Of course! Here is a very detailed, step-by-step guide on how to completely remove Riot Vanguard anti-cheat from your computer.
Ready to say goodbye to Riot Vanguard? Let's do this!
Whether you're taking a break from VALORANT, facing compatibility issues, or simply want to free up system resources, completely removing Riot Vanguard is a common and understandable goal. Riot Vanguard is a kernel-level anti-cheat system, which means it runs at the deepest level of your operating system. Because of this, simply uninstalling the game isn't enough. You need to take a few extra steps to ensure it's completely gone.
Don't worry, this guide will walk you through the entire process, from a simple uninstallation to a deep clean of leftover files.
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| How To Remove Vanguard Anti Cheat |
Step 1: The Essential First Move - Exiting Vanguard
Before you do anything else, you absolutely must exit Riot Vanguard from your system tray. If you try to uninstall it while it's still running, the process will fail. This is a critical first step.
Look for the icon: In the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock, you'll see a small arrow pointing up (
^). Click it to expand your system tray icons.Find the Vanguard icon: Look for the red shield icon with a 'V' on it. This is the Riot Vanguard icon.
Exit the program: Right-click on the Vanguard icon. A small menu will pop up.
Select "Exit Vanguard": Click on this option. A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation.
Confirm: Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to exit the Vanguard anti-cheat service.
Congratulations! You've successfully stopped Vanguard from running in the background. Now you can proceed with the uninstallation process.
QuickTip: Reread for hidden meaning.
Step 2: The Main Event - Uninstalling Vanguard and VALORANT
There are a few reliable ways to uninstall software on Windows. We'll cover the most common and effective methods.
Method 1: Using Windows Settings (Recommended)
This is the most straightforward method for most users.
Open Settings: Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Apps: In the left-hand menu, click on "Apps".
Go to Installed Apps: On the right-hand side, click on "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" on older Windows versions).
Find Riot Vanguard: Scroll down the list of your installed applications or use the search bar at the top to find "Riot Vanguard".
Uninstall Vanguard: Click on the three vertical dots next to "Riot Vanguard" and select "Uninstall". A new window will appear asking for confirmation. Click "Uninstall" again.
Find VALORANT: Now, repeat the process for "VALORANT". Find it in the list, click the three dots, and select "Uninstall".
Follow the prompts: You might be asked to confirm the uninstallation or grant administrator permissions. Click "Yes" or "Uninstall" as needed.
Method 2: Using the Control Panel
This is a classic Windows method that still works perfectly.
Open Control Panel: Press the Windows key, type "Control Panel", and press Enter.
Go to Programs: Click on "Programs" and then "Programs and Features". If you're in the icon view, click "Uninstall a program".
Find and Uninstall Vanguard: Locate "Riot Vanguard" in the list, right-click on it, and select "Uninstall".
Find and Uninstall VALORANT: Do the same for "VALORANT".
Follow the instructions: A wizard will guide you through the uninstallation. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
QuickTip: Repetition signals what matters most.
Step 3: The Deep Clean - Removing Leftover Files
Even after a successful uninstallation, some residual files and folders might remain. To ensure a truly complete removal, follow these steps.
Restart your PC: This is a crucial step. Restarting your computer allows the system to finalize the uninstallation process and release any remaining files that were in use.
Open File Explorer: Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Check the main program directory: Navigate to your C: drive and look for a folder named "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" in the
Program FilesandProgram Files (x86)folders.Navigate to
C:\Program FilesNavigate to
C:\Program Files (x86)If you find a "Riot Vanguard" folder, right-click it and select "Delete".
Check for hidden files: These are a little trickier to find but are just as important to remove.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type
%appdata%and press Enter. This will open the Roaming folder in AppData. Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete it.Repeat the process, but this time type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter. Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete it.Repeat the process again, but type
%ProgramData%and press Enter. Look for a "Riot Games" folder and delete it.
Step 4: The Advanced Method - Using Command Prompt
This method is for users who are comfortable with the command line and want a guaranteed removal of the Vanguard service. Use this method with caution.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Press the Windows key, type
cmd, and then right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".Run the commands: In the Command Prompt window, type the following two commands one by one, pressing Enter after each one:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
Restart your PC: After running these commands, you must restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Delete the folder: After restarting, navigate to
C:\Program Filesand manually delete the "Riot Vanguard" folder if it still exists.
Note: The commands sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk are used to delete the specific Vanguard services (vgc and vgk) from the Windows Service Control Manager. This is a very effective way to remove the core component of the anti-cheat.
10 Related How-To FAQs
How to uninstall VALORANT if Vanguard is blocking it?
Tip: Skim once, study twice.
First, follow Step 1 of this guide to exit Vanguard from your system tray. Then, you can proceed with the uninstallation of VALORANT through Windows Settings or the Control Panel. Vanguard must be exited or uninstalled first for the game's uninstallation to succeed.
How to check if Riot Vanguard is still on my PC?
After following the steps, you can check your "Installed apps" list in Windows Settings or "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel. You can also press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager and check for any running Riot or Vanguard processes in the "Details" or "Processes" tab.
How to delete my Riot Games account after uninstalling?
Uninstalling the game and anti-cheat does not delete your Riot Games account. To do that, you need to submit a ticket to Riot Games support through their official website. They have a specific process for account deletion that you must follow.
How to reinstall Vanguard if I change my mind?
Vanguard is automatically reinstalled when you reinstall VALORANT. You simply need to download and install the game again from the official VALORANT website. After the installation, you will need to restart your PC to activate the Vanguard service.
How to uninstall Riot Client completely?
The Riot Client is a separate launcher. It often does not have a standard uninstaller in the Control Panel. The best way to remove it is to manually delete the installation folder, which is typically found in C:\Riot Games.
Tip: Take a sip of water, then continue fresh.
How to find leftover Riot Games files?
Use the File Explorer and navigate to the following directories to check for any remaining Riot Games or VALORANT folders: C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86), %appdata%, %LocalAppData%, and %ProgramData%.
How to fix uninstallation errors with Vanguard?
If you encounter an error, first ensure you have completely exited Vanguard from the system tray (Step 1). If the error persists, try the Command Prompt method (Step 4) to forcefully remove the Vanguard services and then manually delete the remaining files.
How to free up more disk space after uninstalling VALORANT?
After uninstalling the game and Vanguard, you can use a disk cleanup tool like Windows' built-in Disk Cleanup or a third-party application to remove temporary files and other junk data. Also, emptying your Recycle Bin is a must.
How to temporarily disable Vanguard without uninstalling it?
You can temporarily disable Vanguard by right-clicking its icon in the system tray and selecting "Exit Vanguard". However, to play VALORANT, you will need to restart your computer to re-enable it.
How to prevent Vanguard from starting automatically?
Vanguard is designed to run at boot-up for security purposes. To prevent it from starting, you will need to uninstall it completely. Temporarily disabling it from the system tray is the only way to stop it from running without removing it entirely.
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