Step 1: Hey, Let's Find that Missing Vanguard Tray!
Have you ever been in the middle of an intense Valorant match, or just finished one, and you realize the Vanguard tray icon is missing from your system tray? It can be a little frustrating, especially when you need to quickly check its status or access its settings. Don't worry, you're not alone in this! We're going to fix this together, step by step. So, let's start by figuring out where to look. The Vanguard tray icon, which looks like a small red shield, is designed to be in a very specific place: your Windows system tray, also known as the notification area, usually found at the bottom right of your screen.
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| How To Unhide Vanguard Tray |
Step 2: Check the Hidden Icons Menu
Before we dive into more complex solutions, let's check the most common culprit: the hidden icons menu. Windows often hides icons to keep the taskbar looking clean and tidy.
Sub-heading 2.1: The Little Up Arrow
Look for a small upward-pointing arrow (^) on your taskbar, right next to the network, volume, and clock icons. Click on this arrow. This will open a small pop-up window that contains all the icons that are currently hidden.
Sub-heading 2.2: Is it There?
Now, carefully scan the icons in this pop-up window. Do you see the red Vanguard shield icon? If you do, congratulations! You've found it. To make it always visible, simply click and drag the icon from the pop-up window and drop it onto the taskbar. This will "unhide" it permanently.
Step 3: Restart Vanguard and Your PC
Tip: Reread the opening if you feel lost.
Sometimes, a simple restart is all it takes to solve a software glitch. This is a classic IT solution for a reason—it works!
Sub-heading 3.1: Ending the Vanguard Process
First, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
In the Task Manager, click on the "Processes" tab.
Look for a process named "Riot Vanguard" or "vgtray.exe".
Right-click on it and select "End task".
Sub-heading 3.2: Launching Valorant to Relaunch Vanguard
Now that you've ended the process, launch Valorant again. When you start the game, Vanguard will automatically launch and, in most cases, the tray icon will reappear. If it doesn't, proceed to the next step.
Sub-heading 3.3: The Classic Reboot
If ending the task didn't work, a full computer restart is the next logical step. Save all your work and close all applications, then restart your PC. After your computer boots up, check the system tray again.
Step 4: Check Vanguard's Startup Settings
If Vanguard is not set to run on startup, the tray icon will not appear until you manually launch the program.
QuickTip: Note key words you want to remember.
Sub-heading 4.1: The 'Startup Apps' Menu
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Click on the "Startup apps" tab.
Look for an entry named "Riot Vanguard" or "vgtray.exe".
Make sure its status is set to "Enabled." If it's disabled, right-click on it and select "Enable."
Sub-heading 4.2: The 'Run' Command
You can also check the startup folder. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type shell:startup and press Enter. This will open the startup folder. Look for a shortcut to Riot Vanguard. If it's not there, it might be the reason it's not starting with Windows.
Step 5: Reinstall Riot Vanguard
If all the above steps fail, a clean reinstallation of Vanguard is the most effective solution. This will fix any corrupted files or settings that might be preventing the tray icon from appearing.
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Sub-heading 5.1: The Uninstallation Process
Press the Windows key, type "Add or remove programs", and press Enter.
In the list of installed applications, find "Riot Vanguard."
Click on it and then click "Uninstall."
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
Sub-heading 5.2: The Reinstallation Process
Tip: Look for examples to make points easier to grasp.
After uninstalling, restart your PC. This is a crucial step to ensure all files are removed.
Now, launch the Valorant client. It will automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it.
Follow the installation prompts and let it complete the process.
After the installation is finished, you will need to restart your PC one more time.
Upon restarting, you should see the Vanguard tray icon proudly displayed in your system tray.
Step 6: Update Windows and Your Drivers
Sometimes, a compatibility issue between Vanguard and your operating system or drivers can cause this problem. Keeping everything updated is a good practice for system stability.
Sub-heading 6.1: Windows Update
Press the Windows key, type "Check for updates", and press Enter.
Click on "Check for updates" and install any available updates.
Sub-heading 6.2: Driver Update
Make sure your graphics card drivers are up to date. You can do this through your graphics card's control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Software, or Intel Graphics Command Center) or by visiting the manufacturer's website.
Step 7: Check for Third-Party Software Conflicts
Some antivirus software or other security programs can interfere with Vanguard.
Tip: Don’t just scroll to the end — the middle counts too.
Temporarily disable your antivirus and see if the icon appears.
If it does, you need to add Vanguard to your antivirus's exception list or whitelist.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to open Vanguard from the system tray? To open Vanguard from the system tray, simply click on the small upward-pointing arrow (^) in your taskbar, then right-click on the red shield icon. A menu will appear with options to exit Vanguard or open its settings.
How to disable Vanguard temporarily? You can temporarily disable Vanguard by right-clicking its icon in the system tray and selecting 'Exit Vanguard'. This will close the application, and you'll need to restart your computer to have it running again.
How to find the Vanguard log files?
Vanguard log files are typically located in the C:\ProgramData\Riot Games\Riot Vanguard\Logs directory. You might need to enable 'show hidden files' in File Explorer to see the ProgramData folder.
How to check if Vanguard is running? You can check if Vanguard is running by opening the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and looking for 'Riot Vanguard' or 'vgtray.exe' under the 'Processes' tab.
How to uninstall Vanguard without Valorant? You can uninstall Vanguard independently of Valorant by going to 'Add or remove programs' in Windows settings, finding 'Riot Vanguard' in the list, and clicking 'Uninstall'.
How to fix Vanguard not installing? To fix installation issues, try running the Valorant client as an administrator, temporarily disabling your antivirus, and ensuring you have enough disk space. If that fails, a clean reinstallation might be necessary.
How to update Riot Vanguard? Riot Vanguard updates automatically when you launch the Valorant client. If an update is available, you will be prompted to install it before you can play.
How to make Vanguard run on startup? To make Vanguard run on startup, open Task Manager, go to the 'Startup apps' tab, find 'Riot Vanguard' or 'vgtray.exe', and make sure its status is 'Enabled'.
How to contact Riot Games support for Vanguard issues? You can contact Riot Games support by visiting the official Riot Games support website, selecting Valorant, and submitting a ticket with details about your issue.
How to verify Vanguard's integrity? You can verify Vanguard's integrity by reinstalling it. When you launch the Valorant client, it will automatically check for a valid Vanguard installation and prompt you to install it if it's missing or corrupted.
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