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VALORANT is not normally uninstalled from inside the Riot Client. Close Riot Client completely, then remove VALORANT through Windows Installed apps on Windows 11, Apps & features on Windows 10, or Programs and Features in Control Panel. Riot Vanguard is a separate Windows program, so uninstall it separately if you no longer use a Riot game that requires it.
The steps below follow the current Riot Games uninstall instructions and Microsoft’s Windows app-removal guidance.
Choose what you want to remove
Removing the game, Vanguard, and Riot Client are three separate actions. You do not necessarily need to remove all three.
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| Component | Remove it when |
|---|---|
| VALORANT | You want to uninstall the game. |
| Riot Vanguard | You no longer play VALORANT or another Riot game that requires Vanguard. Vanguard is listed separately in Windows. |
| Riot Client | You want to remove the launcher as well. Do not remove it while you still need it for another installed Riot game. |
For the cleanest removal, uninstall VALORANT first, remove Vanguard next if appropriate, and uninstall Riot Client last.
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1. Fully exit Riot Client
Windows may block the uninstall while Riot Client is still running in the background. Closing the visible Riot Client window is not always enough.
- Close VALORANT if it is open.
- In the Windows notification area, select the hidden-icons arrow ^.
- Right-click the Riot Client icon and select Exit.
- If a Riot Vanguard shield icon is visible, right-click it and select Exit Vanguard if that option is available.
If Windows still says Riot Client is running, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Select any remaining Riot Client processes and choose End task. If the processes immediately return, restart Windows and try the uninstall again. Riot specifically requires Riot Client to be closed before removing a Riot game; see the official Riot procedure.
2. Uninstall VALORANT through Windows
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for VALORANT.
- Select the three-dot More button next to VALORANT.
- Select Uninstall, then follow the uninstaller’s prompts.
This is the supported removal path because the current Riot Client does not provide a normal in-client Uninstall button for VALORANT.
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Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Select VALORANT.
- Choose Uninstall and confirm.
Use Control Panel if Settings does not work
If VALORANT is not removable from the Settings app, open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Right-click VALORANT, select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change, and follow the prompts. Microsoft documents both the Settings and Control Panel methods in its Windows uninstall guide.
3. Remove Riot Vanguard separately
Uninstalling VALORANT does not necessarily uninstall Riot Vanguard. Vanguard is a separate Windows program. Remove it if you no longer use VALORANT or another Riot game that requires it. If you still play another Riot game that needs Vanguard, leave Vanguard installed.
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Riot Vanguard.
- Select the three-dot More button next to it.
- Choose Uninstall and confirm the prompt.
Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Select Riot Vanguard.
- Choose Uninstall and confirm.
Restart Windows after Vanguard is removed. Riot’s Vanguard removal instructions require a restart before you delete any remaining Vanguard installation folder.
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4. Uninstall Riot Client if you also want to remove the launcher
This step is optional. Complete it only after removing VALORANT and any other Riot games you still have installed. Riot Client may still be required to launch those games.
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Riot Client.
- Select the three-dot More button, choose Uninstall, and confirm.
Windows 10 or Control Panel
On Windows 10, use Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select Riot Client, and choose Uninstall. You can also use Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, right-click Riot Client, and choose Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
If Riot Vanguard will not uninstall
Use Riot’s manual Vanguard removal procedure only when the normal Windows uninstall fails or Vanguard is no longer listed but its services or files remain.
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- Open Start and search for
cmd. - Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Run each command separately, pressing Enter after each one:
sc delete vgc
sc delete vgk- Restart the computer.
- Open File Explorer and go to
C:Program Files. - If it remains, right-click the Riot Vanguard folder and select Delete.
The sc delete commands remove the Vanguard services named vgc and vgk. They do not uninstall the VALORANT game files or Riot Client. Do not skip the restart before deleting the folder. These steps come from Riot’s manual Vanguard removal instructions.
Fix common VALORANT uninstall problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Riot Client is still running | Exit Riot Client from the notification area. If it remains active, open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and end the remaining Riot Client processes. Restart Windows if they return immediately. |
| The Uninstall button does nothing | Restart Windows and retry Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps > VALORANT > More > Uninstall. Microsoft lists restarting as the first recovery step for a desktop program that cannot be removed. See Microsoft’s program install and removal troubleshooting guidance. |
| VALORANT or Riot Vanguard is missing from Installed apps | Try Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Windows may show a program there even when the Settings interface does not provide a working removal option. |
| Windows says the uninstaller cannot be found | This usually points to an incomplete previous removal or a stale uninstall entry. On Windows 10, use Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter, which is designed to repair corrupted uninstall data that blocks removal. Do not start by deleting random registry entries. |
| Vanguard is not listed, but its services or files remain | Open an elevated Command Prompt, run sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk separately, restart Windows, and then delete C:Program FilesRiot Vanguard if the folder remains. |
What not to do
- Do not look for a normal in-client uninstall menu first. The supported current path is Windows app removal, not a Riot Client game-settings uninstall control.
- Do not assume removing VALORANT also removes Vanguard. Check for Riot Vanguard separately in Windows.
- Do not delete the VALORANT folder as your first step. Manual deletion can leave Windows uninstall records, Riot Client components, or Vanguard services behind. Use the Windows uninstaller first.
- Do not mistake the service commands for a game uninstall.
sc delete vgcandsc delete vgktarget Vanguard services only.
Final removal checklist
- Riot Client was exited from the notification area before uninstalling.
- VALORANT was removed through Windows Installed apps, Apps & features, or Programs and Features.
- Riot Vanguard was removed separately if you no longer need it.
- Windows was restarted after Vanguard removal.
- Riot Client was removed only if you do not need it for another Riot game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall VALORANT directly from Riot Client?
Not through the normal current Riot Client interface. Exit Riot Client, then uninstall VALORANT from Windows 11 Installed apps, Windows 10 Apps & features, or Control Panel’s Programs and Features.
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Not necessarily. Riot Vanguard is a separate Windows program. Uninstall it separately if you no longer use VALORANT or another Riot game that requires Vanguard.
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What do the commands sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk remove?
They remove the Riot Vanguard services named vgc and vgk. They do not remove VALORANT or Riot Client. Run them only in an administrator Command Prompt, then restart Windows before deleting any remaining Riot Vanguard folder.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Close Riot Client from the notification area, uninstall VALORANT through Windows rather than from inside Riot Client, remove Riot Vanguard separately if you no longer need it, and uninstall Riot Client last if no other Riot game depends on it.
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