SERVICE_NAME delete SUCCESS" for both commands.
- Important: Restart your computer immediately after running these commands. This step is vital to ensure the Vanguard drivers are fully unloaded from your system's memory.
Step 3: Deleting Leftover Files (Crucial for a Truly Clean Reinstallation)
Even after uninstalling, some residual files might remain. Deleting these ensures that no corrupted data interferes with your new installation.
3.1 Navigate and Delete the Riot Vanguard Folder
- After restarting your computer (if you used Method B), open File Explorer (Windows Key + E).
- Navigate to your C: drive (or wherever your Program Files are located). Typically, this is:
C:\Program Files\ - Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard."
- Right-click on the "Riot Vanguard" folder and select "Delete."
- If you encounter any "Access Denied" errors, make sure you've restarted your computer and that no Riot processes are running in Task Manager. You might need to restart in Safe Mode if issues persist (though this is rarely necessary).
3.2 Clear Related AppData Folders (Optional but Recommended)
This step helps clear out any lingering configuration files that might cause issues.
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
%appdata%and press Enter. This will open your Roaming AppData folder. Look for and delete any folder named ***"Riot Games"***. - Repeat the process by opening the Run dialog (Windows Key + R), but this time type
%localappdata%and press Enter. Look for and delete any folder named ***"Riot Games"***. - Similarly, open the Run dialog (Windows Key + R), type
%programdata%and press Enter. Look for and delete any folder named ***"Riot Games"***. - Finally, check your main Riot Games installation directory (e.g.,
C:\Riot Games\) and delete any remaining files or folders related to Vanguard if they exist. - Don't forget to empty your Recycle Bin afterwards!
Step 4: Reinstalling Riot Vanguard - The Automatic Way
The good news is that you generally don't need to manually download and install Riot Vanguard. It's designed to be automatically installed when you launch a Riot game that requires it.
4.1 Launch Your Riot Game
- Open your Riot Games client (e.g., VALORANT or League of Legends).
- When you try to launch the game, the client will detect that Riot Vanguard is missing or not properly installed.
- It will then prompt you to automatically download and install the latest version of Riot Vanguard. Follow the on-screen instructions. This usually involves clicking an "Install" or "Update" button.
4.2 Important: Restart Your Computer (Again!)
- Once the Riot Vanguard installation process is complete, the Riot Client will almost certainly prompt you to restart your computer.
- Do not skip this step! A restart is absolutely essential for Riot Vanguard to properly integrate with your system's kernel and start functioning correctly.
Step 5: Verify the Installation and Play!
After your computer restarts:
- You should see the Riot Vanguard icon reappear in your system tray, indicating that it's running.
- Launch your Riot game again. It should now open without any Vanguard-related errors.
- Congratulations! You have successfully reinstalled Riot Vanguard.
Troubleshooting Common Reinstallation Issues
Sometimes, things don't go perfectly. Here are some quick tips if you encounter problems:
- Antivirus/Firewall Interference: Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall during the reinstallation process if you're experiencing issues. Remember to re-enable them afterwards. Add exceptions for Riot Games and Riot Vanguard if needed.
- Admin Rights: Always ensure you're running the Riot Client and any manual uninstallation steps (like Command Prompt) as an administrator.
- Windows Updates: Make sure your Windows operating system is fully updated. Outdated Windows versions can sometimes cause compatibility issues with Vanguard.
- Corrupted System Files: If you're still having persistent issues, consider running Windows' built-in System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
sfc /scannowDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
- BIOS Settings (for VAN9001/VAN9003 errors): For some specific error codes, particularly on Windows 11, you might need to ensure TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are enabled in your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings. Proceed with caution if you're unfamiliar with BIOS settings. Consult your motherboard or PC manufacturer's documentation.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to check if Riot Vanguard is running?
Quick Answer: Look for the red shield or "V" icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner of your taskbar). If you see it, Vanguard is running. You can also check in Task Manager under "Processes" for "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc.exe" and "vgtray.exe".
How to fix "Vanguard Not Initialized" error?
Quick Answer: Often, simply restarting your PC and then launching the Riot Client or game will resolve this. If not, follow the full reinstallation guide above.
How to stop Riot Vanguard from running at startup?
Quick Answer: Riot Vanguard is designed to run at startup to ensure anti-cheat integrity. There's no official in-game setting to disable this. Exiting Vanguard from the system tray will temporarily close it, but it will restart with your computer.
How to disable Riot Vanguard temporarily?
Quick Answer: Right-click the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." Remember that you won't be able to play Riot games that require Vanguard until it's running again (which usually requires a PC restart).
How to fix error code VAN -1 (Uninstall Failure)?
Quick Answer: This error indicates a failed Vanguard uninstallation. Follow the manual uninstallation steps (Method B using Command Prompt) in Step 2 of this guide, then restart your PC and let the game reinstall it.
How to fix "VALORANT has encountered connection error" (various VAN codes)?
Quick Answer: For many connection-related VAN errors (like VAN 0, 1, 6, -81, -102, -104, 128), a simple PC restart is often sufficient. If the problem persists, a clean reinstallation of Riot Vanguard (and sometimes the game itself) as described in this guide is the next step.
How to ensure a complete removal of Riot Vanguard?
Quick Answer: To ensure a complete removal, follow all the steps in this guide, particularly Step 2 (uninstallation via Windows Settings or CMD) and Step 3 (deleting leftover files from Program Files and AppData folders).
How to prevent future Riot Vanguard issues?
Quick Answer: Keep your Windows operating system updated, ensure your drivers (especially graphics) are current, avoid running conflicting background software, and temporarily disable third-party antivirus/firewall during installations if problems arise.
How to contact Riot Games support for persistent Vanguard problems?
Quick Answer: If all troubleshooting steps fail, visit the official Riot Games Support website (support.riotgames.com), select your game, and submit a detailed support ticket with all relevant error codes and steps you've already tried.
How to check my PC meets Vanguard's requirements (e.g., TPM, Secure Boot)?
Quick Answer: On Windows 10/11, you can check TPM status by pressing Windows Key + R, typing tpm.msc, and pressing Enter. For Secure Boot and BIOS Mode, press Windows Key + R, type msinfo32, and check "Secure Boot State" and "BIOS Mode." If issues persist, consult Riot's support articles on "Vanguard Restrictions" for detailed guidance on enabling these features in your BIOS.
