Riot Vanguard stands as the cornerstone of security for Valorant and other Riot Games titles. This essential anti-cheat software is mandatory for launching and playing the game, meaning if Vanguard isn’t running correctly, you’re out of luck.
This guide provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to install (or reinstall) Riot Vanguard properly, along with crucial troubleshooting tips for common installation hurdles.
What Exactly Is Riot Vanguard?
At its core, Riot Vanguard is Riot Games’ proprietary anti-cheat solution, meticulously designed to detect and prevent cheating within Valorant’s competitive landscape.
Its unique approach involves installing a system-level driver that activates automatically when your computer starts up. The continuous presence and proper functioning of this driver are non-negotiable requirements for launching or actively playing Valorant.
Automatic Installation with Valorant: The Official Method
The simplest and officially supported method for installing Riot Vanguard is seamlessly integrated with the installation or update process of Valorant itself through the Riot Client. There is no standalone installer for Vanguard; its setup is an inherent part of Valorant’s installation.
Here’s how this automated process works:
- Download and Install Valorant: If you haven’t already, begin by visiting the official Valorant website and downloading the Riot Client. Once the client is installed, log in or create your Riot Games account, and then proceed with the installation of Valorant.
- Automatic Vanguard Prompt: Upon your first launch of Valorant, the Riot Client will intelligently detect if Vanguard is missing from your system or if an outdated version is present. You will then be greeted with a “Vanguard Required” pop-up window. Click to confirm and proceed, and Vanguard will automatically commence its download and installation process.
- Restart Your PC: After the Vanguard installation is complete, a crucial step is to restart your computer. This restart is essential for Vanguard’s system-level security services to properly activate and integrate with your operating system.
Reinstalling Riot Vanguard: When Things Go Wrong
If you’ve previously uninstalled Vanguard, or if you’re encountering persistent errors that suggest a corrupted installation, reinstalling it is a common troubleshooting step:
- Uninstall Vanguard: Open your Windows “Apps & Features” settings (you can find this by searching in the Windows search bar), locate “Riot Vanguard” in the list of installed programs, and proceed to uninstall it.
- Restart Your PC: After uninstalling, immediately restart your computer to ensure all components of Vanguard are properly removed.
- Launch Valorant: Open the Riot Client and launch Valorant. The client will detect that Vanguard is no longer present and will once again prompt you to install it. Accept this prompt for an automated reinstallation.
- Restart Your PC Once More: After the reinstallation is complete, perform another restart of your computer to fully activate the newly installed Vanguard services.
Troubleshooting Common Vanguard Installation Issues
Sometimes, Vanguard might refuse to install, or you might find yourself stuck in an endless loop. Here are some effective troubleshooting steps:
- Run Riot Client as Administrator: Right-click on your Riot Client shortcut and select “Run as Administrator.” This grants the client the necessary permissions to install system-level software.
- Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall: Aggressive security software can sometimes mistakenly block Vanguard’s installation or operation. Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall, attempt the Vanguard installation, and remember to re-enable your security software immediately afterward.
- Clear Temporary Files: Press Windows + R on your keyboard, type %temp% into the Run dialog box, and press Enter. This will open your temporary files folder. Delete all the files within this folder (you can safely skip any that are in use).
- Manual Cleanup (Advanced): For persistent issues, a more thorough manual cleanup may be required.
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for “cmd,” right-click, and select “Run as administrator”).
- Execute the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:sc delete vgc sc delete vgk
- After executing these commands, manually delete any remaining “Riot Vanguard” folders on your system, typically found in your program files. Then, attempt the reinstallation process again.
- Operating System Updates: Ensure your Windows operating system is fully updated. Outdated OS versions can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with new software like Vanguard.
Key Takeaway:
The crucial point to remember is that there is no separate, direct download for Riot Vanguard. To install it, you simply need to launch Valorant through the Riot Client.
Vanguard will automatically detect its absence or outdated status, prompt you for installation, and require a system restart to activate its critical security driver. Any manual installation attempts outside of the Riot ecosystem are unsupported and generally not possible.
Written by:
Christian