How to Completely Uninstall Riot Vanguard: A Comprehensive Guide
Hey there, fellow PC user! Have you found yourself wondering how to truly scrub Riot Vanguard from your system? Perhaps you're taking a break from Valorant, troubleshooting an issue, or simply want to reclaim some valuable disk space. Whatever your reason, you've landed in the right place! Riot Vanguard, while essential for playing games like Valorant and League of Legends, operates at a deep, kernel level, making its complete removal a bit more involved than your average application. But don't worry, we're going to walk you through every step to ensure a clean uninstall.
Let's dive in!
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| How To Uninstall Vanguard Completely |
Step 1: Prepare for the Uninstall – The Crucial First Move!
Before we start digging into files and settings, the absolute first thing we need to do is disable Riot Vanguard. Why? Because Vanguard runs constantly in the background, even when you're not playing a Riot game. If you try to uninstall it while it's active, you're likely to encounter errors and frustrating roadblocks.
1.1 Locate the Vanguard Icon: Look for the red Vanguard icon in your system tray, usually located in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar. It might be hidden behind the small upward-pointing arrow (the "Show hidden icons" button).
1.2 Right-Click and Exit: Right-click on the red Vanguard icon. A small menu will appear. Select "Exit Vanguard" from the options.
1.3 Confirm the Exit: You'll likely see a confirmation prompt asking if you're sure you want to exit Vanguard. Click "Yes" to confirm. This will temporarily shut down the Vanguard anti-cheat service. Don't skip this! This is a common point of failure for incomplete uninstalls.
Tip: Train your eye to catch repeated ideas.
Step 2: Uninstall Riot Vanguard – The Primary Removal
Now that Vanguard is temporarily disabled, we can proceed with the standard uninstallation process.
2.1 Open Apps & Features (Windows 10/11):
Press the Windows key + I to open your Settings application.
Click on "Apps" from the left-hand menu.
Then, click on "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features" on older Windows 10 versions).
2.2 Alternatively, Open Control Panel (Older Windows or Preference):
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type
control paneland press Enter.In the Control Panel, click on "Programs" and then "Uninstall a program."
2.3 Locate Riot Vanguard: In the list of installed applications, scroll down or use the search bar to find "Riot Vanguard."
2.4 Initiate Uninstall:
If using Settings: Click on "Riot Vanguard" in the list, then click the "Uninstall" button that appears. You might need to click "Uninstall" again in a pop-up window to confirm.
If using Control Panel: Right-click on "Riot Vanguard" and select "Uninstall."
2.5 Follow On-Screen Prompts: A Riot Vanguard uninstaller wizard will appear. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation. You may be asked to confirm permissions for the application to make changes to your device. Always click "Yes" when prompted during the uninstall process.
Step 3: Uninstall Valorant (If Applicable) – The Game Itself
If you're uninstalling Vanguard because you no longer play Valorant, it's best to uninstall the game client as well to free up more space. If you plan to play other Riot games (like League of Legends) that don't require Vanguard, you can skip this step, but know that Vanguard will need to be re-enabled/reinstalled if you decide to play Valorant again.
3.1 Return to Apps & Features/Control Panel: Go back to the "Installed apps" section in Settings or "Uninstall a program" in Control Panel, just like you did for Vanguard.
3.2 Locate Valorant: Find "VALORANT" in the list of applications.
3.3 Initiate Uninstall: Click or right-click on it and select "Uninstall."
3.4 Complete Game Uninstall: Follow any on-screen prompts to finish the Valorant game uninstallation.
Step 4: Manual Cleanup – Eliminating Leftover Files
Tip: Read carefully — skimming skips meaning.
Even after the standard uninstall, some residual files and folders might remain. This is crucial for a complete removal.
4.1 Restart Your PC: This step is absolutely vital! Before proceeding with manual file deletion, restart your computer. This helps to release any remaining locks on Vanguard-related files and services, preventing "file in use" errors.
4.2 Delete Riot Vanguard Program Files:
Open File Explorer (you can do this by pressing Windows key + E).
Navigate to
C:\Program Files\Look for a folder named "Riot Vanguard." Right-click on it and select "Delete." If you see a prompt asking for administrator permission, click "Continue" or "Yes."
4.3 Delete Riot Games Folders (App Data): Riot Games often leaves behind folders in your AppData directory.
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type
%appdata%and press Enter. This will open the Roaming folder.Go back one level to the "AppData" folder (you can usually click "AppData" in the address bar at the top).
Now, navigate to "Local."
Inside the "Local" folder, look for a folder named "Riot Games." Right-click on it and select "Delete."
Repeat this process for the "Roaming" folder within "AppData" as well (if you clicked "AppData" and then went to "Local," go back to "AppData" and then into "Roaming" to check).
4.4 Check ProgramData:
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type
%programdata%and press Enter.Look for a folder named "Riot Games." Right-click and select "Delete."
4.5 Empty the Recycle Bin: After deleting all these folders, right-click on your Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin" to permanently remove them from your system.
Step 5: Registry Cleanup (Optional but Recommended) – The Deep Dive
This step is for those who want to ensure every single trace of Vanguard is gone. However, be extremely cautious when editing the Windows Registry. Incorrect modifications can lead to system instability. If you're unsure, it's safer to skip this step or use a reputable third-party registry cleaner.
5.1 Open Registry Editor:
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type
regeditand press Enter.Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.
5.2 Backup Your Registry (Highly Recommended!): Before making any changes, it's a good practice to back up your registry.
In Registry Editor, click on "File" > "Export..."
Choose a location to save the backup, give it a name (e.g., "Registry_Backup_Before_Vanguard_Uninstall"), and ensure "Export range" is set to "All." Click "Save."
5.3 Search and Delete Riot Vanguard Entries:
Press Ctrl + F to open the Find dialog.
Type
Riot Vanguardand click "Find Next."Carefully examine any found entries. If they clearly relate to Riot Vanguard (e.g., keys, values, or data containing "Riot Vanguard"), right-click on them and select "Delete."
Press F3 to find the next occurrence and continue deleting until no more entries are found.
Repeat this process for
Valorantas well, if you uninstalled the game.
5.4 Consider a Third-Party Cleaner: If you're not comfortable manually editing the registry, consider using a reputable registry cleaner tool like CCleaner or Wise Registry Cleaner. These tools can often identify and remove leftover registry entries safely. Always download such tools from their official websites to avoid malware.
Step 6: Command Prompt Method (Troubleshooting & Advanced)
If you encounter issues with the standard uninstallation or just prefer the command line, this method can sometimes be more effective. Make sure you've followed Step 1 (Exiting Vanguard) first.
QuickTip: Skim the intro, then dive deeper.
6.1 Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
Click the Start Menu or press the Windows key.
Type
cmdin the search bar.Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results and select "Run as administrator."
Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.
6.2 Execute Uninstall Commands: In the Command Prompt window, type (or copy-paste) the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
Explanation: These commands delete the services associated with Riot Vanguard's kernel-mode driver (
vgk.sys) and its client service (vgc.exe).6.3 Restart Your PC: Again, a crucial restart is required after using these commands. Power off your computer and then turn it back on.
6.4 Manual Folder Deletion (Post-CMD): After restarting, proceed with Step 4: Manual Cleanup – Eliminating Leftover Files to delete any remaining folders. The CMD commands disable the services, allowing you to delete the files.
Final Thoughts:
You've now taken significant steps to completely remove Riot Vanguard from your PC. Remember, some anti-cheat software can be persistent due to their deep integration. By following these steps thoroughly, you've done everything possible to ensure a clean slate. If you ever decide to play Valorant or other Vanguard-requiring Riot games again, Vanguard will be reinstalled automatically when you launch the game or its client.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about uninstalling Riot Vanguard:
How to check if Vanguard is still running after uninstall? You can check your system tray for the red Vanguard icon. If it's not there, it's likely not running. You can also open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look for "vgc.exe" or "vgtray.exe" processes under the "Details" tab.
QuickTip: If you skimmed, go back for detail.
How to uninstall Valorant without uninstalling Vanguard? You can uninstall Valorant via "Apps & Features" in Windows Settings or Control Panel. Riot Vanguard will not automatically uninstall with Valorant, so it will remain on your system.
How to fix "Vanguard won't uninstall" error? First, ensure you've properly "Exited Vanguard" from the system tray (Step 1). If that doesn't work, try the Command Prompt method (Step 6) to stop its services, then attempt the manual folder deletion (Step 4) after a restart.
How to find Riot Vanguard leftover files?
Leftover files are typically found in C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard, %appdata%\Riot Games, %localappdata%\Riot Games, and %programdata%\Riot Games. Refer to Step 4 for detailed instructions.
How to remove Riot Vanguard from startup? After successfully uninstalling Vanguard, it should no longer run at startup. If you only disabled it temporarily (Step 1), it will still run on boot. A complete uninstall (Steps 2-6) is the only way to permanently remove it from startup.
How to uninstall Riot Client completely? Uninstalling Riot Client follows a similar process to uninstalling Valorant (Step 3). After uninstalling the client, perform the manual cleanup steps (Step 4) for any remaining Riot Games folders.
How to re-install Riot Vanguard if I change my mind? You don't typically re-install Vanguard separately. If you reinstall Valorant or another Riot game that requires Vanguard, the game installer will automatically download and install Vanguard for you.
How to resolve Vanguard causing system performance issues? If Vanguard is causing performance issues, a complete uninstall (following this guide) is the most effective solution. If you still want to play Riot games, you might consider reaching out to Riot Games support for specific troubleshooting or updating your drivers.
How to know if Valorant account progress is saved after uninstalling? Yes, your Valorant account progress, skins, and rank are all tied to your Riot Games account on their servers. Uninstalling the game from your PC will not delete your account data. You can reinstall the game later and pick up right where you left off by logging in with your Riot account.
How to deal with "Critical Error Occurred" related to Vanguard? Many "Critical Error" messages or issues like VAN 9001, VAN 9002, or VAN 140 can sometimes be resolved by a complete uninstall of both Valorant and Riot Vanguard, followed by a clean reinstallation. Ensure your Windows is up to date and your system meets the game's requirements (e.g., Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 for Windows 11).
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