If you want to uninstall Valorant from your PC, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re debugging an issue, freeing up space, or simply leaving the game, this tutorial will show you how to remove Valorant and its anti-cheat software, Riot Vanguard, in only a few minutes.
By following this step-by-step procedure, you will ensure that no remaining files or services remain on your system, providing you with a clean slate if you ever need to reinstall.
Step 1: Open Control Panel
The first step in uninstalling Valorant is accessing the Control Panel. Here’s how:
- Click the Start Menu and type “Control Panel” into the search bar.
- Open Control Panel from the results.
Once in the Control Panel, you can uninstall Valorant like any other program.
Step 2: Uninstall Valorant from Programs and Features
Now that you’ve accessed the Control Panel, the next step is to remove Valorant from your list of installed programs:
- In the Control Panel, navigate to Programs > Programs and Features.
- Scroll through the list and find Valorant.
- Right-click Valorant and select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall Valorant from your system. This step removes the core game files, but some data may remain on your computer, so let’s tackle that next.
Step 3: Remove Remaining Valorant Files Manually
Even after you uninstall Valorant, some leftover files can take up unnecessary space on your system. To ensure a complete removal, you need to delete these files manually:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the following directories:
C:\Program Files\Riot VanguardC:\Program Files\Riot ClientC:\ProgramData\Riot Games
- Delete any folders related to Valorant or Riot Games.
This step ensures there are no residual files left behind after the uninstallation process.
Step 4: Uninstall Riot Vanguard (Anti-Cheat Software)
Riot Vanguard is Valorant’s anti-cheat software, which is installed alongside the game. It runs in the background even when you’re not playing, so removing it is crucial for a clean uninstallation:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. - Look for the VGC or Riot Vanguard service in the list.
- Right-click on it and choose Stop.
- Right-click again, select Properties, and change the Startup type to Disabled.
- Restart your computer to fully disable the service.
- After the restart, navigate to
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguardand delete the Riot Vanguard folder.
Removing Riot Vanguard ensures that no services or background processes related to Valorant continue running after you’ve uninstalled the game.
Step 5: Clear Valorant and Riot Games Registry Entries (Optional)
This step is for those who want to go the extra mile and remove any lingering registry entries that could be related to Valorant. Editing the registry can be risky, so if you’re not comfortable doing this, feel free to skip this step. However, for a complete cleanup:
- Press Win + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. - Before making any changes, go to File > Export to create a backup of your registry.
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UninstallHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games
- Delete any keys or entries related to Valorant or Riot Games.
Be cautious while editing the registry, as deleting the wrong entries can cause system instability. Always create a backup before making any changes.
Step 6: Restart Your Computer
Once you’ve followed all of the steps above, restart your computer. This ensures that all processes related to Valorant and Riot Vanguard are fully terminated and removed from your system.
Following this instruction will allow you to completely uninstall Valorant from your computer in just a few minutes. The removal of the game, Riot Vanguard, and all associated files ensures that no unwanted data is left behind. Whether you’re freeing up space, diagnosing a bug, or simply saying goodbye to Valorant, this approach ensures a clean and thorough removal.
If you ever decide to reinstall Valorant, you’ll be starting over with no leftover files that could create problems. Please let us know if this tutorial was helpful or if you require any additional assistance.