How to uninstall VALORANT

Written By Onur Demirkol Writer
Last UpdatedOctober 13, 2023 at 01:32PM
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VALORANT, the popular online game from Riot Games, has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. But there might come a time when you need to bid it farewell. Uninstalling VALORANT isn't the most straightforward process, and it involves removing its associated anti-cheat software, Vanguard. In other words, even though it may seem like it is one of the beginner’s guides, it is actually much more complicated. In this guide, we'll break down the steps for you in a clear and simple manner.

Why uninstall VALORANT?

First, let's address the "why." Why would you want to uninstall VALORANT? Well, there are various reasons. Maybe you're taking a break from gaming, need to free up disk space, or just want a fresh start. Well, there are other reasons too. Competitive online games like VALORANT can be hard mentally too. Some players just want to get rid of it, which is not something that we can judge. Whatever your motive, we're here to guide you through the uninstallation process. Let’s cut to the chase and show you how to uninstall VALORANT!

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People have different reasons to uninstall VALORANT

How to uninstall VALORANT

Uninstalling VALORANT is not a one-click operation in the Riot Client, despite common belief. If you try to uninstall it directly, you will get an error notice. To effectively uninstall VALORANT, you must first say goodbye to Vanguard, the anti-cheat system. Here's how it's done:

Disabling Vanguard

  1. Locate the system tray on the bottom-right corner of your desktop.
  2. Right-click on the red Vanguard icon.
  3. Choose "exit" from the menu.
  4. A confirmation prompt will appear; click "Yes" to turn off Vanguard.

Uninstalling Vanguard and VALORANT

With Vanguard out of the way, you can now proceed with the uninstallation:

  1. Press the Windows Key or click the Windows icon on your taskbar.
  2. In the search bar, type "Add or remove programs" and hit Enter.
  3. Scroll down to find "Riot Vanguard," right-click it, and select "uninstall."
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
  5. Similarly, uninstall VALORANT using the same method and complete the process.

How to Uninstall VALORANT using CMD

Sometimes, you might encounter issues where the standard uninstallation steps don't work. This can be due to problems with Windows apps or settings, or even corruption in game files. In such cases, you can manually uninstall both Vanguard and VALORANT using the Command Prompt (CMD). Before diving into the steps, ensure you've exited Vanguard from the Windows system tray.

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You can also uninstall VALORANT using CMD

Accessing the Command Prompt (CMD)

  1. Press the Windows key or access the start menu.
  2. Type "CMD" into the search bar; this will display the Command Prompt.
  3. Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator" from the options.
  4. This action will open the Command Prompt in administrator mode, giving you the necessary privileges to execute the following commands.

Uninstalling Vanguard and VALORANT

In the Command Prompt, paste the following commands one by one and press Enter after each command:

  • sc delete vgc
  • sc delete vgk

These commands are essential for removing Vanguard and its associated components.

Restart Your System

After executing the commands, restart your computer. This step is crucial to ensure a clean uninstallation of VALORANT without encountering any errors.

Deleting Riot Vanguard Folder

  1. Once your system has restarted, open File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the following location: C:PROGRAM FILES3. Locate and delete the "Riot Vanguard" folder.

By performing this step, you will successfully remove VALORANT from your system, ensuring a complete uninstallation.

These Command Prompt instructions provide an alternate technique for uninstalling VALORANT, especially when the usual removal procedure fails. You may completely remove VALORANT and Vanguard from your computer by carefully following these procedures.

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Uninstalling via CMD takes a little longer than usual

Once VALORANT has been properly deleted, you can uninstall the Riot client if you no longer want any Riot Games goods on your PC. That's it; you've successfully removed VALORANT and Vanguard from your computer. We hope that this information has simplified the procedure for you.

For more VALORANT guides, scroll down:

Onur Demirkol here, Content Writer for THESPIKEGG. You will see his name on a bunch of different articles here, whether they are breaking news or evergreen guides and content.

His journey in the industry has been marked by influential roles at esteemed platforms such as Flank Esports and 5Mid, where he served as editor-in-chief. Onur made significant contributions to their success in written content and social media, including a notable impact on an issue of the Turkish Esports Federation magazine. Currently, he serves as the Lead Editor for Gamelevate, taking pride in managing a global team of 12 talented writers. Additionally, Onur regularly contributes to Softonic, gHacks, Dataconomy, and Techbriefly. He has written thousands of articles, and that number continues to go up.

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