How to Use Deceive for Valorant: A Guide to Playing Offline

Updated: 8th July 2025 3 min read

For many Valorant players, the ideal gaming session is one of peace and quiet—free from the constant stream of invites or the watchful eyes of friends. While Riot Games has yet to implement an official offline mode for Valorant, the community has embraced a clever workaround: Deceive. This third-party application allows players to appear offline to their friends while retaining full access to all of Valorant’s features.

What Is Deceive?

Deceive is a lightweight program initially developed for League of Legends that has since been updated to support Valorant. Its primary function is to mask your online status, making you invisible to everyone on your friends list. 

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Despite being a third-party tool, it is widely used and has a strong reputation for not triggering bans or security issues for players.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Deceive for Valorant

Getting Deceive up and running is a straightforward process:

  1. Download Deceive: Begin by visiting the official Deceive GitHub page and downloading the latest version of the application.
  2. Prepare for Installation: Before launching Deceive, ensure Valorant is completely closed. This allows the program to interact correctly with the game client.
  3. Launch Deceive: Run the Deceive.exe file. A window will appear, listing all supported Riot games. Select “Valorant” from the list. For future convenience, you can check the “Remember my decision” box to always default to Valorant.
  4. Start Valorant Through Deceive: Deceive should automatically launch Valorant. If it doesn’t, wait a few moments or try restarting the application. Once Valorant opens, your status will be set to offline for all friends.
  5. Confirm Deceive Is Working: Open your friends list within Valorant. If you see a friend named “Deceive Active,” the program is functioning correctly, and your online status is successfully hidden.
  6. Play as Usual: With Deceive active, you can access all game modes, chat with teammates, and play ranked or custom games without interruption. The only difference is that your friends will not see you online or be able to send you party invites.

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Troubleshooting and Tips

Should you encounter any issues, consider these solutions:

  • Run as Administrator: If Deceive isn’t working as expected, try running it with administrator privileges.
  • Update Regularly: Always ensure you are using the latest version of Deceive to maintain compatibility with Valorant updates.
  • Firewall Settings: If Deceive fails to launch Valorant, check your firewall settings to confirm the program isn’t being blocked.
  • Shortcut Method: For added convenience, you can create a shortcut for Deceive that automatically launches Valorant in offline mode. To do this, edit the shortcut’s target path to include “valorant” after the .exe.

Is Deceive Safe to Use?

Deceive has been in use for several years and is consistently updated to remain compatible with Riot’s games. There are no known instances of players being banned for using Deceive, as it does not interact with personal data or game files beyond simply masking your online status. Riot Games is reportedly aware of its existence and has not taken action against players for utilizing it. However, as with any third-party tool, it is always advisable to use it at your own discretion.

Limitations

While Deceive offers significant advantages, it does come with a couple of limitations:

  • No Official Support: Deceive is not officially supported by Riot Games, meaning future game updates could potentially affect its functionality.
  • Social Risks: If you happen to encounter friends in-game while appearing offline, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to explain your hidden status.

Why Use Deceive?

The benefits of using Deceive are clear for many players:

  • Privacy: Enjoy solo practice or low-pressure matches without the distraction of social interruptions.
  • Focus: Play without the constant stream of invites or messages from friends, allowing for greater concentration.
  • Full Functionality: Maintain complete access to all Valorant features while enjoying the privacy of appearing offline.

Deceive provides a simple yet effective method for controlling your visibility in Valorant. For players who prioritize privacy or simply desire an uninterrupted gaming session, it stands as an essential tool—easy to set up, generally considered safe to use, and widely trusted by the Valorant community.

Written by:

Christian