How To Remove Riot Vanguard

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Your Ultimate Guide to Completely Removing Riot Vanguard (and Why You Might Want To!)

Hey there, fellow PC user! Have you found yourself wondering how to get rid of that persistent Riot Vanguard anti-cheat software? Perhaps you're making space, troubleshooting an issue, or just moving on from the world of Valorant or other Riot Games titles. Whatever your reason, you're in the right place! Removing Riot Vanguard isn't always as straightforward as clicking an "uninstall" button, but don't worry, we're going to walk through it step-by-step, making sure you leave no trace behind.

Riot Vanguard, while crucial for maintaining competitive integrity in games like Valorant, operates at a kernel level, meaning it runs deep within your system. This can sometimes lead to conflicts with other programs or even a slight impact on performance, even when you're not playing a Riot game. So, if you're ready to reclaim your PC's full potential, let's dive in!

Step 1: Prepare for Departure – Close Vanguard and Related Processes

Before we even think about uninstalling, it's absolutely critical to ensure Riot Vanguard and any related Riot Games processes are completely shut down. Trying to uninstall while they're active will likely result in error messages and a failed removal.

Sub-heading 1.1: Exiting Vanguard from the System Tray

Look for the Vanguard icon: In the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock, you'll find a small red shield icon. This is Riot Vanguard. If you don't see it, click the small upward arrow (the "show hidden icons" arrow) to reveal more icons in the system tray.

Right-click and exit:

Right-click on the red Riot Vanguard icon.
A small menu will pop up. Select ***"Exit Vanguard"***.
You'll likely get a confirmation prompt asking if you're sure you want to exit. Click ***"Yes"***.

Sub-heading 1.2: Checking and Ending Processes in Task Manager (Optional but Recommended)

Sometimes, even after exiting from the system tray, a rogue process might linger. It's good practice to double-check.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously to open the Task Manager.
Go to the "Processes" tab.
Scroll through the list and look for anything related to Riot Vanguard, Valorant, or Riot Client. This might include processes like vgc.exe, vgtray.exe, or RiotClientServices.exe.
If you find any, right-click on them and select ***"End task"***. Confirm if prompted.

Step 2: The Standard Uninstall – Through Windows Settings

This is the most common and often the simplest way to remove software. We'll start here, but be aware that for Vanguard, this might not remove everything.

Sub-heading 2.1: Uninstalling via "Installed Apps" (Windows 10/11)

Open your Windows Settings. You can do this by clicking the Start button and then the gear icon, or by pressing Windows Key + I.
Navigate to "Apps" and then select "Installed apps" (on Windows 11) or "Apps & features" (on Windows 10).
In the search bar provided, type "Riot Vanguard".
Once you see "Riot Vanguard" in the list, click on the three-dot menu (Windows 11) or simply click on it (Windows 10).
Select ***"Uninstall"***.
Follow any on-screen prompts to confirm the uninstallation. You might be asked to confirm several times.
Repeat this process for "Valorant" if you also want to remove the game itself. It's often recommended to uninstall Valorant after Vanguard, as Vanguard is a prerequisite for the game.

Sub-heading 2.2: Uninstalling via "Control Panel" (Older Windows Versions or as an alternative)

If you're on an older version of Windows or prefer the classic Control Panel, here's how:

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type control panel and press Enter.
In the Control Panel, under "Programs," click on ***"Uninstall a program"***.
Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list.
Right-click on it and select ***"Uninstall/Change"***.
Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation.
Again, do the same for "Valorant" if you wish to remove the game entirely.

Important Note: After completing the uninstallation through Settings or Control Panel, it is highly recommended to restart your PC before proceeding to the next steps. This ensures any lingering kernel-level processes of Vanguard are truly terminated.

Step 3: Deep Cleaning – Manual File and Folder Deletion

Even after the standard uninstall, Riot Vanguard sometimes leaves behind residual files and folders. These typically don't cause harm, but if you want a truly clean slate, removing them manually is the way to go.

Sub-heading 3.1: Deleting Program Files Folders

Open File Explorer. You can do this by clicking the folder icon on your taskbar or pressing Windows Key + E.
Navigate to your primary drive, usually C:.
Go to the Program Files folder.
Look for a folder named ***"Riot Vanguard"***. If it exists, right-click on it and select ***"Delete"***.
Also, check for a folder named ***"Riot Games"***. If you've only uninstalled Vanguard and plan to keep other Riot titles (like League of Legends), be cautious here. If you're removing everything, you can delete this folder too. If you only removed Vanguard and not Valorant, there might still be a Riot Games folder with Valorant's files in it.
Repeat the above steps in C:\Program Files (x86) if you have that folder, though Riot Vanguard typically installs in Program Files.

Sub-heading 3.2: Clearing AppData and ProgramData Folders

These are hidden folders where applications store temporary files, configurations, and user data.

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type %appdata% and press Enter. This will open your Roaming AppData folder.
Go back one level to the AppData folder (you can usually click "AppData" in the address bar at the top).
Open the Local folder.
Look for a folder named ***"Riot Games"***. Right-click and select ***"Delete"***.
Now, let's check another location. Press Windows Key + R again.
Type %programdata% and press Enter.
Look for a folder named ***"Riot Games"***. Right-click and select ***"Delete"***.

Sub-heading 3.3: Emptying the Recycle Bin

Once you've deleted these files and folders, they'll sit in your Recycle Bin. To permanently remove them and free up space:

Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
Select ***"Empty Recycle Bin"***. Confirm if prompted.

Step 4: The Advanced Touch – Command Prompt Uninstallation (If Traditional Methods Fail)

If you're encountering persistent issues or error messages during the standard uninstall, you might need to use the Command Prompt. This method specifically targets Vanguard's kernel-mode drivers.

Sub-heading 4.1: Running Commands as Administrator

Click on the Start button and type cmd.
When "Command Prompt" appears in the search results, right-click on it and select ***"Run as administrator"***. This is crucial for the commands to work.
A black command prompt window will open.
Type the following command and press Enter: sc delete vgc
You should see a message confirming [SC] DeleteService SUCCESS.
Now, type the second command and press Enter: sc delete vgk
Again, you should see [SC] DeleteService SUCCESS.

Important: After running these commands, you MUST restart your computer immediately. This ensures the driver processes are fully unloaded from your system's memory.

Step 5: Registry Cleanup (For the Meticulous User - Use with Caution!)

The Windows Registry stores configuration settings for all software. While not strictly necessary for functionality after the above steps, removing residual registry entries can offer a truly "clean" uninstall. However, proceeding with caution here is paramount, as incorrect edits to the registry can cause system instability.

Sub-heading 5.1: Using a Registry Cleaner (Recommended for most users)

Tools like CCleaner or RegSeeker have built-in registry cleaners that can safely identify and remove orphaned entries. If you choose this route:

Download and install a reputable registry cleaner.
Run its registry scan feature.
Allow it to fix or remove any identified "Riot" or "Vanguard" related entries. Always create a backup of your registry before making changes, if the tool offers the option.

Sub-heading 5.2: Manual Registry Editing (For Advanced Users ONLY)

If you are comfortable with the Windows Registry Editor, you can manually search and delete entries. PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.
In the Registry Editor, go to File > Export and save a backup of your entire registry to a safe location. This is your safety net!
Press Ctrl + F to open the "Find" dialog.
Type Riot Vanguard and click ***"Find Next"***.
If an entry is found, right-click on it (or its containing folder if it's clearly related) and select ***"Delete"***.
Press F3 to find the next occurrence.
Repeat this process for Valorant and Riot Games.
Be very selective and only delete entries you are certain are related to Riot Vanguard or Riot Games. Look for keys or values containing the installation paths you previously deleted.

Step 6: Final Restart

Once all the steps are completed, perform one final restart of your computer. This allows the system to fully refresh and remove any last traces of Vanguard from active memory.

Congratulations! You have now successfully embarked on a thorough removal of Riot Vanguard from your system. You've freed up space, potentially resolved conflicts, and ensured a cleaner operating environment.

10 Related FAQ Questions

Here are some common questions you might have about Riot Vanguard uninstallation:

How to completely uninstall Valorant and Riot Vanguard?

To completely uninstall both, first disable Vanguard from the system tray, then uninstall both "Riot Vanguard" and "Valorant" from Windows Settings (Apps & features/Installed apps). Afterward, manually delete any remaining "Riot Games" and "Riot Vanguard" folders from Program Files, AppData, and ProgramData, and finally, empty your Recycle Bin.

How to disable Riot Vanguard temporarily?

You can temporarily disable Riot Vanguard by right-clicking its red shield icon in your system tray (bottom-right of your taskbar) and selecting "Exit Vanguard". Note that you will need to restart your PC for Vanguard to restart if you wish to play a Riot game again.

How to fix Riot Vanguard not uninstalling?

If Riot Vanguard won't uninstall, ensure you've exited it from the system tray and ended all related processes in Task Manager. If issues persist, try uninstalling via Command Prompt using sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk commands (run as administrator), then restart your PC and manually delete the Riot Vanguard folder.

How to remove Riot Vanguard from startup?

Riot Vanguard runs at a kernel level and typically starts with Windows to ensure its anti-cheat functionality is active when needed. While you can exit it from the system tray, there isn't a direct option to prevent it from starting up without uninstalling it or disabling the related Riot game.

How to tell if Riot Vanguard is still on my computer?

After attempting uninstallation, you can check by looking for the red shield icon in your system tray, searching for "Riot Vanguard" in Windows Settings (Installed apps/Apps & features), or looking for the "Riot Vanguard" folder in C:\Program Files. You can also check Task Manager for vgc.exe or vgtray.exe processes.

How to reinstall Riot Vanguard after uninstalling it?

To reinstall Riot Vanguard, simply launch any Riot game that requires it (like Valorant or League of Legends). The game client will detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to download and install it. You will then need to restart your PC after installation for it to become active.

How to resolve "Vanguard is preventing uninstallation" error?

This error means Vanguard is still active. Close it from the system tray (right-click the red shield icon and select "Exit Vanguard"). If it's still running, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find any Riot or Vanguard related processes, and "End task" them. Then, try the uninstallation again.

How to ensure no residual files are left after removing Riot Vanguard?

Beyond the standard uninstall, manually delete the Riot Vanguard and Riot Games folders from C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86), %appdata%\Local, and %programdata%. Afterward, empty your Recycle Bin. For an extra clean sweep, consider using a reputable registry cleaner tool.

How to fix Riot Vanguard errors without uninstalling?

For Riot Vanguard errors, first try restarting your PC. If that doesn't work, you might try repairing the Vanguard installation through the Riot Client settings (if available) or reinstalling Vanguard (uninstalling then reinstalling it) to ensure a fresh, uncorrupted installation. Riot Games support also has specific troubleshooting guides for various error codes.

How to uninstall Riot Client completely?

To uninstall the Riot Client (the launcher for Riot Games), first uninstall all Riot games (like Valorant or League of Legends) and Riot Vanguard. Then, uninstall "Riot Client" from Windows Settings (Apps & features/Installed apps). Finally, manually delete any remaining "Riot Games" folders from Program Files, AppData, and ProgramData, and empty your Recycle Bin.

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