Don’t expect to simply right-click and hit delete for uninstalling Valorant. Unlike most games, Valorant comes with Riot Vanguard. Riot Vanguard is the anti-cheat program that runs at the kernel level. It digs deep into the system. It keeps running even when you are not playing. You cannot just remove the game. Vanguard sticks around.
It quietly uses the PC’s resources in the background. In this guide, you will get an idea about the quickest way to uninstall Valorant. Also, understand how to completely remove Riot Vanguard. There are steps to clean up leftover Riot files. You will learn how to fix common uninstall problems. So, let’s get started with the discussion.
Quick answer: How to uninstall Valorant completely
Are you short on time? These steps will be the fastest way to fully remove Valorant. Also, you can remove Riot Vanguard from the PC.
Step 1. Close Valorant. Also, close the Riot client completely.
Step 2. Exit Riot Vanguard from the system tray. You will find it at the bottom right corner of the taskbar.
Step 3. Open Windows settings. Now head to Apps. Go to the option Installed Apps.
Step 4. Uninstall Riot Vanguard first.
Step 5. Uninstall Valorant.
Step 6. Restart the PC.
Step 7. Delete any leftover Riot Games folders manually.
Now the question is, why uninstall Vanguard first?
Vanguard runs in the form of a protected kernel-level service. When you remove Valorant before Vanguard, you will end up in an uninstall loop. Here, the process keeps failing. Also, it may happen that Vanguard will try to reinstall itself. So, it is advisable to always remove Vanguard first.
Why Valorant Sometimes Refuses To Uninstall
Have you clicked “Uninstall” and watched nothing happen? These are the reasons why it happened so:
- VALORANT or the Riot Client is still running in the background
- Vanguard’s kernel service is active and blocking the uninstall
- Corrupted Riot Client files are preventing the uninstaller from launching
- Windows permissions aren’t set high enough to remove the files
Don’t worry. These issues are fixable. The following section will cover each one below.
How To Uninstall Valorant Normally Using Windows Settings
Valorant normally uses Windows settings. This is a standard method. It works for most people. However, you will have to follow the steps carefully.
Step 1 – Fully close Valorant and the Riot client.
Do not first go to changing the settings.
First, make sure nothing Riot-related is still running. For that, you will have to look at the taskbar system tray. You will find it at the bottom right corner. When you go there, just right-click the Riot client icon.
From there, select Exit. Make sure to do the same thing for the Vanguard Shield icon when it is visible.
Open the task manager. You can do that with the shortcut keys, Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Now look for any of the processes as follows. VALORANT.exe, RiotClientServices.exe, vgtray.exe, and vgc.exe.
Right-click any of them, and then hit End Task. Make sure you don’t skip this step. It is the most common reason uninstallations usually fail.
Step 2 – Open Installed Apps in Windows. Once you close everything, navigate to the Apps list. So there you will find for Windows 11, the process to follow is to go to Settings. Now head to Apps and move to Installed Apps. For Windows 10, it is advisable to go to Settings, then to Apps, and then to the Apps & Features option. There, you will have to type Riot in the search bar. You will see both Riot Vanguard and Valorant, which are listed there.
Step 3 – Uninstall Riot Vanguard first. This is the most important step that you need to follow. Make sure that you do not skip this step. Click on Riot Vanguard. Select Uninstall. Make sure to follow the onscreen prompts accurately. Windows will be asking you for the admin permission. There, you will have to click Yes.
Note: Removing Vanguard before Valorant is important. It prevents a situation where Vanguard tries to reinstall itself. It detects that Valorant is still present. It also avoids the uninstall loop bug. You would not want to run into the uninstall loop bug that some other users may run into.
Step 4 – Uninstall Valorant. Now you will have to go back to the Installed Apps. There, find out the Valorant option. Now click on the Uninstall button. Make sure to confirm any prompts that appear. The uninstaller will be running through the process. It will usually take a minute or two. However, the time may depend on the system speed.
Step 5 – Restart the computer. This step matters more than people usually understand. Make sure to restart the PC. It will flush out any remaining Vanguard services from the memory. It will also allow Windows to remove the locked files. It will clear up any startup entries that Vanguard registered. After the restart, Vanguard will no longer run at boot. You will notice that the shield icon is also not visible anymore on the system tray.
Steps to follow to completely remove Riot Vanguard from the PC
Sometimes the standard uninstall isn’t enough. Vanguard may keep coming back. Also, you will have to make sure that it is absolutely gone. Then you will have to remove it at the surface level.
How To Disable Vanguard Before Removal
If you want to understand how to disable Vanguard before removal, make sure to follow the following steps.
Step 1. Before doing anything else, exit Vanguard from the system tray. Look for Vanguard’s shield icon. You will find it in the taskbar. It will be available at the bottom right corner.
Step 2. Now, right-click it. Make sure to select Exit Vanguard. Confirm when there are prompts. If you don’t see the icon, there may be a chance that Vanguard may not be running. Now you can proceed.
How to delete Vanguard services using CMD
This method manually removes the Vanguard Windows services. The services may persist even after uninstalling the program. For that, you will have to follow the following steps.
Step 1. Press Windows + S. Now type Command Prompt.
Step 2. Right-click. Make sure to select the run as administrator.
Step 3. Type each command below. Make sure to press enter after each.
sc delete vgc
sc delete vgk
You will also see a message saying [SC] DeleteService SUCCESS for each of the processes. When you see the error saying the service doesn’t exist, it means that it is fine. It just means that it was already removed.
Delete Riot Vanguard folders.
After you run the commands, make sure to delete the leftover folders. For that, you will have to:
Step 1. Head to the option C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard.
Step 2. Now make sure that you navigate there in the file explorer.
Step 3. From there, make a selection of the folder. Delete it.
Step 4. When Windows says that the folder is in use, make sure to restart the PC first. After that, you should delete it.
Why does Vanguard sometimes reinstall itself?
This is one of the most frustrating things that users usually report. Vanguard reinstalls itself for numerous reasons.
- The Riot client is still installed. The Riot client checks for Vanguard. It reinstalls it automatically when you next launch it.
- Startup services weren’t fully removed. A leftover registry entry or service triggers reinstallation.
Fixing it is very simple. You will have to make sure that you have also fully uninstalled the Riot client itself from the apps list. Also, make sure to remove the service entries using the CMD method that we have discussed above.
Steps to follow to remove leftover Valorant files after uninstalling
Even after a successful uninstall, Riot leaves a trail of files behind. You can clean them up completely by following a few steps.
- Delete the Riot Games installation folder.
Make sure to check the common install locations. There, delete any Riot Games folders that you find. The two locations are as follows:
- C:\Riot Games
- C:\Program Files\Riot Games
In the case you have installed Valorant to the custom drive like D drive or E drive (D:\ or E:\), check there too.
- Remove AppData and temporary files.
AppData turns out to be the hidden folder. It usually stores game settings, logs, and cache. You can access it and clean it.
Step 1: Press Windows + R. Type %localappdata% and hit Enter.
Step 2: Look for the Riot Games folder. Make sure to delete it.
Step 3: Press Windows + R again. There, type %appdata%. Make sure to hit Enter.
Step 4: Look for and delete the Riot Games folder that will be present here.
Note the point that such folders can be several hundred megabytes. You need to clear them. It means that you free up meaningful space.
Empty the Recycle Bin.
By now, you have surely deleted everything, but don’t forget to right-click the Recycle Bin. Select Empty Recycle Bin. Files aren’t truly gone until you’re doing this step.
Optional Registry Cleanup
Advanced users can follow another tip. You can edit the Windows registry correctly because when it is done incorrectly, it can break the system. Make sure that you are doing this only when you are comfortable. For that, you will have to create a backup first.
If you want a truly clean slate, search the registry editor. It will be labeled as regedit. There are remaining Riot Games or Vanguard entries, usually in them. Make sure to delete them. For most people, the folder cleanup above is more than sufficient.
Steps to follow to fix Valorant uninstall problems
Have you hit a wall during the uninstall? There may be common issues. You need to understand exactly how to fix them. Valorant may say the game is still running. It will happen when the background process is still active. You can fix it by following a few steps.
Step 1. Open the task manager. There, click Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Step 2. Go to the process tab.
Step 3. Look for VALORANT.exe.
There may be other options available as well, like VALORANT.exe, RiotClientServices.exe, or vgtray.exe.
Step 4. Right-click each one. Make sure to select End Task.
Step 5. Try the uninstall again.
Riot Vanguard won't uninstall
Vanguard may be resisting removal. For that, you will have to follow additional steps.
Step 1. Right-click the Vanguard icon. You will find it in the system tray. Make sure to exit it manually.
Step 2. Open the task manager. There, you will have to end vgc.exe in case it is running.
Step 3. Restart the PC. Step four, try uninstalling Vanguard again from the settings. You need to do that before launching anything else.
The uninstall button may be greyed out.
It usually means that you are not running with the right permissions. There, you will have to follow. You will have to try either of the following.
- Right-click the settings app. There, you will have to select run as Administrator.
- The alternate is to use the control panel. You can go to programs within the control panel. Now, uninstall a program. It sometimes bypasses the grayed-out issue. It is common in the modern Windows settings.
Valorant still appears after uninstalling.
Valorant may still show up in the apps list. Even when you have done everything to uninstall it, there may be such an occurrence. For that, you will have to follow the following steps.
Step 1. Delete the leftover Riot Games folder. You will find it at C:\Riot Games. Also, you can find it in the custom install drive.
Step 2. Check the startup apps. For that, you will have to go to settings, move to the Apps option, and then go to the Startup option. Make sure to remove any Riot entries that you find there.
Step 3. Restart the PC. Make sure to refresh the apps list.
The Riot client is broken or missing.
The Riot client may be corrupted. In that case, it won’t launch the uninstaller. For that, you will have to follow additional steps.
Step 1. Go to Windows settings. There, go to Apps. Make sure to uninstall directly from there.
Step 2. In the case that the first step has failed, you can manually delete the Riot Games folder. It will be available within the C drive Riot Games section.
Step 3. Use the CMD method. It will remove the Vanguard services. The usually available options are sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk.
The manual approach is highly advisable. It bypasses the Riot client entirely.
Vanguard error preventing removal.
You may get a Vanguard-related error. It will block the uninstall. For that, you will have to follow the following approach.
Step 1. Boot into Windows Safe Mode. For that, you will have to hold Shift while clicking Restart. Now head to the option Troubleshoot. From there, go to Advanced Options. Now head to Startup Settings. Make sure to run it in Safe Mode.
Step 2. In safe mode, Vanguard’s kernel service won’t load. It will be easier to delete in that case.
Step 3. Run the CMD service cleanup commands. It will be available in safe mode. It is important when needed.
Does uninstalling Valorant delete the Riot account?
The short answer is no; the Riot account is stored on the Riot services; it is not stored on the PC. Uninstalling the game does not affect the account in any way.
What happens to the skins and progress?
Everything that you have earned or purchased stays linked to the Riot account. This may include the skins and agents, and it is also inclusive of rank and match history. Also, it carries the Valorant points balance. Deleting the game files from the PC has zero impact on any of that. You can be sure that the account is completely safe.
Can you reinstall Valorant later?
Absolutely, you can do it at any time. You can decide to come back later. Also, you may do that if you just want a clean reinstall. For that, you will have to follow the following approach.
Step 1. Download the Valorant installer. You will find it at playvalorant.com.
Step 2. Log in to the Riot account.
Step 3. You will find all the progress, skins, and settings there. It will synchronize back automatically. You can be assured that the account is always waiting for you on cloud.
Will uninstalling Valorant improve PC performance?
Potentially, yes, it will. Especially, it is true when you are on a lower-end PC. Here is the honest breakdown.
- Background Vanguard processes
Vanguard runs at startup. It also stays active all day. Also, it stays active even when Valorant isn’t open. On systems with a limited RAM, that is, around 8GB or less, the persistent background usage affects the responsiveness of the PC. It is also common on the older CPUs. It will feel less responsive while performing other tasks.
- Startup impact
Vanguard registers itself in the form of a startup service. This is the reason it adds to the PC’s boot time. When you remove it, it means one less kernel-level driver that is loading when Windows starts. It can make a small but real difference in the way the desktop becomes usable after a reboot.
When performance gains are minor
To be honest, when you have a modern PC with around 16GB+ RAM, you can find a dramatic performance. Also, it is better on the newer CPU. It will guarantee a performance boost from removing Valorant. The gains are mostly meaningful for the older systems of around 2016 or earlier hardware.
Also, it is best for PCs with 8GB RAM or less. It is highly favorable for the systems that are already running background heavy software. In the case that performance is the concern, make sure to disable Vanguard from the startup. It will be enough. You don’t necessarily have to uninstall the game entirely.
FAQs – How To Uninstall Valorant.
Uninstall Riot Vanguard first from the Windows settings. After that, only you should uninstall Valorant. Make sure to restart the PC. After that, you will have to manually delete the Riot Games folders. You can do that from C:\Riot Games. Also, you will have to look into the AppData directories. Use sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk. It will be available in the admin command prompt. It will guarantee a truly clean removal.
The most likely reason behind this is that Vanguard is still actively running. Make sure to exit it from the system tray. Also, ensure to end the vgc.exe process in the task manager. After that, you will have to restart the PC. Make sure to uninstall again after opening any other apps.
No, the skins and agents will be stored on the Riot servers. Also, there will be a rank and all the account progress stored in the servers that are tied to the account. Uninstalling the game files from the PC won't affect any of it.
You likely have leftover folders. There may be leftover registry entries as well. So make sure to check the C:\Riot Games, %localappdata%\Riot Games, and %appdata%\Riot Games. Make sure to delete anything that is remaining. Also, it is highly advisable to check the startup apps list for Riot entries.
Final thoughts on how to uninstall Valorant completely
Removing Valorant in the right way comes with plenty of benefits. You will have to make sure to uninstall Vanguard before the game. After that, only you should restart the PC afterward. Make sure to also clean up leftover Riot files manually. You should not skip any of the steps. When you fail to follow the steps, there may be a chance that you will end up with the traces of Vanguard still lurking on the system.
Do you know the good news? When you want to come back, you can reinstall it in a painless manner. It won’t erase a single skin. Also, you will be finding the restored rank point or a bit of account progress. Everything is tied to the Riot account. It will be right there waiting for you.
