How to Delete Valorant on PC: A Complete Uninstall Guide

Uninstalling Valorant isn't quite as straightforward as removing most PC games. Because Valorant runs Riot Vanguard — its anti-cheat software — as a kernel-level system driver, simply dragging files to the recycle bin won't get the job done. A proper uninstall means removing both the game and Vanguard, in the right order, to avoid leftover services running in the background.

Here's everything you need to know to fully remove Valorant from your PC. 🎮

Why Valorant Is Different to Uninstall

Most games sit passively on your drive until you launch them. Valorant is different because Vanguard starts automatically with Windows, even when you're not playing. It operates at the kernel level — a deep layer of your operating system — which means it has elevated system access at all times.

This design is intentional: it helps Riot detect cheats that operate at low system levels. But it also means that if you only remove the game files without addressing Vanguard, the driver keeps running silently in the background.

A complete uninstall involves two steps:

1. Uninstalling Valorant (the game client)
2. Uninstalling Riot Vanguard (the anti-cheat driver)

The order matters, though in practice Windows handles both cleanly if you go through the correct channels.

Step-by-Step: How to Uninstall Valorant on Windows

Method 1 — Windows Settings (Recommended)

This is the cleanest method for most users running Windows 10 or Windows 11.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Navigate to Apps → Installed Apps (Windows 11) or Apps & Features (Windows 10)
3. Search for "Riot Vanguard" in the search bar
4. Click on it and select Uninstall — confirm when prompted
5. Now search for "Valorant" in the same list
6. Click Uninstall and follow the prompts through the Riot uninstaller

Why uninstall Vanguard first? Removing Vanguard before Valorant ensures the driver is properly deregistered from Windows before the game files are cleared. Some users report it works either way, but starting with Vanguard is the safer practice.

Method 2 — Control Panel

If you prefer the older interface:

1. Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features
2. Locate Riot Vanguard in the list
3. Right-click → Uninstall
4. Locate Valorant → right-click → Uninstall
5. Follow the Riot Games uninstaller prompts

Method 3 — Riot Client Uninstaller

If the Riot Games launcher is still installed on your system:

1. Open the Riot Client
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner
3. Navigate to Uninstall within the Valorant game tile
4. This triggers Riot's own removal tool, which handles game files directly

Note: This method removes Valorant but may not fully remove Vanguard. Check Apps & Features afterward to confirm Vanguard is gone.

Cleaning Up Leftover Files

Even after a standard uninstall, some residual files and folders may remain. These don't cause problems for most users, but if you want a truly clean removal:

Common leftover locations to check manually:

To navigate these folders, paste the paths into File Explorer's address bar. Delete any remaining Riot Games or Valorant folders you find. Always double-check you're deleting the right folders before clearing anything.

What Happens to Your Account? 🔒

Uninstalling Valorant from your PC does not delete your Riot Games account. Your rank, skins, purchased content, and progression are all stored server-side. If you reinstall the game later, everything will still be there when you log back in.

If your intention is to permanently close your Riot Games account, that's a separate process handled through Riot's account management portal — uninstalling the game alone won't achieve that.

Variables That Affect Your Experience

How smoothly the uninstall goes depends on a few factors:

• Windows version: Windows 11 and Windows 10 handle kernel-level drivers slightly differently. Most users on both versions report clean uninstalls through Settings, but edge cases exist.
• Previous failed installs or corrupted files: If Valorant or Vanguard experienced an interrupted installation or update, the standard uninstaller may not catch everything — manual cleanup becomes more relevant.
• Third-party antivirus software: Some security tools flag Vanguard's driver during removal. If the uninstall stalls, temporarily pausing your antivirus may help.
• Admin permissions: Both Valorant and Vanguard require administrator-level access to install and uninstall properly. Running the uninstall without admin rights can leave processes incomplete.
• Other Riot Games installed: If you also have League of Legends or Legends of Runeterra installed, Vanguard and the Riot Client may be shared. Removing Vanguard could affect those games too.

After the Uninstall

Once both components are removed, it's worth restarting your PC. This clears any services that were running in memory and confirms that Vanguard's driver is no longer active. You can verify by opening Task Manager → Services tab and confirming no Vanguard-related entries are listed as running.

Whether you're freeing up storage space, troubleshooting a system issue, or simply stepping away from the game, the specifics of what counts as "complete enough" for your purposes — and whether you need to address the Riot Client itself — will depend on your own setup and what you're trying to achieve.