Delete Vanguard, then reinstall it fresh

To delete and reinstall Vanguard, you uninstall it through Windows Settings, restart your computer, then download the installer from Riot Games' website and run it. The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes total. Reinstalling clears out corrupted files or settings that might be causing crashes, login problems, or performance issues.

Vanguard is Riot Games' anti-cheat software that runs alongside games like Valorant. It installs deep into your system, so a full removal and reinstall is more thorough than just restarting the game. Most people do this when Vanguard won't launch, when a game won't start because Vanguard isn't detected, or when performance suddenly drops.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstall Vanguard through Windows Settings under Apps, then restart your computer before reinstalling.
  • Download the Vanguard installer directly from Riot Games' official website, not from third-party sites.
  • Run the installer as administrator and let it complete fully before launching any Riot game.
  • If Vanguard won't uninstall, restart in Safe Mode and try again, or check the Riot Games support site for your specific error.

Uninstall Vanguard through Windows Settings

Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Apps & features. Scroll down the list until you find Vanguard, click it once, then click the Uninstall button that appears.

A window will pop up asking you to confirm. Click Uninstall again. Windows will remove Vanguard from your system. This can take a few minutes. Do not close the window or restart your computer while it is running — wait until you see a message saying the uninstall is complete.

After the uninstall finishes, restart your computer. This clears Vanguard's system files and settings completely. Do not skip this step, even if the uninstall window closes immediately — restarting ensures the removal is thorough.

Download Vanguard from Riot Games' official website

After your computer restarts, open a web browser and go to valorant.com. Look for a download link or button on the main page, or search the site for "download Vanguard". Click it to download the Vanguard installer file to your computer.

Save the file to your Downloads folder or Desktop so you can find it easily. The file is usually named something like "VanguardInstaller.exe". Do not download Vanguard from any other website — only use Riot Games' official site to avoid downloading malware or outdated versions.

Run the installer as administrator

Locate the Vanguard installer file you just downloaded. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator from the menu. A window may appear asking "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" — click Yes.

The installer will open and begin setting up Vanguard. You may see a license agreement — read it if you want, then click the button to accept and continue. The installer will download additional files and install Vanguard into your system. This can take several minutes depending on your internet speed.

Once the installer finishes, it will usually ask you to restart your computer again. Click Restart now or Finish depending on what the window says. Let your computer restart fully before launching any Riot game.

Verify Vanguard is running before you play

After your computer restarts, launch a Riot game like Valorant. The game launcher will check that Vanguard is installed and running. If Vanguard starts correctly, you will see it running in the background — you can check by opening Task Manager (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and looking for "vgc.exe" or "Vanguard" in the list of running processes.

If the game launches without errors, the reinstall worked. If you still see error messages or Vanguard won't start, try restarting your computer one more time. If problems continue, check the Riot Games support website for your specific error message.

What to do if Vanguard won't uninstall

If the uninstall button is grayed out or you get an error message, restart your computer in Safe Mode and try uninstalling again. To enter Safe Mode, press the Windows key, type "msconfig", press Enter, click the Boot tab, check the box next to Safe boot, then click OK and restart.

Once in Safe Mode, open Settings again and try uninstalling Vanguard. Safe Mode disables most background programs, which sometimes allows the uninstall to complete when it fails in normal mode. After uninstalling, go back to msconfig, uncheck the Safe boot box, and restart normally.

If you still cannot uninstall Vanguard, visit the Riot Games support website and search for your error message. Support pages there often have specific fixes for common uninstall problems, including manual removal steps if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will reinstalling Vanguard delete my game account or settings?

No. Vanguard is just anti-cheat software — it does not store your account information or game settings. Your Riot Games account, rank, skins, and all game data stay on Riot's servers and will be there when you log back in after reinstalling.

Do I need to uninstall my game before uninstalling Vanguard?

No. You can uninstall Vanguard while your game is still installed. However, you will not be able to launch the game until Vanguard is reinstalled. If you want to uninstall both, uninstall the game first, then uninstall Vanguard.

How long does the whole process take?

Uninstalling takes about two to five minutes, restarting takes one to two minutes, downloading the installer takes one to five minutes depending on your internet speed, and installing takes three to ten minutes. Total time is usually 10 to 15 minutes, though it can be longer on slower internet connections.

Can I reinstall Vanguard without restarting after uninstalling?

You can try, but restarting is strongly recommended. Restarting clears Vanguard's system files completely, which makes the reinstall cleaner and more likely to fix whatever problem you were having. Skipping the restart sometimes leaves old Vanguard files behind, which can cause the same issues to happen again.

What if I get an error during installation?

Note the exact error message and search for it on the Riot Games support website. Most installation errors have known fixes posted there. Common solutions include disabling your antivirus temporarily during installation, running the installer as administrator again, or downloading the installer file a second time in case the first download was incomplete.