This is a comprehensive guide to turning off Vanguard when you're not playing, ensuring it doesn't interfere with your system's performance or other games.
How to Turn Off Vanguard When Not Playing: A Comprehensive Guide
Hey there, fellow gamer! Are you tired of Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software for games like Valorant and League of Legends, constantly running in the background, even when you're not actively playing? Do you feel like it's a silent resource hog, potentially impacting your PC's performance or even conflicting with other applications? If you've nodded along to any of those, then you're in the right place! We've all been there – wanting to enjoy our favorite non-Riot games or just browse the web without Vanguard silently monitoring our system. This guide will walk you through, step-by-step, how to effectively manage and disable Vanguard when you're not in a Riot game, giving you back control of your PC.
Let's dive in and reclaim your system's resources!
Step 1: Understanding Why You Might Want to Turn Off Vanguard
Before we get into the "how-to," let's quickly touch upon why you might even consider disabling Vanguard. It's a powerful anti-cheat, and for its intended purpose, it's highly effective. However, its deep system integration can lead to a few common frustrations:
- Resource Consumption: Even when idle, Vanguard can consume CPU and RAM, especially on lower-end systems. This might not be noticeable for everyone, but for some, it can contribute to a less snappy experience.
- Potential Conflicts: Due to its kernel-level access, Vanguard can sometimes conflict with other software, including other anti-cheat systems, security software, or even legitimate programs. This can lead to crashes, performance issues, or error messages.
- Privacy Concerns: While Riot states Vanguard only monitors game-related processes, some users have general privacy concerns about any software running with such deep system access 24/7.
- Boot Time Impact: Vanguard starts with your system, which can add a few seconds to your boot time.
If any of these resonate with you, then let's move on to the practical steps!
Step 2: The Easiest Way – Quitting Vanguard Through the System Tray
This is the simplest and most common method to temporarily disable Vanguard. It doesn't uninstall it, but it stops its active processes until your next system reboot or until you launch a Riot game again.
2.1 Locating the Vanguard Icon
- Look for the Vanguard icon in your system tray, usually located in the bottom-right corner of your screen near the clock. It often looks like a red shield with a white 'V' or similar. You might need to click the small "up arrow" (hidden icons) to reveal it.
2.2 Right-Clicking and Exiting
- Right-click on the Vanguard icon.
- A small context menu will appear. Look for an option like "Exit Vanguard" or "Quit Vanguard".
- Click on this option. You might receive a prompt asking for confirmation, explaining that Riot games won't launch without it. Confirm your choice.
2.3 Verification
- The Vanguard icon should disappear from your system tray. You can also open your Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check the "Processes" tab to confirm that "Riot Vanguard" or "vgtray.exe" is no longer running.
Keep in mind that this method is temporary. Vanguard will automatically restart the next time you reboot your computer or launch a Riot game.
Step 3: Controlling Vanguard's Startup Behavior
If you want more control over when Vanguard starts, you can prevent it from launching automatically with Windows. This is a bit more involved but gives you more consistent control.
3.1 Using Task Manager for Startup Programs
- Open Task Manager by pressing
Ctrl + Shift + Escor right-clicking on your taskbar and selecting "Task Manager." - Navigate to the "Startup" tab.
- Scroll through the list and locate "Riot Vanguard" or "Vanguard Anti-Cheat."
- Right-click on it.
- Select "Disable."
Now, Vanguard will not automatically launch when you start your computer. However, it will still launch if you try to play a Riot game. You'll need to manually restart your computer after playing a Riot game for Vanguard to shut down.
3.2 Using Services (For Advanced Users)
This method provides a deeper level of control, but it's important to be careful when interacting with system services.
- Press
Windows Key + Rto open the Run dialog. - Type
services.mscand press Enter. This will open the Services management console. - Scroll down and find a service named "Vanguard Anti-Cheat" or something similar.
- Right-click on the service.
- Select "Properties."
- In the Properties window, find the "Startup type" dropdown menu.
- Change it from "Automatic" to "Manual."
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
- You can also click "Stop" if the service is currently running.
This will prevent Vanguard from automatically starting with Windows. It will only start when a Riot game explicitly requests it.
Step 4: Completely Uninstalling Vanguard (The Last Resort)
If you've decided you're done with Riot games for a while, or you're experiencing persistent issues, uninstalling Vanguard completely is an option. Be warned: you will not be able to play Valorant or other Vanguard-protected Riot games until you reinstall it.
4.1 Uninstalling Through Apps & Features
- Open Settings by clicking the Start button and then the gear icon, or by pressing
Windows Key + I. - Click on "Apps" and then "Apps & features."
- Scroll down the list or use the search bar to find "Riot Vanguard."
- Click on "Riot Vanguard" and then click the "Uninstall" button.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. You might need to restart your computer.
4.2 Verifying Uninstallation
- After restarting, check your system tray and Task Manager to ensure Vanguard is completely gone.
Remember, if you decide to play a Vanguard-protected Riot game again, the game client will prompt you to reinstall Vanguard, and you'll need to restart your computer for it to take effect.
Step 5: Troubleshooting and Important Considerations
Sometimes, things don't go as smoothly as planned. Here are some common issues and important notes:
5.1 "Vanguard is Still Running!"
- Restart your PC: Often, a simple restart is enough to fully close Vanguard after you've exited it or changed its settings.
- Check Task Manager: Double-check the "Processes" and "Services" tabs in Task Manager to ensure no Vanguard-related processes are active.
- Administrator Privileges: Ensure you are running your PC with administrator privileges when attempting to make changes to Vanguard's settings or uninstall it.
5.2 Game Won't Launch After Disabling Vanguard
- This is expected. If you've disabled Vanguard, Riot games like Valorant will not launch. You'll receive an error message prompting you to enable or restart Vanguard. You'll need to re-enable it (by setting its service to "Automatic" or allowing it to run on startup) and potentially restart your PC to play those games.
5.3 Reinstalling Vanguard
- If you've uninstalled Vanguard and want to play a Riot game again, simply launch the game. The client will detect that Vanguard is missing and will guide you through the reinstallation process. A system restart will likely be required after reinstallation.
5.4 Security Software Conflicts
- In rare cases, your antivirus or firewall might interfere with Vanguard's installation or operation. If you encounter persistent issues, temporarily disabling your security software during installation (and re-enabling it immediately after) might help.
By following these steps, you should have a firm grasp on how to manage Riot Vanguard, ensuring it only runs when you need it to and stays out of your way when you don't. Enjoy your gaming, free from unwanted background processes!
Related FAQ Questions
How to stop Vanguard from running in the background?
You can stop Vanguard from running in the background by right-clicking its icon in the system tray and selecting "Exit Vanguard," or by disabling its startup entry in Task Manager, or setting its service to "Manual" in services.msc.
How to disable Vanguard completely?
To disable Vanguard completely when not playing, you can set its service startup type to "Manual" in the Services application (services.msc), or uninstall it through "Apps & features" in Windows Settings.
How to remove Vanguard without uninstalling Valorant?
You can remove Vanguard by uninstalling it through "Apps & features" in Windows Settings. This will not uninstall Valorant itself, but Valorant will require Vanguard to be reinstalled and running before it can launch again.
How to turn off Vanguard service?
To turn off the Vanguard service, open services.msc, locate "Vanguard Anti-Cheat," right-click it, select "Properties," and change the "Startup type" to "Manual." You can also click "Stop" if it's currently running.
How to prevent Vanguard from starting with Windows?
To prevent Vanguard from starting with Windows, open Task Manager, go to the "Startup" tab, find "Riot Vanguard," and click "Disable." Alternatively, set the "Vanguard Anti-Cheat" service startup type to "Manual" in services.msc.
How to re-enable Vanguard after disabling it?
To re-enable Vanguard after disabling it, either set its service startup type back to "Automatic" in services.msc, or if you disabled it via Task Manager's Startup tab, simply launch a Riot game, and it will prompt you to re-enable or restart Vanguard. A system restart is often required.
How to fix Vanguard not starting?
If Vanguard is not starting, ensure its service startup type is set to "Automatic" in services.msc. If you recently disabled it, try restarting your computer. Reinstalling Vanguard via a Riot game client (by attempting to launch the game) can also fix startup issues.
How to check if Vanguard is running?
You can check if Vanguard is running by looking for its icon in the system tray (often a red shield), or by opening Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and looking for "Riot Vanguard" or "vgtray.exe" in the "Processes" tab.
How to update Vanguard manually?
Vanguard usually updates automatically with Riot game client updates. There is no direct manual update option. If an update is required, the game client will prompt you to update or reinstall it.
How to troubleshoot Vanguard issues?
Troubleshoot Vanguard issues by ensuring it's not conflicting with other software (especially security programs), checking its service status in services.msc, trying a clean reinstallation (uninstalling and then letting the game client reinstall it), and ensuring your Windows and drivers are up to date.
