How to Uninstall Valorant

Valorant is a 20-30GB free-to-play tactical shooter from Riot Games, and while millions of players enjoy grinding through ranked matches, there comes a time when you might want to free up disk space, take a break, or remove the game entirely from your PC. Unfortunately, uninstalling Valorant isn’t as simple as most Windows applications — and if you’ve already tried the standard “Uninstall” button and found leftover files, background processes, or a stubborn system tray icon still lingering, you’re not alone.

The reason comes down to one component: Riot Vanguard, Valorant’s kernel-level anti-cheat system. Vanguard is installed as a completely separate program from the game itself, runs at the deepest level of your operating system, and loads automatically every time you boot your PC — whether or not you’re actually playing Valorant. Uninstalling the game alone leaves Vanguard running indefinitely in the background.

In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to fully remove both Valorant and Riot Vanguard from your PC, including standard uninstall methods, manual cleanup for leftover files, troubleshooting common errors, and what happens to your account and progress after uninstalling. By the end, you’ll have a complete, error-free removal with nothing left running quietly in the background.

Common Reasons Players Uninstall Valorant

Understanding why you’re uninstalling can help you decide which approach makes the most sense for your situation:

Freeing up disk space. As one of the more storage-hungry free-to-play shooters, Valorant’s 20-30GB footprint is a common reason players remove it temporarily, especially on smaller SSDs where space is at a premium.
Taking a break for mental health or time management. Competitive ranked games can be intense, and many players choose to uninstall entirely rather than relying on willpower alone to step away during a busy period.
Concerns about kernel-level anti-cheat software. Some players prefer not to run kernel-level drivers like Vanguard continuously in the background, particularly if they use other software that has reported occasional conflicts with anti-cheat systems.
Switching to a new PC or reinstalling Windows. In these cases, a clean uninstall (or simply not migrating the installation) is often paired with a fresh install later on the new setup.
Troubleshooting persistent in-game issues. Sometimes a full uninstall and reinstall is the most effective way to resolve stubborn bugs, crashes, or performance issues that other troubleshooting steps haven’t fixed.

Whatever your reason, the uninstall process itself remains the same — but it’s worth knowing whether you’re removing the game temporarily or permanently, since that can influence whether you bother with the optional registry cleanup step covered later in this guide.

Why Uninstalling Valorant Is More Complicated Than Other Games

Riot Games ships Valorant as two entirely separate installations on your computer:

Valorant (the game itself), typically installed to C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\ by default.
Riot Vanguard (the anti-cheat), installed separately to C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\. Though it’s a relatively small footprint on disk — around 50MB — Vanguard installs a kernel-level driver that loads at every Windows startup, independent of whether Valorant is open.

Because Vanguard operates at the kernel level to detect cheating software, it actively resists casual removal. If you try to uninstall Valorant while Vanguard is still running, or attempt to manually delete Vanguard’s folder without properly uninstalling it first, Windows will typically block the action or leave orphaned files and services behind. This is the root cause of most “Valorant won’t uninstall” errors players encounter.

Before You Start: What You Should Know

Your account progress is safe. All of your rank, skins, purchases, and account data are tied to your Riot account on Riot’s servers, not stored locally on your PC. Uninstalling Valorant will not delete or affect your progress in any way — if you reinstall later, everything will still be there.

Back up your settings if needed. If you’ve heavily customized your crosshair, keybinds, or video settings, consider noting these down or backing up your config files before uninstalling, since a fresh install will reset local settings to default.

Close the game and Vanguard before starting. Both Valorant and Vanguard need to be fully closed before you can successfully uninstall either component.

Method 1: Standard Uninstall via Windows Settings

This is the most straightforward method and works for most users on Windows 10 and 11.

Step 1: Exit Riot Vanguard

Look for the Vanguard shield icon in your Windows system tray (bottom-right corner near the clock). Right-click it and select Exit Vanguard. This temporarily disables the anti-cheat driver and clears the way for uninstallation.

Step 2: Uninstall Riot Vanguard First

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Go to Apps > Installed apps (called “Apps & features” on some Windows versions).
Search for Riot Vanguard in the list.
Click the three-dot menu (or click the entry directly) and select Uninstall.
Confirm any prompts that appear, and allow the process to complete.

You must uninstall Vanguard before or immediately after the game — Valorant’s uninstaller sometimes fails or leaves the anti-cheat driver active if Vanguard isn’t handled properly.

Step 3: Uninstall Valorant

In the same Installed apps list, search for VALORANT.
Click Uninstall and follow the on-screen prompts.
Allow the process to finish completely — this can take a few minutes given the game’s large file size.

Step 4: Restart Your Computer

Restarting ensures Vanguard’s background services are fully cleared from memory and don’t attempt to reload on the next boot.

Method 2: Uninstalling via Control Panel

If Windows Settings isn’t working correctly or you prefer the classic interface, Control Panel offers an alternative path.

Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter to open Control Panel.
Click Programs, then Uninstall a program.
Locate Riot Vanguard in the list, right-click it, and select Uninstall.
Return to the list, locate VALORANT, right-click it, and select Uninstall. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete removal.

Method 3: Directly from the Vanguard Menu

Riot Vanguard also includes its own dedicated uninstall option, separate from Windows’ standard app removal tools.

Select More… from the menu.
Choose Uninstall Vanguard.
Confirm the prompt and allow the uninstaller to run.

This method can be a useful backup if Vanguard doesn’t appear properly in your Windows Installed Apps list for some reason.

Method 4: Manual Removal via Command Prompt (Advanced Users Only)

If the standard uninstall methods fail or Vanguard’s services refuse to stop, you can manually delete its underlying Windows services using Command Prompt. This method should only be used if you’re comfortable with command-line tools, since incorrect commands can cause other system issues.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search “cmd,” right-click, and select Run as administrator).
Enter the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after.These commands remove Vanguard’s two core system services.
Restart your PC after running both commands.
Once restarted, proceed to uninstall the remaining Valorant and Riot Games files as described in the cleanup section below.

Be careful not to run any additional or unfamiliar commands during this process, since mistakes at this level can affect unrelated parts of your system.

Cleaning Up Leftover Files

Even after a successful uninstall through the standard methods, some residual files and folders often remain on your system. For a truly complete removal:

Step 1: Delete the Riot Games AppData Folder

Press Windows + R, type %appdata%, and press Enter.
Look for a folder named Riot Games and delete it.

Step 2: Delete Remaining Program Files

Navigate to C:\Riot Games in File Explorer and delete any remaining folders or files.
Check C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard as well, and delete it manually if it still exists after uninstalling.

Step 3: Optional Registry Cleanup

Advanced users comfortable editing the Windows Registry can search for and remove leftover Riot Games or Vanguard registry entries using the Registry Editor (regedit). This step is optional and primarily cosmetic — leftover registry entries generally don’t cause performance issues, so only attempt this if you’re experienced with registry editing, since incorrect changes can cause system instability.

Troubleshooting Common Uninstall Errors

Valorant won’t uninstall through Windows Settings Try the Control Panel method instead, or use the direct Vanguard menu uninstall option, since occasionally the Windows Settings app doesn’t properly detect or process the uninstall request.
Vanguard icon still appears in the system tray after uninstalling This typically indicates the uninstall didn’t fully complete. Restart your computer, check Task Manager for any lingering Vanguard-related processes, and attempt the uninstall again if needed.
Leftover Riot Games folder won’t delete Ensure both Valorant and Vanguard are fully closed and uninstalled before attempting to manually delete the folder — Windows blocks folder deletion while related processes or services are still active.
Reinstalling later shows errors related to old files If you plan to reinstall Valorant in the future and run into installation errors, this is often caused by incomplete removal during a previous uninstall. Running through the full cleanup steps above before reinstalling usually resolves these conflicts.
Uninstall progress bar freezes or appears stuck Large games like Valorant can take several minutes to fully uninstall, especially on slower drives. Give the process at least 5-10 minutes before assuming it’s frozen, and avoid forcibly closing the uninstaller unless it’s genuinely unresponsive, as interrupting it midway can leave files in an inconsistent state.

Pro Tips for a Clean Uninstall

Always uninstall Vanguard and Valorant together, not separately over time. Removing just one and leaving the other creates the exact fragmented state that causes most uninstall errors.
Check Task Manager before starting. Ending any lingering Valorant or Vanguard processes (vgc.exe, vgk.exe, VALORANT.exe) before you begin significantly reduces the chance of uninstall errors.
Don’t skip the restart step. Vanguard’s kernel-level driver often requires a full reboot to clear completely, even after the uninstaller reports success.
Use File Explorer to verify complete removal. After uninstalling, briefly check C:\Riot Games and %appdata%\Riot Games to confirm nothing was left behind.
If you plan to reinstall later, a clean uninstall now saves headaches down the road. Incomplete removals are a common cause of installation errors when reinstalling Valorant in the future.
Consider third-party uninstaller tools for stubborn leftovers.
Keep your graphics and system drivers updated regardless of whether Valorant is installed. Since Vanguard interacts closely with low-level system components, outdated drivers are a common source of both in-game issues and occasional uninstall complications.

Conclusion

Uninstalling Valorant completely comes down to one key principle: treat it as two separate removals, not one. The game itself uninstalls easily through standard Windows tools, but Riot Vanguard’s kernel-level anti-cheat requires its own dedicated removal step, since it operates independently and loads automatically at every system boot regardless of whether Valorant is running.

Whether you use the standard Windows Settings method, Control Panel, the dedicated Vanguard menu option, or the more advanced Command Prompt approach for stubborn cases, the end goal is the same: fully removing both components and cleaning up any leftover files. Your account progress, rank, and purchases remain safely stored on Riot’s servers regardless of what you do locally, so you can uninstall with confidence, knowing everything will be waiting for you if you decide to return.

Taking the extra few minutes to properly remove both Valorant and Vanguard, rather than just the game itself, is well worth the effort — it ensures no background processes keep quietly running on your system, and it sets you up for a smoother reinstall down the line if you ever decide to jump back into ranked play.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will uninstalling Valorant delete my account progress or purchases?

No. Your rank, skins, agent unlocks, and any purchases made with real money or VALORANT Points are tied to your Riot account on Riot’s servers, not stored locally on your PC. Uninstalling the game has no effect on this data.

2. How much storage space does Valorant free up after uninstalling?

Valorant typically occupies between 20-30GB of storage, depending on your installed content and update history, making it a worthwhile uninstall if you’re low on disk space and taking a break from the game.

3. Do I need to uninstall Riot Vanguard separately from Valorant?

Yes. Riot Vanguard is a completely separate program from the game itself and will not be automatically removed when you uninstall Valorant. You must uninstall it individually using one of the methods outlined above for a complete removal.

4. Why does Riot Vanguard keep running even when I’m not playing Valorant?

Vanguard loads as a kernel driver at every Windows startup by design, regardless of whether Valorant is open, since this is part of how it maintains anti-cheat protection and detects tampering before a match even begins. This is expected behavior while Vanguard remains installed, and the only way to stop it entirely is to uninstall it.

5. Can I reinstall Valorant later after uninstalling it?

Yes, absolutely. You can reinstall Valorant at any time from Riot Games’ official website, and your account, rank, and purchases will still be there once you log back in.

6. Does Valorant cost money to play or uninstall?

Valorant itself is free-to-play, and uninstalling it costs nothing. Optional in-game purchases like skins are made using VALORANT Points, which are typically sold in bundles starting around $10 for 1,000 points (roughly ₹830), though pricing can vary by region and periodic promotions.

7. What should I do if Vanguard won’t uninstall no matter what I try?

Try restarting your PC and immediately using Task Manager to end any Vanguard-related processes before opening other programs, then attempt the uninstall again. If that still fails, the Command Prompt method as a last resort for advanced users, followed by a full restart and a manual check of the leftover folders described earlier in this guide.

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How to Uninstall Valorant