Do you find yourself facing pesky error messages, game crashes, or just a general sense of "Vanguard isn't playing nice" when trying to jump into a Valorant match? You're not alone! Riot Vanguard, Valorant's anti-cheat system, is a critical component for fair play, but sometimes it needs a little reset. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step to successfully reinstall Riot Vanguard and get you back into the action.
A Fresh Start: How to Reinstall Vanguard and Valorant for Smooth Gameplay
Before we dive into the technicalities, let's acknowledge that dealing with software issues can be frustrating. But here's the good news: reinstalling Vanguard and Valorant often resolves a multitude of problems, from persistent error codes to performance hiccups. Think of it as giving your game a much-needed deep clean! Ready to get your Valorant experience running flawlessly again? Let's begin.
Step 1: Prepare for Uninstallation - Close All Related Programs
This is a crucial first step that many users overlook, leading to incomplete uninstalls and lingering issues. To ensure a clean slate, we need to make sure Valorant, Riot Client, and especially Riot Vanguard, are completely shut down.
1.1. Exit Riot Vanguard from the System Tray:
Look for the Riot Vanguard icon: In the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock, you'll see a small triangle (often called the "system tray" or "notification area"). Click it to reveal hidden icons.
Right-click the Vanguard icon: It typically looks like a red shield.
Select "Exit Vanguard": A confirmation prompt will appear. Click "Yes" to confirm. This will disable Vanguard and prevent it from interfering with the uninstallation process.
1.2. Close the Riot Client and Valorant:
Close Valorant: If Valorant is currently running, close the game completely.
Exit Riot Client: Ensure the Riot Client (the launcher you use to open Valorant) is also fully closed. You can usually do this by right-clicking its icon in the system tray (if it's there) and selecting "Exit," or by closing its window.
1.3. Check Task Manager for Remaining Processes (Optional but Recommended):
Open Task Manager: Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escon your keyboard.Go to the "Processes" tab: Look for any processes related to "Valorant," "Riot Client," or "Riot Vanguard" (VGC, VGK).
End Task: If you find any, right-click on them and select "End Task." This ensures no background processes are preventing a clean uninstall.
Step 2: Uninstall Valorant and Riot Vanguard - The Clean Sweep
Now that all related programs are closed, it's time to remove them from your system. It's essential to uninstall both Valorant and Riot Vanguard. Vanguard is a separate program, and uninstalling Valorant alone will not remove Vanguard.
2.1. Uninstalling via Windows Settings (Recommended for most users):
Open Windows Settings: Press
Windows Key + I.Navigate to "Apps":
On Windows 10, select "Apps" > "Apps & features".
On Windows 11, select "Apps" > "Installed apps".
Find and Uninstall Valorant:
Scroll down or use the search bar to find "VALORANT".
Click on it, then select "Uninstall".
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
Find and Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
Repeat the process for "Riot Vanguard".
Click on it, then select "Uninstall".
Follow the prompts and click "Yes" when asked for confirmation.
2.2. Uninstalling via Control Panel (Alternative Method):
Open Control Panel: Press
Windows Key + R, typecontrol panel, and press Enter.Go to "Programs": Click on "Programs" then "Uninstall a program" (under "Programs and Features").
Find and Uninstall Valorant: Locate "VALORANT" in the list, right-click it, and choose "Uninstall".
Find and Uninstall Riot Vanguard: Locate "Riot Vanguard" in the list, right-click it, and choose "Uninstall".
2.3. Manual Uninstall of Riot Vanguard (If Standard Methods Fail):
Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for "cmd" in your Windows search bar, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."
Execute these commands (one by one, pressing Enter after each):
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
These commands disable and delete the Vanguard services.
Delete the Riot Vanguard folder: Navigate to
C:\Program Filesin File Explorer. Look for the folder named "Riot Vanguard" and delete it. You might need to restart your PC before you can delete this folder if you skipped the service deletion.Empty Recycle Bin: After deleting, remember to empty your Recycle Bin to fully remove the files.
Step 3: Restart Your PC - Solidifying the Changes
This is a critical step that many users skip! Restarting your computer after uninstalling software, especially a kernel-level anti-cheat like Vanguard, ensures that all related processes are completely terminated and any lingering temporary files are cleared from memory.
Simply restart your computer. Don't just shut down and turn it back on; select "Restart."
Step 4: Reinstall Valorant - The Automatic Vanguard Reinstallation
Once your computer has restarted, the process of reinstalling Valorant will automatically handle the reinstallation of Riot Vanguard. You do not need to download and install Vanguard separately.
4.1. Launch the Riot Client:
Open the Riot Client: Find the Riot Client icon on your desktop or in your Start Menu and launch it.
Log in: Enter your Riot Games credentials if prompted.
4.2. Initiate Valorant Download/Installation:
Locate Valorant: On the Riot Client, you should see Valorant listed. It might show an "Install" or "Download" button.
Click "Install" or "Download": The Riot Client will begin downloading the game files. During this process, it will also automatically download and install the latest version of Riot Vanguard.
4.3. Follow On-Screen Instructions:
The Riot Client will guide you through the installation process. Keep an eye out for any prompts related to Vanguard.
Once Valorant and Vanguard are installed, the Riot Client may prompt you to restart your computer again. It is highly recommended to do so to ensure Vanguard initializes correctly with your system.
Step 5: Verify Installation and Launch Valorant - Back in the Game!
After the final restart, you should be ready to launch Valorant.
Check System Tray: Look for the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray to confirm it's running. If it's there, that's a good sign!
Launch Valorant: Open the Riot Client and click "Play" on Valorant.
If everything went smoothly, you should now be able to enter the game without any Vanguard-related errors. Congratulations, agent!
Troubleshooting Common Issues During Reinstallation
Sometimes, even with the best intentions, things can go awry. Here are a few common issues you might encounter and quick solutions:
"Vanguard won't uninstall": If the standard uninstall methods fail, definitely use the manual Command Prompt method described in Step 2.3. Also, ensure you've exited Vanguard from the system tray.
"We couldn't install a required dependency": This often points to an incomplete prior uninstall. Make sure you've completely removed all traces of Vanguard and Valorant as outlined in the steps above, then restart and try reinstalling.
Error Codes (VAN 0, VAN 1, VAN 57, VAN -81, VAN 1067, VAN 9001, VAN 9003): These codes often indicate issues with Vanguard. A clean reinstall, as described in this guide, is the primary fix for most of these.
VAN 9001/9003: These specifically relate to Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 being disabled in your BIOS. While reinstalling Vanguard itself won't enable these, if you continuously get these errors, you might need to enable them in your PC's BIOS settings (this is an advanced step and varies by motherboard).
Slow Download Speed (0.1kb/s): This is usually a network issue, not a Vanguard issue. Try restarting your router, flushing your DNS (
ipconfig /flushdnsin Command Prompt), or temporarily disabling your firewall/antivirus to see if they are interfering.
If you continue to face issues after following this extensive guide, it's always best to submit a ticket to Riot Games Support. Provide them with as much detail as possible about the steps you've taken and any error messages you receive.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Riot Vanguard and Valorant reinstallation:
How to check if Riot Vanguard is running?
You can check if Riot Vanguard is running by looking for its icon (a red shield) in your Windows system tray, located in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar near the clock. If you see it, Vanguard is active.
How to temporarily disable Riot Vanguard?
Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." You will be prompted to confirm. Remember that you won't be able to play Valorant (or other Riot games requiring Vanguard) while it's disabled, and you'll need to restart your PC for it to fully reactivate.
How to ensure a complete uninstall of Valorant and Vanguard?
To ensure a complete uninstall, first exit Vanguard from the system tray, then uninstall both Valorant and Riot Vanguard through Windows "Apps & features" or "Installed apps." After that, restart your PC, and consider manually deleting any remaining "Riot Games" and "Riot Vanguard" folders from your C:\Program Files directory.
How to fix Valorant "Vanguard not initialized" error?
This error (often VAN 9001 or VAN 9003) usually requires enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 in your PC's BIOS settings. A clean reinstall of Vanguard (as described in this guide) should also be attempted, followed by a system restart.
How to find the Riot Vanguard installation folder?
The Riot Vanguard installation folder is typically located at C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard.
How to fix Valorant connection errors related to Vanguard?
Many Vanguard connection errors (like VAN 0, VAN 1, VAN -81) can be resolved by a simple PC restart. If that doesn't work, a full reinstall of Vanguard and Valorant is often the most effective solution. Ensure your internet connection is stable and that your firewall or antivirus isn't blocking Vanguard.
How to update Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard updates automatically with Valorant game updates. You don't need to update it separately. If your Vanguard is outdated, launching Valorant will usually prompt you to update or reinstall.
How to troubleshoot if Valorant won't launch after reinstalling Vanguard?
If Valorant still won't launch, try restarting your PC again. Check your firewall and antivirus settings to ensure they aren't blocking Vanguard or Valorant. Also, consider checking for any Windows updates, as an outdated OS can sometimes cause compatibility issues.
How to submit a support ticket to Riot Games for Vanguard issues?
Visit the official Riot Games Support website for Valorant (support-valorant.riotgames.com). Log in to your Riot account, and you'll find an option to "Submit a Ticket." Provide detailed information about your issue, including any error codes you've received and the troubleshooting steps you've already taken.
How to prevent future Vanguard issues after reinstalling?
Keep your Windows operating system updated, ensure your drivers (especially graphics drivers) are current, and add Valorant and Riot Vanguard to your antivirus/firewall exceptions. Regularly restarting your PC can also help prevent minor conflicts from accumulating.