Ready to get your game back on track? Facing issues with Vanguard, Riot Games' anti-cheat software, can be a real headache, especially when you're just trying to jump into a match of VALORANT or League of Legends. The good news is, updating Vanguard drivers isn't as complicated as it sounds, because for the most part, it's an automatic process!
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the proper steps to ensure your Vanguard is up to date, troubleshoot common issues, and get you back in the game with a smooth and secure experience.
Step 1: Don't Panic! Understand How Vanguard Updates
First things first, let's clear up a common misconception: you don't typically need to go hunting for a "Vanguard driver download" file. Riot Vanguard is designed to update automatically alongside its associated games, primarily VALORANT and League of Legends.
So, before you start uninstalling and reinstalling everything, the very first step is to check if there are any pending game updates.
Launch your Riot Client or the game client for VALORANT or League of Legends.
The client will automatically check for updates for the game and Vanguard.
If an update is available, you will be prompted to download and install it.
A crucial point: After a Vanguard update, you will almost always be prompted to restart your computer. This is a mandatory step to allow the kernel-mode driver to be properly loaded and initialized. Don't skip this!
If you've followed this simple process and are still facing issues, it's time to move on to the more hands-on troubleshooting steps.
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| How To Update Vanguard Drivers |
Step 2: The Reinstall Method: Your Go-To Fix
This is the most effective and reliable method for updating or fixing a corrupted Vanguard installation. It's like a fresh start for the anti-cheat.
Sub-heading: Uninstalling Riot Vanguard
Access 'Add or Remove Programs': Press the Windows Key and type "Add or remove programs" in the search bar. Click on the setting that appears.
Find and Uninstall: In the list of installed applications, locate Riot Vanguard. It's usually right there, separate from the game itself.
Click 'Uninstall': Click on it, and then click the Uninstall button. A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation.
Confirm the Uninstall: Click Uninstall again and then confirm any prompts from User Account Control (UAC) to allow the application to make changes to your device.
Wait for the process to complete: You will see a notification once Riot Vanguard has been successfully uninstalled.
QuickTip: Slow down if the pace feels too fast.
Sub-heading: Reinstalling Vanguard
Launch the Game: Open the Riot Client and launch the game that requires Vanguard (e.g., VALORANT).
Automatic Reinstallation: The client will now detect that Vanguard is missing and automatically initiate the re-installation process. You will see a progress bar for the download and installation.
The All-Important Restart: Once the installation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your PC. Do it! This is not a suggestion; it's a requirement for the Vanguard driver to load correctly.
After your computer restarts, you should see the Vanguard icon in your system tray, and you should be able to launch your game without any issues.
Step 3: Advanced Troubleshooting for Persistent Problems
If the simple reinstall method didn't work, don't worry. There are a few more steps you can take to resolve the issue.
Sub-heading: Check for Conflicting Software or Drivers
Vanguard's kernel-level driver can sometimes conflict with other programs or outdated drivers on your system. This is a common cause of errors.
Check for unsigned drivers: Riot Games has stated that Vanguard can block your game from launching if it detects vulnerable or unsigned drivers. To check for these, you can use a built-in Windows tool.
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type
sigverifand press Enter.Click Start to begin the file signature verification process.
If the tool finds any unsigned drivers, it will list them. You can then search for these drivers online and update or remove the corresponding software.
Disable conflicting programs: Some programs, especially those that interact with your system at a low level, can cause conflicts. Antivirus software, system cleaners, and certain overclocking tools have been known to cause issues. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus and other non-essential background programs to see if the issue is resolved.
Check for specific known conflicting drivers: A few drivers have been specifically flagged by Riot Games as problematic. These include drivers from Gigabyte (gdrv.sys) and ASUS (AVoluteSS3Vad.sys). If you have any software from these companies, consider updating or temporarily uninstalling it.
Sub-heading: Update Windows
An outdated Windows operating system can cause compatibility issues with Vanguard. Keeping your Windows installation up to date is crucial for both security and compatibility.
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Click Check for updates.
Download and install any available updates.
Restart your PC after the updates are installed.
QuickTip: Reading twice makes retention stronger.
Sub-heading: Manually Start the Vanguard Service
In some rare cases, the Vanguard service (VGC) may not start automatically. You can check and fix this manually.
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Press Windows Key + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter.In the Services window, find the vgc service.
Right-click on it and go to Properties.
Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic.
If the service is stopped, click Start.
Click Apply and OK.
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Step 4: The Final Resort: Manual Uninstall
If all else fails, you can perform a manual uninstall of Vanguard to ensure all files are removed, before attempting a clean reinstall. This is a more technical step and should be used with caution.
Open Command Prompt as an administrator: Press Windows Key and type
cmd. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.Delete the Vanguard services: Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:
sc delete vgcsc delete vgk
Reboot your computer. This is essential to complete the process.
Delete the Vanguard folder: Navigate to
C:\Program Files\and manually delete the Riot Vanguard folder.Reinstall: Now, follow the steps in Step 2 to reinstall Vanguard through the game client.
10 FAQs: Quick Answers to Common Vanguard Driver Issues
How to check if my Vanguard driver is running?
You can check if Vanguard is running by looking for its small red icon in your Windows system tray. You can also check the vgc service in services.msc.
How to disable Vanguard temporarily without uninstalling?
QuickTip: Break reading into digestible chunks.
Right-click the Vanguard icon in your system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." Remember, you will need to restart your computer to re-enable it before playing.
How to fix the "SYSTEM REBOOT REQUIRED" error?
This error almost always means you need to restart your computer to finalize a Vanguard update. If restarting doesn't work, try a clean reinstall (Step 2).
How to fix the "This Build of Vanguard is Out of Compliance" error?
This error can be caused by outdated Windows or disabled security features like Secure Boot. Make sure your Windows is up to date and check your BIOS settings to enable Secure Boot if it's not already on.
How to uninstall Vanguard?
The best way is to go to "Add or remove programs" in Windows Settings, locate Riot Vanguard, and click uninstall. For a more thorough removal, follow the manual uninstall steps in this guide.
How to find out if a driver is causing a conflict with Vanguard?
QuickTip: Focus on what feels most relevant.
Run the sigverif tool in Windows to check for unsigned drivers. You can also check for known conflicting drivers like gdrv.sys or AVoluteSS3Vad.sys.
How to update Windows for Vanguard compatibility?
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click "Check for updates" to ensure your operating system is current.
How to check the version of my Vanguard driver?
You can use a third-party tool like DriverView, but for most users, it's sufficient to know that launching the game client will automatically update Vanguard to the latest version.
How to repair a corrupted Vanguard installation?
The most straightforward way is to uninstall and then reinstall Vanguard using the game client, as outlined in Step 2 of this guide.
How to fix Vanguard not initializing?
Check that the vgc service's startup type is set to "Automatic" in services.msc. If that doesn't work, a clean reinstall of Vanguard is the next step.
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