Unfortunately, I cannot directly help you with bypassing the restart requirement for Vanguard. Riot Vanguard is a kernel-mode anti-cheat system designed by Riot Games, primarily for games like Valorant. Its deep integration with your operating system requires a restart for it to initialize correctly and ensure a secure and cheat-free environment.
Any method attempting to circumvent this restart could potentially compromise your system's security, lead to game bans, or even damage your operating system. It's crucial to understand that the restart prompt is a security feature, not a bug.
If you are consistently facing issues where Vanguard always asks for a restart even after one, or if it's causing other problems, then there might be underlying issues with your system or Vanguard installation. In such cases, the focus should be on troubleshooting those issues rather than trying to bypass the legitimate restart requirement.
Here's a guide to troubleshoot common Vanguard issues that might lead to repeated restart prompts:
Understanding and Troubleshooting Riot Vanguard: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you tired of Riot Vanguard constantly demanding a restart, even after you've just rebooted your PC? It can be frustrating, especially when you're eager to jump into a game of Valorant. This guide will walk you through common reasons why Vanguard might be acting up and provide step-by-step solutions to get you back in the game without unnecessary restarts.
Step 1: Let's Start with the Basics – Have You Actually Restarted?
Before we dive into complex troubleshooting, let's confirm the most fundamental step. Have you truly restarted your computer since the last time Vanguard prompted you? Sometimes, users might shut down their PC and then power it back on, but Windows' "Fast Startup" feature can prevent a full restart, leaving some kernel processes (like Vanguard) in an uninitialized state.
- How to Perform a Full Restart:
- Click on the Start menu.
- Click on the Power icon.
- Select "Restart" (not "Shut down").
Why is this important? Vanguard operates at a very low level of your operating system (kernel-mode). A full restart ensures that all system processes, including Vanguard, are properly initialized from scratch, eliminating any lingering conflicts or incomplete updates.
Step 2: Verify Vanguard's Status and Services
If a full restart didn't resolve the issue, let's check if Vanguard is running correctly in the background. Sometimes, its services might be disabled or encountering errors.
2.1 Checking Vanguard Services:
-
Press
Win + Rto open the Run dialog. -
Type
services.mscand press Enter. This will open the Services window. -
Scroll down and look for two services:
- VGC
- Vanguard Anti-Cheat (or similar, depending on the exact version)
-
Ensure their "Startup type" is set to "Automatic."
-
Check their "Status." They should ideally be "Running." If not, right-click on them and select "Start."
-
If you see any errors when trying to start them, make a note of the error message.
2.2 Confirming Vanguard Process in Task Manager:
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escto open Task Manager. - Go to the "Details" tab.
- Look for
vgcsrv.exe(Vanguard User Mode Service) andvanguard.exe(Vanguard Kernel Mode Service). - If they are not present, it indicates Vanguard isn't running properly.
Important Note: Do not attempt to end these processes from Task Manager unless specifically instructed by Riot Support. Doing so can cause system instability and game crashes.
Step 3: Update and Repair – The Foundation of Stability
Outdated game files, operating system, or even Vanguard itself can lead to compatibility issues. Keeping everything up-to-date is crucial.
3.1 Updating Your Windows Operating System:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click "Check for updates" and install any pending updates.
- Restart your PC after installing updates, even if not prompted.
3.2 Updating Valorant/Riot Client:
- Open your Riot Client. It should automatically check for and download any available updates for Valorant.
- If it doesn't, try restarting the client.
3.3 Repairing Valorant Installation:
- Open the Riot Client.
- Go to Valorant.
- Click on the cogwheel icon (settings) in the top right corner.
- Select ***"Repair"***. This will verify game files and repair any corrupted ones.
Why does this matter? Vanguard relies heavily on the integrity of your game files and the underlying operating system. Corrupted files or an out-of-date system can prevent Vanguard from launching or functioning correctly, leading to persistent restart prompts.
Step 4: Address Software Conflicts
Other programs on your computer can sometimes interfere with Vanguard. This is a common cause of issues.
4.1 Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall (Caution Advised):
- Before doing this, be aware of the security risks. Only proceed if you are comfortable and for a very short period.
- Temporarily disable your third-party antivirus software and Windows Defender Firewall.
- Try launching Valorant. If it works, then your security software is likely the culprit. You'll need to add exceptions for Valorant and Vanguard in your antivirus/firewall settings.
4.2 Close Background Applications:
- Open Task Manager (
Ctrl + Shift + Esc). - Go to the "Processes" tab.
- Identify and close any non-essential applications that are consuming significant resources or that you suspect might be interfering with games (e.g., VPNs, overclocking software, other anti-cheat systems from different games).
Pro Tip: Pay close attention to any applications that might have an overlay feature, as these are common culprits for conflicts with anti-cheat systems.
Step 5: Reinstall Vanguard (The Last Resort Before Support)
If all else fails, a clean reinstallation of Vanguard can resolve deep-seated issues.
-
5.1 Uninstalling Vanguard:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list.
- Click on it and select ***"Uninstall"***.
- Follow the on-screen prompts.
- Restart your PC immediately after uninstalling. This is critical to ensure all Vanguard components are removed.
-
5.2 Reinstalling Valorant (Which will reinstall Vanguard):
- Open the Riot Client.
- If Valorant is uninstalled, simply click on the "Install" button. If not, you might need to uninstall Valorant first as well, as Vanguard is typically installed alongside it.
- The Riot Client will automatically download and install Vanguard along with Valorant.
- Another restart might be required after the reinstallation of Vanguard.
Why a full reinstall? A fresh installation ensures that no corrupted files or incorrect configurations are carried over from a previous installation, giving Vanguard a clean slate to operate from.
Step 6: Contact Riot Games Support
If you've followed all these steps and are still facing persistent "restart required" messages, it's time to reach out to the experts.
- Visit the Riot Games Support website for Valorant.
- Submit a ticket detailing all the troubleshooting steps you've already taken. Provide screenshots of any error messages you've encountered.
- They may ask for specific log files from your system, so be prepared to provide those.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions related to Vanguard and its restart requirements:
1. How to check if Vanguard is running on my PC?
You can check by opening Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and looking for vgcsrv.exe and vanguard.exe in the "Details" tab, or by checking the "VGC" and "Vanguard Anti-Cheat" services in services.msc.
2. How to fix Vanguard not launching after a Windows update? Restart your PC fully after the Windows update. If that doesn't work, try repairing your Valorant installation through the Riot Client or reinstalling Vanguard.
3. How to allow Vanguard through my firewall?
Go to your firewall settings (e.g., Windows Defender Firewall or your third-party antivirus firewall) and add exceptions for both the Valorant game executable and the Riot Vanguard executable (typically found in C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard).
4. How to stop Vanguard from interfering with other programs? Identify which program is causing the conflict (often an overlay or another anti-cheat). Try disabling or uninstalling the conflicting program. You might need to add exceptions for Vanguard in the other program's settings, if applicable.
5. How to manually update Riot Vanguard? Riot Vanguard usually updates automatically with the Riot Client and Valorant game updates. There isn't a standalone manual update option for Vanguard itself. Ensure your Riot Client and Valorant are up to date.
6. How to troubleshoot Vanguard error code 128? Error code 128 often relates to a conflicting program or system integrity issue. Try performing a clean boot, updating Windows, and ensuring all drivers are up to date. Reinstalling Vanguard might also help.
7. How to disable Vanguard temporarily?
You can try stopping the "VGC" service in services.msc, but this will prevent you from playing Valorant. Vanguard is designed to run automatically at startup and is difficult to disable without affecting the game.
8. How to prevent Vanguard from starting with Windows? Vanguard is designed to start with Windows as it's a kernel-mode anti-cheat. Preventing it from starting will mean you cannot play Valorant. It's a fundamental part of the game's security.
9. How to uninstall Riot Vanguard completely? Go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Apps & features," find "Riot Vanguard," and click "Uninstall." Remember to restart your PC immediately after uninstallation.
10. How to resolve persistent "Vanguard requires a system restart" message? Follow the comprehensive troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, starting with a full system restart, checking Vanguard services, updating everything, and addressing software conflicts. If the issue persists, contact Riot Games Support.