For thousands of Valorant players, uninstalling Riot’s tactical shooter isn’t as simple as clicking “Uninstall.” Reports are mounting across forums and social media about failed attempts, mysterious error messages, and lingering files that stubbornly cling to systems. So what’s really going on behind the scenes—and why won’t Valorant just go away?
The Anti-Cheat Culprit: Riot Vanguard
At the heart of most uninstallation woes is Riot Vanguard, Valorant’s kernel-level anti-cheat software. Unlike standard programs, Vanguard embeds itself deep into your operating system, launching processes that often persist even when you think they’ve stopped running.
Many users find that unless Vanguard is fully disabled and uninstalled first, removing Valorant itself is impossible. This deep integration is a significant reason why the uninstallation process becomes complicated.
Common Symptoms
Players frequently encounter frustrating messages and persistent issues, including:
- “Valorant cannot be uninstalled because it’s still running.”
- “Please uninstall Riot Vanguard first.”
- “Uninstall failed – files still in use.”
- Mysterious Valorant or Riot services reappearing after a restart.
Layered Uninstallation: It’s Not Just About the Game
Uninstalling Valorant is often a multi-step process. Simply trying to remove the game through Windows Settings or Control Panel is likely to result in errors or residual files. This complexity arises from:
- Active background tasks: The Riot Client, Vanguard, or even the Valorant process may be running unnoticed in Task Manager.
- Corrupted or locked files: Failed updates or corrupted installations can leave the game in a limbo state, making standard uninstallation difficult.
- Leftover system files and registry entries: Even after removal, files may remain in hidden folders or the Windows registry, causing future install/uninstall attempts to fail.
How Are Players Solving It?
Across tech forums, users have compiled step-by-step guides and personal success stories. The consensus indicates that persistence is key, and there is rarely a one-click solution. Typical steps include:
- Closing all Riot-related programs: Fully close the Riot Client, Valorant, and Vanguard using Task Manager. Players are advised to look carefully for hidden tasks.
- Uninstalling Vanguard first: Through Apps & Features in Windows, or sometimes using Command Prompt, Vanguard must be removed before the main game.
- Manual deletion: After a system restart, users often need to locate and manually remove any residual Riot Games or Valorant folders from common directories like Program Files, AppData, LocalAppData, and ProgramData.
- Registry and leftovers cleanup (advanced): For the truly persistent files, registry cleaners or manual edits can eliminate final traces. This step carries risk and should be done with caution.
- Specialized uninstaller tools: Applications like Revo Uninstaller or game-oriented cleaning software can sometimes complete the removal process that the base uninstallers leave behind.
The Player’s Frustration
Many users express bewilderment at the complexity required to uninstall one game. For some, especially those less familiar with Windows’ internal workings, the process can feel overwhelming and intrusive.
The persistence of anti-cheat software and the need to manually terminate hidden processes raise valid questions about transparency and user control over their own systems.
Is It Getting Better?
Recent updates from Riot Games have improved the uninstallation process, but as of mid-2025, uninstall issues remain a significant frustration point for many. Gamers continue to share guides and request easier, more streamlined solutions.
Until Riot simplifies the process, uninstalling Valorant will remain a multi-step affair best approached with patience—and a Task Manager at your side.
Bottom line: If Valorant refuses to delete, you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining things. The complexity stems from sophisticated anti-cheat technology, lingering background processes, and a web of persistent files. However, with careful steps and a little technical know-how, even the most stubborn installation can finally be erased.
Written by:
Christian