How To Tell If Vanguard Is Uninstalled

People are currently reading this guide.
👤
Published by A contributor at Hows.Tech sharing helpful insights.
📝 Article edited 0 times 🕒 Last modified by Default Author

Is Valorant taking up too much space? Are you constantly getting a notification that Riot Vanguard is running in the background, even when you're not playing? Or perhaps you're experiencing some system conflicts and believe Vanguard might be the culprit? Whatever your reason, correctly uninstalling Riot Vanguard and confirming its removal is crucial for a clean system. It's not as simple as deleting a regular program, due to its deep integration as an anti-cheat system. But don't worry, we're here to guide you through every step!

How to Tell If Vanguard is Uninstalled: A Comprehensive Guide

Ready to reclaim your system's resources and ensure Riot Vanguard is truly gone? Let's dive in!

Step 1: Engage with Your System's Heartbeat – The System Tray

Before you do anything else, let's check the most common indicator of Vanguard's presence.

  • Locate the System Tray: Look at the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock. You might need to click the small "^" (up arrow) icon to reveal hidden icons.
  • Spot the Vanguard Icon: Do you see a red shield icon (or something similar) that represents Riot Vanguard?
    • If you see it: This means Vanguard is still running. You need to exit it before proceeding with uninstallation. Right-click on the Vanguard icon and select "Exit Vanguard" (or similar option). Confirm any prompts that appear. This is a crucial first step!
    • If you don't see it: Great! It might already be closed, or it wasn't running in the first place. You can move on to the next step.

Step 2: The Primary Uninstallation Methods – Your First Line of Defense

Now that Vanguard is hopefully not actively running, we can attempt the standard uninstallation processes.

Sub-heading 2.1: Uninstalling via Windows Settings (Recommended for most users)

This is the most straightforward method and should be your first attempt.

  1. Open Windows Settings:
    • Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
    • Alternatively, click the Start menu and select the gear icon (Settings).
  2. Navigate to Apps:
    • In the Settings window, click on "Apps" (or "Apps & features" in older Windows versions).
  3. Find Riot Vanguard:
    • Scroll through the list of installed applications. You can also use the search bar at the top (if available) and type "Riot Vanguard" to quickly locate it.
  4. Initiate Uninstall:
    • Click on "Riot Vanguard" in the list.
    • Then, click the "Uninstall" button. You may need to click "Uninstall" again in a confirmation pop-up.
  5. Follow Prompts:
    • A User Account Control (UAC) prompt might appear asking for permission. Click "Yes".
    • Follow any on-screen instructions from the Vanguard uninstaller. This usually involves clicking "Next" or "Confirm."
  6. Restart Your PC: This step is vital! Even if the uninstaller doesn't explicitly tell you to, always restart your computer after uninstalling Riot Vanguard. This ensures all associated processes and drivers are properly terminated.

Sub-heading 2.2: Uninstalling via Control Panel (An alternative for older Windows versions or preference)

If you're more comfortable with the Control Panel or the Settings method didn't work, try this.

  1. Open Control Panel:
    • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
    • Type control panel and press Enter.
    • Alternatively, search for "Control Panel" in the Start menu.
  2. Go to Programs and Features:
    • In the Control Panel, click on "Programs", then "Programs and Features" (or "Uninstall a program").
  3. Find Riot Vanguard:
    • Scroll through the list to find "Riot Vanguard".
  4. Initiate Uninstall:
    • Right-click on "Riot Vanguard" and select "Uninstall".
  5. Follow Prompts and Restart:
    • As with the Settings method, follow any on-screen instructions and remember to restart your PC afterwards.

Step 3: The Deep Clean – Manual Removal and Verification

Sometimes, even after using the standard uninstallation methods, stubborn files or services can remain. This step helps confirm complete removal and cleans up any leftovers.

Sub-heading 3.1: Checking for Running Services

Even if you restarted, a quick check of services can give you peace of mind.

  1. Open Services Manager:
    • Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
    • Alternatively, search for "Services" in the Start menu.
  2. Look for Vanguard Services:
    • In the Services window, scroll through the list and look for anything related to "Riot Vanguard," "vgc," or "vgk."
    • If you find them: This indicates they might still be present or improperly removed. Note down their exact names. If you see them, do not manually stop them here unless you're absolutely sure what you're doing. Instead, proceed to the next manual removal steps, especially the Command Prompt method.
    • If you don't find them: Good! This is a strong indicator that the core services have been removed.

Sub-heading 3.2: Deleting Leftover Files and Folders

Riot Vanguard can leave behind residual files that take up space.

  1. Open File Explorer: Press Windows key + E.
  2. Navigate to Program Files: Go to C:\Program Files\ (or the drive where you installed Riot Games).
    • Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard".
    • If you find it: Right-click on the folder and select "Delete". You may need administrator permission.
    • If you don't find it: Excellent!
  3. Check AppData Folders:
    • Press Windows key + R, type %appdata%, and press Enter. This opens your Roaming AppData folder. Look for any "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" folders and delete them if found.
    • Repeat the process for %localappdata% (type it in the Run dialog and press Enter). Look for and delete any "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" folders.
    • Repeat again for %programdata% (type it in the Run dialog and press Enter). Look for and delete any "Riot Games" or "Riot Vanguard" folders.
    • Be cautious when deleting folders in these locations if you have other Riot Games products installed that you wish to keep (e.g., League of Legends), as deleting the main "Riot Games" folders might affect them.

Sub-heading 3.3: Using Command Prompt for a "Nuclear Option"

This method is more advanced but highly effective for stubborn Vanguard removals. It directly targets the Vanguard services.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
    • Click the Start menu and type cmd.
    • Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results and select "Run as administrator."
    • Click "Yes" on the UAC prompt.
  2. Execute Commands:
    • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sc delete vgc
    • Then, type the next command and press Enter: sc delete vgk
    • You should see a message like [SC] DeleteService SUCCESS for both commands if they were successful.
  3. Restart Your PC: Again, a crucial step after using these commands. Reboot your computer immediately.

Sub-heading 3.4: Registry Cleanup (Optional, Advanced, and with Caution!)

The Windows Registry can hold leftover entries. While not always necessary, cleaning them can ensure a pristine uninstall. However, improper registry edits can cause system instability, so proceed with extreme caution or use a reputable registry cleaner tool.

  1. Open Registry Editor:
    • Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
    • Click "Yes" on the UAC prompt.
  2. Backup Your Registry:
    • Before making any changes, go to File > Export... and save a backup of your entire registry to a safe location. This allows you to restore it if anything goes wrong.
  3. Search for Vanguard Entries:
    • Press Ctrl + F to open the Find dialog.
    • Type "Riot Vanguard" and click "Find Next."
    • Carefully examine any found entries. If you are certain they relate solely to Riot Vanguard (and not other Riot games you wish to keep), you can delete them.
    • Press F3 to find the next occurrence.
    • Repeat this process, searching for "vgc" and "vgk" as well.
  4. Consider Third-Party Cleaners: If you're uncomfortable with manual registry editing, consider using a reputable system cleaner like CCleaner or BleachBit. These tools often have a registry cleaning function that can safely remove leftover entries. Always download such tools from their official websites.

Step 4: Final Confirmation – How to Know it's Gone

After all these steps, how can you be absolutely sure Vanguard is truly uninstalled?

  1. Repeat System Tray Check: Go back to Step 1 and check your system tray one last time. The Vanguard icon should not be present.
  2. Check Installed Apps/Programs: Revisit Windows Settings > Apps or Control Panel > Programs and Features. "Riot Vanguard" should no longer appear in the list.
  3. Attempt to Launch Valorant (or other Riot Games that require Vanguard): If you try to launch Valorant, it should either fail to launch with an error message indicating Vanguard is missing, or it will prompt you to reinstall Vanguard. This is a strong confirmation that Vanguard is no longer on your system. If the game launches without any issues and doesn't mention Vanguard, it means the game might not be using it or it was never truly installed properly in the first place.
  4. Monitor System Performance: After a fresh restart, keep an eye on your Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). Check the "Processes" tab for any running processes named "vgc.exe" or "vgtray.exe" or anything with "Riot Vanguard" in its name. There should be none. Also, observe your CPU, memory, and disk usage for any noticeable improvements if Vanguard was causing performance issues.

By diligently following these steps, you can be confident that Riot Vanguard has been uninstalled from your system!

10 Related FAQ Questions

Here are 10 frequently asked questions about uninstalling Riot Vanguard, along with quick answers:

  1. How to uninstall Valorant and Vanguard together?

    • First, uninstall Riot Vanguard (Steps 1 & 2 in this guide), then uninstall Valorant through Windows Settings or Control Panel. It's often necessary to remove Vanguard first for Valorant's uninstallation to succeed.

  2. How to disable Vanguard without uninstalling it?

    • You can usually right-click the Vanguard icon in the system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." This temporarily disables it without full uninstallation.

  3. How to check if Vanguard is running in the background?

    • Look for the red shield icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar) or check Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) for "vgc.exe" or "vgtray.exe" processes.

  4. How to fix Vanguard if it's preventing Valorant from launching?

    • Try exiting Vanguard from the system tray, restarting your PC, or, if issues persist, reinstalling Vanguard (and potentially Valorant) completely.

  5. How to manually remove Vanguard using Command Prompt?

    • Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk, then restart your PC. See Step 3.3 for details.

  6. How to delete leftover Vanguard files after uninstalling?

    • Check C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard, %appdata%\Riot Games, %localappdata%\Riot Games, and %programdata%\Riot Games folders and delete any remaining Vanguard-related files. See Step 3.2.

  7. How to tell if Vanguard is fully gone from the Windows Registry?

    • Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and search for "Riot Vanguard," "vgc," and "vgk." Delete entries only if you're certain they relate solely to Vanguard, or use a reputable registry cleaner.

  8. How to reinstall Vanguard if I change my mind?

    • Simply launch Valorant, and it will prompt you to download and reinstall Riot Vanguard automatically. You'll need to restart your PC after installation.

  9. How to resolve "Vanguard not initialized" errors?

    • Often, this means Vanguard isn't running or is corrupted. Try restarting your PC, running Valorant and its client as administrator, or reinstalling Vanguard.

  10. How to uninstall Vanguard if it's not showing in "Add or Remove Programs"?

    • In this rare case, proceed directly to the manual removal steps using Command Prompt (Step 3.3) and then manually deleting leftover files (Step 3.2).
9055240514130150202

hows.tech

How To Tell If Vanguard Is Uninstalled

You have our undying gratitude for your visit!