Hey there! So, you've decided to take a break from the intense tactical action of Valorant and reclaim some of that precious disk space? Maybe you're troubleshooting an issue, or perhaps you're just done for now. Whatever the reason, uninstalling Valorant isn't as straightforward as just deleting the game icon. That's because of Riot Vanguard, the game's powerful kernel-level anti-cheat system that sticks around even after the game is gone.
Ready to get started on a clean slate? Let's dive in and completely remove Valorant and Riot Vanguard from your PC.
Step 1: Engage with the Vanguard
Before we do anything else, we need to address the elephant in the room: Riot Vanguard. This anti-cheat program runs at a kernel level, meaning it operates with deep system privileges to ensure a cheat-free environment. Because of this, you must shut it down before you can uninstall anything. If you don't, you'll encounter errors and the uninstallation will fail.
Look for the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray, which is the small collection of icons in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar. It's often a red shield icon.
Right-click on the Vanguard icon.
Select "Exit Vanguard".
A prompt will appear asking for confirmation. Click "Yes" to stop the anti-cheat service.
Pro-Tip: If you can't find the icon in the system tray, you might need to click the small up arrow () to show hidden icons.
Step 2: The Two-Step Uninstallation
Now that Vanguard is disabled, we can proceed with the uninstallation of both the game and the anti-cheat. It's crucial to uninstall them in the correct order to avoid issues.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard
First, we need to get rid of Vanguard.
Open your Windows Settings by pressing
Windows key + Ion your keyboard.Navigate to "Apps" and then "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" on older versions of Windows).
Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find "Riot Vanguard".
Click the three-dot menu () next to it and select "Uninstall".
Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the process. You may need to click "Uninstall" a second time to confirm.
A crucial step after this: Restart your computer. This is a non-negotiable step to fully terminate all Vanguard processes and drivers from the kernel level.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Valorant
Once your PC has restarted, go back to the same "Installed apps" list in Windows Settings.
Find "Valorant" in the list.
Click the three-dot menu () next to it and select "Uninstall".
Follow the prompts to remove the game client. This is a much more straightforward process now that Vanguard is gone.
Step 3: The Deep Clean - Purging Leftover Files
Even after the standard uninstallation, some residual files and folders might be left behind. These are often small, but if you want a truly clean system, it's worth a few extra minutes to remove them.
Open File Explorer by pressing
Windows key + E.Navigate to the following locations and delete any folders named "Riot Games" or related to Valorant/Vanguard:
C:\Riot Games(This is a common default installation location)C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard(This folder should be gone after the restart, but double-check)C:\ProgramData\Riot Games
Now, let's check the hidden app data folders. Press
Windows key + Rto open the Run dialog.Type
%appdata%and press Enter. In the folder that opens, look for and delete the "Riot Games" folder.Repeat the previous step, but this time type
%LocalAppData%in the Run dialog. Again, look for and delete the "Riot Games" folder.
Step 4: The Advanced Method - Using Command Prompt
If the standard uninstallation methods fail, or if you're dealing with stubborn files, you can use the Command Prompt to manually remove the Vanguard services. This is for advanced users, but it's a powerful tool.
Click the Windows Start menu and search for "CMD".
Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".
In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing
Enterafter each:sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
You should see a message confirming the service deletion.
Restart your computer.
After restarting, you should be able to manually delete the
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguardfolder if it still exists.
Warning: Be careful when using the Command Prompt. Ensure you type the commands exactly as shown.
Step 5: Registry Cleanup (Optional but Recommended)
This step is for those who want to be absolutely certain that all traces are gone. However, it requires caution as incorrect changes to the registry can cause system instability. If you are not comfortable with this, you can skip it, as the previous steps are usually sufficient.
Press
Windows key + Rto open the Run dialog.Type
regeditand press Enter.A User Account Control prompt will appear; click "Yes" to open the Registry Editor.
In the Registry Editor, go to "Edit" and then "Find..." (or press
Ctrl + F).Search for "Riot Vanguard" and "Valorant".
Carefully delete any keys or values you find that are directly related to these programs. DO NOT delete anything you are unsure about.
Consider using a reliable third-party registry cleaner tool like CCleaner to automate this process.
By following these steps, you will have successfully performed a complete uninstallation of both Valorant and Riot Vanguard.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check if Riot Vanguard is still running?
You can check for the red shield icon in your system tray. If you can't see it, open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look for "Riot Vanguard" or "vgc" in the Processes tab.
How to fix the "Vanguard must be active to play" error?
This error means Vanguard is not running. You can fix it by restarting your computer, which should automatically start Vanguard. If not, you may need to reinstall the game and Vanguard.
How to uninstall Valorant without uninstalling Vanguard?
You can uninstall Valorant from the Windows Settings without uninstalling Vanguard. However, be aware that Vanguard will continue to run in the background.
How to tell if the uninstallation was successful?
After following all the steps, check the "Installed apps" list in Windows Settings. If Valorant and Riot Vanguard are not listed, and you have deleted the leftover files, the uninstallation was successful.
How to reinstall Valorant after uninstalling it?
Simply go to the official Valorant website, download the installer, and run it. It will automatically download and install both Valorant and Riot Vanguard. Your account progress will be safe as it's stored on Riot's servers.
How to remove the Riot Client?
The Riot Client can be uninstalled from the "Installed apps" list in Windows Settings, similar to Valorant. If you have no other Riot Games installed, you can also delete the "Riot Games" folder from your Program Files.
How to check for leftover files in the system?
Manually check the folders mentioned in Step 3, including C:\Riot Games, %appdata%, and %LocalAppData%. You can also use a search tool on your File Explorer to look for "Riot" or "Vanguard".
How to manually delete the Riot Vanguard folder?
If you have disabled Vanguard and restarted your computer, you should be able to navigate to C:\Program Files and manually delete the "Riot Vanguard" folder by right-clicking on it and selecting "Delete".
How to troubleshoot a failed uninstallation?
If the uninstallation fails, first ensure you have exited Vanguard from the system tray and restarted your PC. If it still fails, use the Command Prompt method described in Step 4 for a manual removal.
How to use a third-party uninstaller?
Tools like Revo Uninstaller or IObit Uninstaller can help you remove stubborn programs and their leftover files, including registry entries, with a more user-friendly interface. Just follow the instructions provided by the software.