Ready to permanently banish Riot Vanguard from your system using the power of the command line? You've come to the right place. While the typical uninstall method works for most applications, Vanguard's deep-reaching, kernel-level integration often makes it a bit more stubborn. But don't worry, we'll walk through a powerful, step-by-step process to ensure it's completely gone.
Step 1: Engage with the System Tray
Before we dive into the command line, let's make sure Vanguard is not actively running in the background. This is a crucial first step, as trying to delete files or services while they are in use will lead to frustrating errors.
Look for the shield. In the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, near the clock, you'll find a small arrow (^) that opens your system tray. Click it to reveal all the hidden icons.
Find the Riot Vanguard icon. It looks like a red shield.
Right-click and exit. Right-click the icon and select "Exit Vanguard." A confirmation prompt will appear. Click "Yes" to confirm and shut down the anti-cheat service. This is the most important action to take before proceeding. If you try to uninstall without doing this, you'll likely hit a roadblock.
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| How To Uninstall Vanguard Cmd |
Step 2: Unleash the Command Prompt
Now that Vanguard is disabled, it's time to bring out the big guns. We'll use the Command Prompt (CMD) to tell Windows to permanently remove the Vanguard services.
Sub-heading: Opening Command Prompt as an Administrator
This is a critical sub-step. You need to run CMD with administrative privileges to make system-level changes.
Press the Windows key on your keyboard.
Type
CMD. You'll see "Command Prompt" appear in the search results.Right-click "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."
A User Account Control (UAC) window may pop up asking for permission. Click "Yes" to continue. You should now have a black command prompt window with "Administrator" in the title bar.
Sub-heading: Deleting the Vanguard Services
QuickTip: Reflect before moving to the next part.
This is where the magic happens. We'll use two simple commands to permanently delete the Vanguard services.
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command exactly as it appears and press Enter:
sc delete vgcYou should see a message that says
[SC] DeleteService SUCCESS. This confirms that the servicevgchas been marked for deletion.Next, type the second command and press Enter:
sc delete vgkAgain, you should see
[SC] DeleteService SUCCESS.
Step 3: Reboot for a Clean Slate
The services are now marked for deletion, but they might not be fully removed until you reboot your computer. This step is absolutely non-negotiable.
Restart your computer. Go to the Start Menu, click the power icon, and select "Restart."
Wait for your computer to fully shut down and boot back up. This process ensures that all active connections to the Vanguard services are severed and the system can finalize their removal.
Step 4: Manually Remove Leftover Files
Even after deleting the services, some files might remain. We need to manually remove the Riot Vanguard folder to ensure a clean sweep.
Open File Explorer. You can do this by clicking the folder icon on your taskbar or pressing Windows key + E.
Navigate to the Program Files directory. In the address bar, type
C:\Program Filesand press Enter.Locate the "Riot Vanguard" folder. You can either scroll through the list or use the search bar in the top-right of the File Explorer window to find it.
Right-click the "Riot Vanguard" folder and select "Delete."
If you get a prompt asking for administrator permission, click "Continue" or "Yes."
Step 5: Empty the Recycle Bin
For a truly thorough removal, empty your Recycle Bin.
Find the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
Right-click it and select "Empty Recycle Bin."
Confirm the action when prompted.
You have now successfully uninstalled Riot Vanguard using the Command Prompt and manual file deletion.
Tip: Reread if it feels confusing.
FAQ: Related Questions
How to check if Riot Vanguard is completely uninstalled?
To verify the uninstall, you can check your system tray, the Apps & Features list in Windows Settings, and the C:\Program Files directory for any remaining Riot Vanguard files or folders. If it's not present in any of these locations, it's successfully uninstalled.
How to uninstall Valorant without uninstalling Vanguard?
You can uninstall Valorant from Windows Settings or Control Panel. However, Vanguard is designed to remain installed to prevent cheating in other Riot Games. If you want to play Valorant again, you will need to reinstall Vanguard.
How to fix "Vanguard uninstall failure" error?
The most common cause of this error is that Vanguard is still running. Follow Step 1 of this guide to exit Vanguard from the system tray first. If the problem persists, a clean reboot or using the CMD method is your best bet.
QuickTip: Check if a section answers your question.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard from a laptop?
The process is exactly the same for a laptop as it is for a desktop computer. The steps provided in this guide apply to any Windows PC.
How to uninstall Vanguard if it doesn't appear in Apps & Features?
If Vanguard doesn't show up in the Apps & Features list, it's likely a partial or corrupted installation. The command line method in this guide is the most reliable way to remove it in this situation.
How to remove leftover Riot Games files after uninstalling?
After uninstalling, you can manually check these locations and delete any remaining folders:
C:\Riot Games%LocalAppData%\Riot Games%ProgramData%\Riot Games%AppData%\Riot Games
How to disable Vanguard without uninstalling it?
Tip: Share one insight from this post with a friend.
You can disable Vanguard from the system tray by right-clicking its icon and selecting "Exit Vanguard." This temporarily stops the service without removing it from your system.
How to uninstall Vanguard from the Control Panel?
You can go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, find "Riot Vanguard" in the list, and click "Uninstall." However, this method can sometimes fail, which is why the command line method is often more reliable.
How to reinstall Vanguard after uninstalling it?
To reinstall Vanguard, simply launch the Riot Games client or Valorant. The client will detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to download and install it.
How to troubleshoot Vanguard errors after a failed uninstall?
If you're still experiencing issues after a failed uninstall, a clean reinstallation is often the best solution. First, follow the CMD uninstall guide to ensure all remnants are gone, and then try reinstalling the game and Vanguard from the official Riot Games website.
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