Do you play Valorant or League of Legends and suddenly find yourself unable to launch the game, greeted by a persistent "Vanguard not running" error? Frustrating, isn't it? Riot Vanguard is the indispensable anti-cheat system developed by Riot Games, designed to maintain fair play in titles like Valorant and League of Legends. Without it running correctly, you simply won't be able to dive into your favorite game.
While Vanguard is generally designed to run automatically, sometimes things go awry. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various steps to ensure Riot Vanguard is up and running, allowing you to get back into the action!
Understanding Riot Vanguard: A Quick Overview
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's briefly understand what Riot Vanguard is. It's a kernel-level anti-cheat software that runs at a very deep level of your operating system. This allows it to detect and prevent sophisticated cheating methods. Because of its deep integration, it sometimes conflicts with other software or system settings, leading to issues.
Step 1: The First (and Easiest!) Fix - Restart Everything!
Alright, before we get into anything too technical, let's start with the classic IT troubleshooting mantra: "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" For many Vanguard issues, a simple restart is all it takes.
Sub-heading: Why a Restart Helps
When you restart your computer, it essentially refreshes all running processes and services, including Riot Vanguard. Sometimes, Vanguard might have failed to initialize correctly during the previous boot, or a temporary conflict might be preventing it from running. A fresh start often resolves these transient problems.
Sub-heading: How to Perform a Full Restart
- Close all Riot Games applications: Ensure that Valorant, League of Legends, and the Riot Client are completely closed. Check your taskbar and system tray (the area near your clock) to confirm.
- Restart your PC:
- Click the Start button.
- Click the Power icon.
- Select Restart.
- Launch your game: Once your computer has fully restarted, try launching Valorant or League of Legends again. Hopefully, this simple step resolves your issue!
Step 2: Verify Riot Vanguard Service Status
If a simple restart didn't do the trick, it's time to check if the Vanguard service itself is running. This service, named "vgc," is crucial for Vanguard's operation.
Sub-heading: Accessing Windows Services
- Open the Run dialog: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter: This will open the Services management console.
Sub-heading: Checking and Starting the vgc Service
- Locate "vgc" service: In the Services window, scroll down the list until you find a service named "vgc" (it might be listed as "VGC" or "Riot Vanguard").
- Check its status: Look at the "Status" column.
- If it says "Running", that's a good sign, but something else might be causing the issue.
- If it says "Stopped" or is blank, then the service isn't active.
- Start the service (if stopped):
- Right-click on the "vgc" service.
- Select "Start".
- If "Start" is grayed out, try selecting "Restart" if available.
- Set Startup Type to Automatic:
- Right-click on the "vgc" service again.
- Select "Properties".
- In the "General" tab, find "Startup type" and set it to "Automatic". This ensures Vanguard attempts to start with your system.
- Click "Apply" then "OK".
- Restart your PC (again!): Even if you manually started the service, it's a good idea to restart your PC after making changes to service settings to ensure they take full effect.
- Try launching your game.
Step 3: Reinstalling Riot Vanguard (and Your Game)
Sometimes, Vanguard's installation can become corrupted. A clean reinstallation often fixes deeper issues. Since Vanguard is tightly integrated with Riot's games, a full reinstallation of both is often the most effective solution.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Vanguard First
It's crucial to uninstall Vanguard separately before attempting to uninstall the game itself.
- Close all Riot Games applications.
- Open "Add or Remove Programs":
- Windows 10: Click the Start button, type "add or remove programs," and select the corresponding option.
- Windows 11: Right-click the Start button, select "Settings," then go to "Apps" > "Installed apps."
- Uninstall Riot Vanguard:
- Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list.
- Click on it and select "Uninstall".
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. You might be asked to restart your computer during this process; do so if prompted.
- Delete the Vanguard folder (optional but recommended): Even after uninstalling, sometimes remnant files remain.
- Navigate to
C:\Program Files\. - If a folder named "Riot Vanguard" still exists, right-click it and select "Delete".
- Navigate to
Sub-heading: Reinstalling Your Riot Game (Valorant/League of Legends)
Once Vanguard is uninstalled, reinstalling your Riot game will automatically reinstall a fresh copy of Vanguard.
- Open the Riot Client: Launch the Riot Games client.
- Locate your game: Select Valorant or League of Legends from your game library.
- Initiate installation/update: The client should detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it, or simply begin an update/installation process for the game itself.
- Follow the prompts: Allow the client to download and install all necessary files.
- Restart your PC: After the installation is complete, a restart is almost always required for Vanguard to integrate properly.
- Launch your game.
Step 4: Checking System Requirements and Compatibility
Riot Vanguard, especially with newer Windows versions, has certain system requirements. If your system doesn't meet these, you might encounter errors.
Sub-heading: TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot
For Windows 11 users, and in some cases for Windows 10, Vanguard often requires TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) and UEFI Secure Boot to be enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. If you receive an error code like VAN9001, VAN9003, or VAN9006, this is likely the culprit.
- Check current status:
- Press Windows key + R, type
tpm.msc, and press Enter to check TPM status. - Press Windows key + R, type
msinfo32, and press Enter. Look for "BIOS Mode" (should be UEFI) and "Secure Boot State" (should be On).
- Press Windows key + R, type
- Access your BIOS/UEFI settings: This step is crucial and varies by motherboard manufacturer.
- Restart your PC.
- As your PC boots up, repeatedly press the designated BIOS/UEFI key (common keys include
Del,F2,F10,F12,Esc). You might need to check your motherboard manual or a quick online search for your specific PC model.
- Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (proceed with caution!):
- Navigate through your BIOS/UEFI menus to find these settings. They are often under sections like "Security," "Boot," or "Advanced."
- Enable TPM 2.0 (might be called "Intel Platform Trust Technology (IPTT)" or "AMD CPU fTPM").
- Enable Secure Boot. You may need to disable "CSM" or "Legacy Boot" first to enable UEFI and Secure Boot.
- Save changes and exit BIOS/UEFI. Your PC will restart.
- Launch your game.
Sub-heading: Outdated Windows Version
Vanguard might restrict access if you're running an older, unsupported version of Windows. Ensure your Windows operating system is up-to-date.
- Check for Windows Updates:
- Go to Settings (Windows key + I).
- Select "Update & Security" (Windows 10) or "Windows Update" (Windows 11).
- Click "Check for updates" and install any pending updates.
- Restart your PC after updates are installed.
Step 5: Addressing Potential Conflicts and Troubleshooting Specific Errors
Sometimes, other software or system configurations can interfere with Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Third-Party Software Interference
Certain overlays, recording software, or even some antivirus programs can conflict with Vanguard.
- Temporarily disable non-essential background applications:
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
- Go to the "Processes" tab.
- Look for any applications that aren't essential for your system and are running in the background. Be careful not to close critical Windows processes.
- End task on suspicious or known conflicting applications.
- Adjust Antivirus/Firewall settings: Your antivirus or firewall might be mistakenly blocking Vanguard.
- Temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall (be cautious and only do this while troubleshooting, re-enable immediately after testing).
- Add Riot Vanguard and your Riot game (Valorant/League of Legends) to your antivirus/firewall's exception list or whitelist. Consult your antivirus software's documentation for specific instructions.
Sub-heading: Using Command Prompt for Vanguard Service Repair
In rare cases, the Vanguard service might be stuck. You can try to reset its state via Command Prompt.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Click the Start button, type "cmd," right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."
- Execute commands:
- Type
sc delete vgcand press Enter. (This deletes the vgc service.) - Type
sc delete vgkand press Enter. (This deletes the vgk service, another component of Vanguard). - You might receive an error that the service isn't found if it was already stopped/removed, which is fine.
- Type
- Restart your PC.
- Reinstall your Riot game: As mentioned in Step 3, reinstalling your game will automatically reinstall Vanguard.
Step 6: Contact Riot Games Support
If you've tried all the steps above and are still encountering issues, it's time to reach out to Riot Games Support. They have dedicated teams who can provide more personalized assistance and might have insights into specific error codes or uncommon conflicts.
Sub-heading: Providing Detailed Information
When contacting support, be sure to provide:
- The exact error message you're receiving (e.g., "VAN -1," "VAN 57," etc.).
- A detailed description of the steps you've already taken.
- Your computer's specifications (Windows version, CPU, GPU, RAM).
- Any recent changes to your system (new software, hardware, updates).
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Riot Vanguard:
How to know if Riot Vanguard is running?
You can check for the Riot Vanguard icon (a red shield or Riot Games logo) in your system tray (the area near your clock, you might need to click the up arrow to reveal hidden icons). If it's there, it's generally running. You can also check the "vgc" service in Windows Services, as described in Step 2.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard?
Go to "Add or Remove Programs" (Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps) and uninstall "Riot Vanguard" from the list. It's often recommended to restart your PC afterward and then delete the Riot Vanguard folder from C:\Program Files\.
How to fix Vanguard not initialized error?
This error often points to the vgc service not starting. Try restarting your PC, checking and manually starting the vgc service in Windows Services (Step 2), and ensuring its startup type is set to "Automatic."
How to enable TPM 2.0 for Vanguard?
You need to enable TPM 2.0 in your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings. Access BIOS during startup (usually by pressing Del, F2, or another function key) and look for TPM or PTT settings, often under "Security" or "Advanced" menus.
How to enable Secure Boot for Vanguard?
Similar to TPM 2.0, Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. Access your BIOS and find the "Secure Boot" option, typically under "Boot" or "Security" menus. Ensure your BIOS mode is set to UEFI.
How to stop Vanguard from running at startup?
While you can disable the "vgc" service from starting automatically in Windows Services, Riot Vanguard is required to play Riot Games titles like Valorant and League of Legends. If you prevent it from starting, you won't be able to launch those games until it's enabled again.
How to troubleshoot Vanguard error codes like VAN 57?
VAN 57 usually means "Vanguard Not Running." The first steps are to restart your PC and then check the "vgc" service status (Step 2). If issues persist, a full reinstallation of Vanguard and your game (Step 3) is recommended.
How to update Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard updates automatically with your Riot Games client and games. When you launch Valorant or League of Legends, the client will usually check for and install any necessary Vanguard updates.
How to re-install Riot Vanguard if it's corrupted?
The best way to reinstall a fresh copy of Riot Vanguard is to first uninstall it completely (as per "How to uninstall Riot Vanguard?" above), then launch your Riot game (Valorant or League of Legends). The game client will detect the missing Vanguard and prompt you to install it automatically.
How to resolve conflicts between Vanguard and other software?
Try temporarily disabling other background applications, especially overlays, recording software, or even some antivirus programs. Add Riot Vanguard and your Riot game to your antivirus/firewall's exception list. If a specific program is consistently causing issues, you might need to consider alternatives or adjustments to its settings.
