Vanguard, Riot Games' anti-cheat software, can sometimes be a bit... stubborn. If you've ever encountered an error message, a game not launching, or general weirdness with Valorant or other Riot titles, you know the frustration of being told to restart your entire PC. But what if you're in the middle of a crucial task, have a dozen tabs open, or simply don't want to go through the whole reboot process?
Well, my friend, you've come to the right place! In this extensive guide, we're going to dive deep into the world of restarting Vanguard without having to restart your entire computer. Get ready to save time, reduce frustration, and get back into the game faster.
The Vanguard Conundrum: Why It Needs Restarting
Before we jump into the "how," let's briefly touch on the "why." Vanguard is designed to run at a very low level of your operating system, almost like a separate mini-OS within your PC. This deep integration is what allows it to effectively detect and prevent cheating. However, this also means it can sometimes get into a "stuck" state, where it's not communicating properly with your games or the Riot client. A full PC restart usually resolves this by clearing all processes and giving Vanguard a fresh start. But we're here to find a more elegant solution!
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Restarting Vanguard Without Restarting Your PC
Ready to take back control? Let's begin!
Step 1: Are you experiencing issues with Vanguard right now?
Before we even begin, let me ask you: are you currently facing a problem that you suspect is Vanguard-related, like a game not launching, an error message, or unusual in-game behavior? If so, perfect! You're in the right mindset to follow these steps. If not, bookmark this page for when the dreaded Vanguard error eventually rears its head!
Step 2: Identify and Close Riot Games Processes
The first crucial step is to ensure that no Riot Games applications are actively running in the background. Vanguard is closely tied to these, so they need to be shut down for a clean restart.
2.1: Closing Valorant/League of Legends/Other Riot Games
- If you have Valorant, League of Legends, Legends of Runeterra, or Teamfight Tactics open, close them normally. Do not minimize them, ensure they are completely shut down.
- Check your system tray (the area next to your clock on the taskbar) for any Riot Games icons. Right-click on them and select "Exit" or "Quit" if available.
2.2: Using Task Manager to Terminate Processes
Even if you've closed the games, sometimes lingering processes can interfere.
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously to open the Task Manager. You can also right-click on your taskbar and select "Task Manager."
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In the Task Manager, go to the "Processes" tab.
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Scroll down and look for any processes related to Riot Games or Vanguard. You'll typically find:
- Valorant
- League of Legends
- Riot Client
- Riot Vanguard (or
vgcsrv.exeorvgc.exe)
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For each of these, select the process and click "End task" in the bottom right corner. Be thorough here! Ensure you've ended all of them.
Pro-Tip: If you have a lot of processes, you can click on the "Name" column to sort alphabetically, making it easier to find.
Step 3: Stop the Vanguard Service
This is the core of restarting Vanguard without a full PC reboot. Vanguard runs as a Windows service, and we can stop and then restart this service.
3.1: Accessing Services Through Task Manager
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With Task Manager still open (from Step 2.2), navigate to the "Services" tab.
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Look for a service named "vgc". This is the Vanguard service.
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Right-click on "vgc" and select "Stop." You might see a confirmation prompt; confirm it.
What to do if "Stop" is greyed out: This can happen sometimes. Don't worry, we have an alternative method for you in the next section.
3.2: Alternative Method: Using the Services Application (If Task Manager Fails)
If you couldn't stop the "vgc" service through Task Manager, or if you prefer this method:
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Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
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Type
services.mscand press Enter or click "OK." This will open the Services application. -
Scroll down the list of services until you find "vgc" (Riot Vanguard).
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Right-click on "vgc" and select "Stop."
Note: You might need administrator privileges to perform this action.
Step 4: Restart the Vanguard Service
Now that Vanguard is stopped, it's time to give it a fresh start.
4.1: Restarting from the Services Application (Recommended)
- If you're in the Services application (from Step 3.2), with "vgc" still selected, right-click on it and select "Start."
4.2: Restarting from Task Manager (If you stopped it there)
- If you stopped "vgc" via Task Manager (Step 3.1), return to the "Services" tab.
- Right-click on "vgc" and select "Start."
Once you've started the service, you should see its "Status" change to "Running."
Step 5: Relaunch Your Riot Game
With the Vanguard service successfully restarted, you can now try launching your Riot game again.
- Open your Riot Client (if it didn't launch automatically with your game).
- Launch Valorant, League of Legends, or whichever game you were trying to play.
Cross your fingers! In most cases, this process will resolve the Vanguard-related issue without requiring a full PC restart.
Troubleshooting: What if it Doesn't Work?
While the above steps are highly effective, sometimes Vanguard can be extra stubborn. Here are a few additional troubleshooting tips:
- Run as Administrator: Try launching your Riot game and the Riot Client as an administrator. Right-click on their shortcuts and select "Run as administrator."
- Check for Windows Updates: Ensure your Windows operating system is fully up to date. Vanguard relies on core system components, and updates can resolve compatibility issues.
- Reinstall Vanguard (Last Resort): If none of the above works, you might need to completely uninstall and reinstall Vanguard.
- Go to
Settings > Apps > Apps & features. - Find "Riot Vanguard" and click "Uninstall."
- Restart your PC (yes, this time you might have to).
- Launch any Riot game, and it will prompt you to reinstall Vanguard.
- Go to
- Check your Firewall/Antivirus: Ensure your firewall or antivirus software isn't blocking Vanguard. Temporarily disabling them for testing purposes (and re-enabling immediately after) can help diagnose this.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Vanguard and its behavior:
How to check if Vanguard is running?
You can check if Vanguard is running by opening Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), going to the "Processes" tab, and looking for "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc.exe". You can also check the "Services" tab for the "vgc" service and see if its status is "Running."
How to stop Vanguard from running at startup?
You generally cannot prevent Vanguard from running at startup if you want to play Riot games, as it's designed to always be active for anti-cheat purposes. If you really want to stop it, you would need to uninstall it, but this would prevent you from playing Riot games.
How to uninstall Vanguard?
Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find "Riot Vanguard" in the list, click on it, and then click "Uninstall."
How to fix "Vanguard not initialized" error?
This error often indicates Vanguard didn't start correctly. Follow the steps in this guide to stop and restart the "vgc" service. If that fails, a full PC restart or reinstalling Vanguard might be necessary.
How to update Vanguard manually?
Vanguard usually updates automatically with Riot game updates or through the Riot Client. There isn't a manual update button for Vanguard itself; ensure your Riot Client and games are up to date.
How to tell if Vanguard is blocking my game?
Error messages mentioning "Vanguard," "VAL 5," or similar codes often indicate Vanguard interference. Also, if your game simply won't launch or crashes immediately after launching, Vanguard could be a culprit.
How to resolve Vanguard "VAN 1067" error?
The VAN 1067 error is often related to Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 not being enabled in your BIOS/UEFI. Check your motherboard's manual or manufacturer's website for instructions on enabling these features.
How to prevent Vanguard from causing performance issues?
Ensure your drivers are up to date, especially graphics drivers. Close unnecessary background applications. While Vanguard runs at a low level, significant performance drops are usually due to other factors or system misconfigurations.
How to contact Riot Games support about Vanguard issues?
Visit the official Riot Games Support website for your region and navigate to the "Valorant" or "Technical Issues" section. You can submit a support ticket there.
How to ensure Vanguard is not corrupted?
The best way to ensure Vanguard is not corrupted is to completely uninstall it (via Apps & features in Windows Settings) and then reinstall it by launching any Riot game, which will prompt the reinstallation.
