Learn how to completely uninstall Valorant, remove Riot Vanguard, and fix common issues that may occur during the uninstallation process.
Removing Valorant from your PC isn't as simple as deleting a typical game. One of the main reasons is the presence of the Riot Vanguard anti-cheat software, which operates at the kernel level and must be removed separately to fully erase the game. Whether you're uninstalling Valorant to free up storage, fix performance issues, or just take a break, it’s important to follow the correct process to ensure every component is removed cleanly. This article walks you through the full process of uninstalling Valorant, including deleting Riot Vanguard and all game files, using either Control Panel or Windows Settings.
Uninstalling Valorant through the Control Panel is a straightforward approach. This method lets you fully remove the game and its anti-cheat software in the correct order to avoid leftover files or system conflicts. Here's how to do it properly.
Before uninstalling Valorant from your PC, first make sure the game and its anti-cheat tool are not running in the background.
To close Valorant, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, select Task Manager, locate any Valorant-related processes, then right-click and choose "End Task". Next, go to the system stray on your Taskbar, right-click the Riot Vanguard icon, and select "Exit Vanguard".
Press Win + S
Type Control Panel and hit Enter.
Click on Programs and Features, choose Uninstall a program.
Look for Riot Vanguard in the list, and click Uninstall.
Find Valorant and do the same.
Once both are uninstalled, restart your computer to complete the process.
If you prefer using the modern Settings interface instead of Control Panel, follow this approach:
Turn off the game and Riot Vanguard running in the background.
Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Go to the Apps section in the settings menu.
In Window 10, click on Apps & features directly.
In Window 11, Click Apps, then select Installed apps.
Use the search bar to locate Riot Vanguard, select it, and click Uninstall.
Continue to find Valorant in the list and select Uninstall to remove the game from your computer
Restart your system. After restarting, open File Explorer and go to C:\Riot Games to delete any remaining files. This action ensures Valorant has been fully wiped.
After removing the Valorant client and Riot Vanguard from your computer:
The game will no longer appear in your Start menu or installed programs list.
You’ll regain disk space previously used by game files. Our article on how big Valorant is will help you estimate how much space you’ll recover.
Riot Vanguard will stop running at startup and won’t impact your system performance.
If you're trying to uninstall Valorant and encounter an unexpected error, you might wonder why the game refuses to be removed like other software. This usually happens because Valorant is closely tied to the Vanguard anti-cheat system. Unlike most programs, Vanguard can prevent the game from being uninstalled unless it's properly disabled first. That’s why attempting to delete Valorant directly may not work as intended.
One of the most common reasons behind Valorant not uninstalling is Vanguard running silently in the background. It adds a layer of protection that can block standard removal methods unless fully shut down beforehand.
Here are some frequently reported Valorant error codes and how you can resolve them:
| Error Code | Message | Solution |
| VAN 140 | Valorant has encountered a connection error. Please relaunch to reconnect. | Upgrade your operating system to Windows 10 or 11. If the issue persists, try uninstalling both Riot Vanguard and Valorant, then reinstall the game. Riot is currently working on an official fix. |
| VAN 9001 | Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 is not enabled. | Verify that Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 are supported and enabled on your Windows 11 system. |
| VAN 9002 | Control Flow Guard (CFG) must be enabled. | Go to your system’s exploit protection settings and enable Control Flow Guard (CFG). If the error remains, submit a ticket on the official Valorant Support website. |
| VAN 9003 | Secure Boot is not enabled. | Confirm that Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS and compatible with your Windows 11 setup. |
If you encounter any of these issues during the uninstall process, following the above solutions can help you bypass the errors and successfully remove Valorant from your system.
Knowing how to uninstall Valorant properly can save you from leftover files, anti-cheat conflicts, and unnecessary system resource use. Whether you choose to delete it via Control Panel or through Windows Settings, always remember to exit Riot Vanguard first, uninstall both programs in the correct order, and restart your PC afterward. Now that you know how to delete Valorant thoroughly, you can confidently manage your system and storage space. And if you ever feel like coming back, Valorant will be just a download away.
Valorant
