How To Remove Riot Vanguard From Pc

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Do you play VALORANT or League of Legends? If so, you're likely familiar with Riot Vanguard, Riot Games' proprietary anti-cheat system. While essential for maintaining fair play, many users find its deep integration and persistent background presence a bit intrusive, or simply want to reclaim their PC's resources. Whatever your reason, a clean removal of Riot Vanguard can be a bit trickier than uninstalling a regular application. But don't worry, I'm here to guide you through every single step to ensure it's completely eradicated from your system!

Let's dive in and get your PC spick and span!

How to Completely Remove Riot Vanguard from Your PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Riot Vanguard, unlike most applications, operates at a kernel level, meaning it runs with high privileges on your system and starts automatically with your PC. This deep integration is what makes it effective against cheaters, but also why a simple uninstall often isn't enough. We'll cover multiple methods to ensure a thorough cleanup.

Step 1: Ensure Riot Vanguard and Riot Client are Fully Closed

Before you attempt any uninstallation, it's crucial to make sure that Riot Vanguard and any related Riot Games processes are completely shut down. If they're still running, you'll likely encounter errors and the uninstallation will fail.

Sub-heading: Exiting Vanguard from the System Tray

This is the easiest and most common way to close Vanguard.

Locate the System Tray: Look for the small upward-pointing arrow (caret) in the bottom-right corner of your Windows taskbar, near the clock. Click on it to expand the system tray icons.
Find the Riot Vanguard Icon: You'll typically see a small, red shield or 'V' shaped icon, representing Riot Vanguard.
Right-Click and Exit: Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon. A small menu will appear.
Confirm Exit: Select "Exit Vanguard". A confirmation pop-up will appear asking "Are you sure you want to turn off Vanguard?". Click "Yes".

Sub-heading: Closing Riot Client and Other Riot Processes

Even after exiting Vanguard, the Riot Client or other Riot processes might still be running in the background, preventing a clean uninstall.

Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously to open the Task Manager. Alternatively, right-click on an empty space on your taskbar and select "Task Manager."
Check for Riot Processes: In the Task Manager, go to the "Processes" tab.
End Tasks: Look for any processes related to "Riot Games," "VALORANT," or "Riot Client." If you find any, right-click on them and select "End task". Repeat this for all relevant processes.
- Pro Tip: Sometimes, even after clicking "Exit Vanguard," the "vgc" or "vgk" processes associated with Vanguard might still be lingering. Ensure these are not running in Task Manager.

Step 2: Uninstall Riot Vanguard via Windows Settings or Control Panel

Once you've ensured all Riot processes are closed, you can proceed with the standard uninstallation methods. It's generally recommended to uninstall Riot Vanguard before uninstalling VALORANT (if you have it), as Vanguard is often the more persistent component.

Sub-heading: Using Windows Settings (Windows 10/11)

This is the most straightforward method for modern Windows versions.

Open Settings: Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Apps: Click on "Apps", then select "Installed apps" (on Windows 11) or "Apps & features" (on Windows 10).
Locate Riot Vanguard: Scroll down the list of installed applications until you find "Riot Vanguard". You can also use the search bar at the top to quickly find it.
Uninstall: Click on "Riot Vanguard" (or the three dots next to it on Windows 11), then select "Uninstall".
Confirm Uninstallation: Follow any on-screen prompts and confirm your decision to uninstall. You may be asked for administrator permission.

Sub-heading: Using Control Panel (Older Windows Versions or Alternative)

If you prefer the classic Control Panel or are on an older Windows version, this method works well.

Open Control Panel: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type control panel and press Enter.
Go to Programs: Click on "Programs", then select "Programs and Features" (or "Uninstall a program").
Locate Riot Vanguard: Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list of installed programs.
Uninstall: Right-click on "Riot Vanguard" and select "Uninstall".
Confirm Uninstallation: Follow any on-screen prompts and confirm your decision to uninstall.

Step 3: Uninstall VALORANT (if applicable)

If you installed Riot Vanguard specifically for VALORANT and no longer play the game, you should also uninstall VALORANT to free up significant disk space. Use the same methods as above:

Open Windows Settings or Control Panel: (As detailed in Step 2).
Locate VALORANT: Find "VALORANT" in the list of installed applications/programs.
Uninstall: Click/right-click and select "Uninstall".
Follow Prompts: Complete the uninstallation process by following the on-screen instructions.

Step 4: Manually Remove Residual Files and Folders

Even after uninstalling through Windows, Riot Vanguard can leave behind certain files and folders, especially due to its deep system integration. It's highly recommended to perform this step for a truly clean removal.

Sub-heading: Deleting Vanguard Service Files via Command Prompt

This is a critical step to ensure Vanguard's kernel-level drivers are truly removed.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Click on the Start menu (or press the Windows key).
- Type cmd in the search bar.
- Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results and select "Run as administrator". Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.
Enter Commands: In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
- sc delete vgc
- sc delete vgk
- You should see a message indicating "[SC] DeleteService SUCCESS" for each command.
Restart Your PC: This is absolutely essential for the changes to take effect and to allow you to delete the Vanguard folder in the next step. Restart your computer immediately after running these commands.

Sub-heading: Deleting Remaining Folders

After restarting, you can manually delete any leftover Riot Vanguard and Riot Games folders.

Open File Explorer: Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to Program Files: Go to C:\Program Files\
Delete Riot Vanguard Folder: Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard". Right-click on it and select "Delete". If you encounter any "Folder in use" errors, ensure you've restarted your PC as per the previous step.
Check for Riot Games Folder: Also check if there's a folder named "Riot Games" in C:\Program Files\. If you've uninstalled all Riot Games products and don't plan on reinstalling any, you can also delete this folder.
Check Hidden AppData Folders: These locations often contain lingering configuration files.
- Press Windows key + R, type %appdata% and press Enter. Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete it.
- Repeat the process for %localappdata% (type %localappdata% in the Run dialog). Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete it.
- Repeat for %programdata% (type %programdata% in the Run dialog). Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete it.
Empty Recycle Bin: After deleting all these folders, right-click on your Recycle Bin on the desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin" to permanently remove the files.

Step 5: (Optional) Clean Up Registry Entries

While not strictly necessary for most users, for a truly complete removal, you can clean up lingering registry entries. However, exercise extreme caution when editing the Windows Registry, as incorrect modifications can cause system instability. If you're unsure, it's best to skip this step.

Sub-heading: Using a Registry Cleaner (Recommended for Novices)

Third-party tools like CCleaner or RegSeeker have a "Registry Cleaner" function that can safely identify and remove orphaned entries.

Download and Install: Download a reputable registry cleaner (e.g., CCleaner).
Run Scan: Open the application and navigate to its registry cleaning section.
Scan for Issues: Run a scan to identify obsolete or broken registry entries.
Review and Fix: Carefully review the results. If you see entries clearly related to "Riot Vanguard" or "Riot Games" and are confident they are safe to remove, proceed with fixing or deleting them. Always back up your registry before making changes if the tool offers the option.

Sub-heading: Manual Registry Editing (For Advanced Users Only!)

This is for users who are very comfortable navigating the Windows Registry. Proceed with extreme caution.

Open Registry Editor: Press Windows key + R, type regedit and press Enter. Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.
Backup Registry: Before making any changes, go to File > Export... and save a backup of your entire registry to a safe location.
Search for Riot Vanguard Entries: Press Ctrl + F to open the Find dialog. Type Riot Vanguard and click "Find Next."
Delete Found Entries: If you find any keys or values directly related to Riot Vanguard, right-click on them and select "Delete". Press F3 to find the next occurrence.
Repeat for Riot Games: Repeat the search and deletion process for Riot Games as well.
Close Registry Editor: Once finished, close the Registry Editor.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting Tips

Even with a detailed guide, you might encounter issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

"Riot Client is running / Vanguard prevents uninstallation" error: This is the most frequent issue. Go back to Step 1 and ensure all Riot processes are completely shut down, including from the system tray and Task Manager. A restart of your PC often resolves this.
"Folder access denied" when deleting files: This usually means Vanguard's kernel-level drivers are still active. Make sure you performed the Command Prompt commands in Step 4 and restarted your PC afterward.
Vanguard re-installs automatically: If you still have VALORANT or another Riot Game installed, Vanguard will automatically reinstall when you launch that game. To prevent this, you must uninstall all Riot games that require Vanguard.
Game performance issues after uninstalling: While unlikely, if you experience unexpected performance issues, you might want to run a System File Checker scan (sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt) to repair any corrupted Windows system files.

10 Related FAQ Questions

Here are some quick answers to common questions about Riot Vanguard removal:

How to check if Riot Vanguard is still running?

You can check for the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar) or by opening Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and looking for "vgc" or "vgk" processes.

How to remove Riot Vanguard if it won't uninstall from Settings?

If the standard uninstall fails, try using the Command Prompt method (sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk) as an administrator, then restart your PC and manually delete the Riot Vanguard folder.

How to uninstall Riot Vanguard without uninstalling VALORANT?

You can uninstall Riot Vanguard separately using the methods described (Windows Settings/Control Panel or Command Prompt). However, VALORANT requires Riot Vanguard to run, so you won't be able to play VALORANT after uninstalling Vanguard until it's reinstalled.

How to prevent Riot Vanguard from starting with Windows?

Riot Vanguard is designed to start with Windows by default to ensure its anti-cheat functionality. The only way to truly prevent it from starting is to uninstall it.

How to reinstall Riot Vanguard after uninstalling?

If you launch a Riot game like VALORANT after uninstalling Vanguard, the game client will usually prompt you to reinstall it. Simply follow the on-screen instructions.

How to fix "Vanguard Not Running" error?

This error typically means Vanguard isn't active. Try restarting your PC, then launch the Riot Client. If the problem persists, a fresh reinstallation of both Riot Vanguard and the associated game (e.g., VALORANT) is often the solution.

How to uninstall Riot Client completely?

To completely uninstall the Riot Client, first uninstall all Riot Games (like VALORANT or League of Legends) and Riot Vanguard. Then, you can uninstall the "Riot Client" from Windows Settings/Control Panel and delete any remaining Riot Games folders in %appdata%, %localappdata%, and %programdata%.

How to delete my Riot Games account?

Deleting your Riot Games account is a separate process handled through Riot Support. You'll need to submit a ticket on their official support website requesting account deletion. Be aware that this will delete all progress and content across all Riot Games associated with that account.

How to know if Riot Vanguard is causing PC performance issues?

You can monitor your CPU and RAM usage in Task Manager. If Vanguard (vgc.exe or vgk.sys) is consistently using a high percentage of resources, it might be contributing to performance issues. Try exiting Vanguard from the system tray to see if performance improves.

How to re-enable Vanguard if I disabled it?

If you only exited Vanguard from the system tray, simply launching a Riot game that requires it (like VALORANT) will usually restart it. If you disabled it via sc delete commands, you'll need to reinstall it by launching a Riot game that prompts for its installation.

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