Starting up Riot Vanguard to get into your favorite Riot Games title like Valorant or League of Legends can sometimes feel like a puzzle. Whether you're a new player or a veteran facing a sudden error, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, from understanding what Vanguard is to troubleshooting common issues.
So, you're ready to jump into the action? Let's make sure your anti-cheat is ready to go. Let's get started, shall we?
Step 1: Understanding What Riot Vanguard Is
First, let's talk about what we're dealing with. Riot Vanguard is a custom-built anti-cheat system developed by Riot Games. It's not just a program you can turn on and off on a whim. It operates at a kernel-level on your PC. This means it has deep access to your system to detect and prevent cheating software that can give players an unfair advantage. It's designed to ensure competitive integrity in games like Valorant and League of Legends.
Why is it so deep in my system? Because many sophisticated cheats also operate at the kernel level. By running at the same level, Vanguard can effectively detect and stop them from interfering with the game. This approach is powerful but can also be a source of compatibility issues, which we'll address later.
Step 2: Installing and Starting Riot Vanguard
Believe it or not, there's no separate download for Riot Vanguard. It's automatically installed when you download a Vanguard-compatible game like Valorant or League of Legends from the official Riot Games website.
Here's the step-by-step process:
Sub-heading 2.1: The Automatic Installation
Download the game: Head to the official Riot Games website and download the installer for Valorant or League of Legends.
Run the installer: Follow the on-screen prompts to install the game. The Riot Client will handle the installation of both the game and Riot Vanguard.
Restart your PC: After the installation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer. This is a crucial step. Vanguard needs to load at system startup to function correctly. Do not skip this!
Verify the installation: Once your PC restarts, you should see a small red shield icon with a "V" in your system tray (the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, next to the clock). This icon confirms that Riot Vanguard is running.
Sub-heading 2.2: The Manual Start (If Needed)
In most cases, Vanguard will start automatically with your PC. However, if you see an error message or the icon is missing, you might need to manually start the service.
Open the Services Manager:
Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type
services.mscand press Enter.Alternatively, you can search for "Services" in the Windows Start Menu.
Find the VGC service: In the list of services, scroll down or click on a service and type "vgc" to quickly find the vgc service.
Start the service:
Right-click on the "vgc" service and select Properties.
Make sure the "Startup type" is set to Automatic.
Under "Service status," click on Start.
Restart your PC (again): Even after manually starting the service, it's often a good idea to restart your computer to ensure everything is properly initialized.
Step 3: Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are some common problems you might encounter and how to fix them.
Sub-heading 3.1: Riot Vanguard Not Starting or Crashed
If you're getting error codes like VAN 57, VAN -1, or a message that says "Vanguard not initialized," this section is for you.
Solution 1: Restart your PC. This is the simplest and often most effective solution. A fresh boot can resolve many temporary glitches.
Solution 2: Reinstall Vanguard. If a restart doesn't work, a clean reinstall is the next best step.
Go to Add or remove programs in Windows Settings.
Find Riot Vanguard in the list.
Click on it and select Uninstall.
Restart your computer.
Launch your Riot game (e.g., Valorant or League of Legends). The Riot Client will automatically re-download and install Vanguard. You will need to restart your PC again after this.
Solution 3: Check for conflicting software. Your antivirus or other security software might be blocking Vanguard. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus and see if that resolves the issue. If it does, you'll need to add Vanguard to your antivirus's exception or whitelist list.
Sub-heading 3.2: Error Codes (VAN 9001, VAN 9006, etc.)
Some errors are related to specific system settings.
VAN 9001: TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot are not enabled. This is a common issue on newer Windows 10 and 11 systems. Vanguard now requires these security features to be enabled.
Check your BIOS mode:
Press Windows Key + R, type
msinfo32, and press Enter.Look for "BIOS Mode." If it says "Legacy," you need to change it to UEFI.
Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot:
Restart your computer and enter your BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing a key like DEL, F2, F10, or F12 during boot-up).
Look for settings related to Secure Boot and TPM or Trusted Platform Module.
Enable both of these features. The exact location and naming can vary depending on your motherboard manufacturer (e.g., ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte).
Save and exit the BIOS. Your PC will restart, and you should be able to launch the game.
VAN 9006: You are running an unsupported version of Windows. Vanguard requires a specific version of Windows 10 or later. Make sure your operating system is up to date.
Open Windows Settings > Update & Security.
Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
Step 4: Managing Riot Vanguard
You have some control over Vanguard, even though it runs at a low level.
Sub-heading 4.1: The System Tray Icon
When Vanguard is running, you'll see its icon in your system tray. You can right-click this icon to access a few options.
Exit Vanguard: You can exit Vanguard from here. Keep in mind that doing so will prevent you from launching any Riot Games that require it until you restart your computer.
Disable Vanguard: Some older versions of Vanguard had a disabling option, but the recommended way to stop it is to exit the process and then restart your computer to re-enable it when you want to play.
Sub-heading 4.2: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard
If you're done playing Riot Games and want to remove Vanguard, you can do so easily. Note that uninstalling the game does not automatically uninstall Vanguard if you have other Riot games installed.
Open Add or remove programs (or Control Panel > Programs and Features on older Windows versions).
Find Riot Vanguard in the list of installed applications.
Click Uninstall and follow the prompts.
Restart your PC to complete the uninstallation. This is a vital step to ensure the kernel-level driver is fully removed.
FAQ: How to...
How to know if Riot Vanguard is running? Look for the small red shield icon with a "V" in your Windows system tray. If it's there, Vanguard is active.
How to turn off Riot Vanguard? You can right-click the Vanguard icon in the system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." However, you will need to restart your computer to re-enable it and play Vanguard-compatible games again.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard? Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features (or Control Panel > Programs and Features) and uninstall "Riot Vanguard" from the list. Remember to restart your computer afterward.
How to fix the "Vanguard not initialized" error? Restart your computer. If that doesn't work, uninstall and reinstall Riot Vanguard by launching your Riot game.
How to update Riot Vanguard? Vanguard updates automatically with your Riot game client. If a new version is available, it will prompt you to restart your PC to complete the update.
How to check if my PC meets Vanguard's requirements?
Check your Windows version and ensure your BIOS mode is set to UEFI with TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled if you're on a newer system. You can check your BIOS mode by typing msinfo32 in the Windows search bar.
How to allow Riot Vanguard through my firewall?
In your antivirus or firewall software settings, add RiotVanguard.exe and your game's executable file (e.g., VALORANT.exe) as exceptions or trusted programs.
How to fix Vanguard crashing my computer? Ensure all your device drivers, especially graphics and audio drivers, are up to date. Conflicts with outdated drivers can cause crashes. A clean reinstall of Vanguard can also help.
How to contact Riot Games Support for Vanguard issues? If you've tried all the troubleshooting steps and the issue persists, visit the official Riot Games Support website and submit a ticket. Provide detailed information about your error code and what you've already tried.
How to check for error codes related to Vanguard? When you encounter an issue, the Riot Client will usually display an error code, such as VAN -1, VAN 68, or VAN 9001. You can then search for that specific error code on the official Riot Games Support website for a tailored solution.
