Updated September 1, 2026: Close VALORANT and fully exit Riot Client, then open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps and uninstall VALORANT. Restart if Windows asks. Riot Vanguard is a separate app, so remove it afterward only if no other Riot game on your PC needs it.
Use the standard method if you just want the game off your PC. Riot’s clean-uninstall steps also remove cached VALORANT and Riot Client files, which makes them more useful when you plan to reinstall because the game is broken.
Uninstall VALORANT through Windows
- Quit VALORANT.
- Right-click the Riot Client icon in the system tray and select Exit. Riot says the client must be closed before you uninstall one of its games.
- Press the Windows key, type Installed apps, and open it.
- Find VALORANT, open its three-dot menu, and select Uninstall.
- Follow the Windows prompts. Restart your PC if the uninstaller asks you to.
Windows 10 calls the same menu Apps & features. You can also use Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features if the Settings entry will not open. The steps are the same on a laptop.
Do a clean uninstall before reinstalling
Riot recommends the extra cleanup below when you are uninstalling to fix crashes, corrupted files or another stubborn game problem. Finish the normal Windows uninstall first.
- Open C:\Riot Games in File Explorer.
- Delete the VALORANT and Riot Client folders, then empty the Recycle Bin.
- Press Windows key + R, enter
%localappdata%, and press Enter. - Delete the Riot Games and VALORANT folders inside AppData\Local.
- Restart the PC.
Those cleanup steps remove local client files and cache. They do not delete your Riot account, agents, skins, rank or match history. If you still play another Riot game, expect the Riot Client to repair or reinstall its files the next time you launch it.
Remove Riot Vanguard only if you no longer need it
Vanguard is installed separately from VALORANT and is now used by multiple Riot games. Leave it alone if another installed Riot title needs it. Otherwise, use either of Riot’s current methods:
- System tray: right-click the Vanguard icon, select Advanced > Uninstall Vanguard, and follow the prompts.
- Windows Settings: search for Add or remove programs, find Riot Vanguard, and uninstall it.
Restart the PC. Vanguard is gone if its icon does not return to the system tray.
If Riot Vanguard will not uninstall
Riot’s manual fallback requires an administrator Command Prompt. Close every Riot app first, then run these commands one at a time:
sc delete vgc
sc delete vgkRestart Windows, then delete the remaining C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard folder if it is still there. Do not use those commands to remove unrelated Windows services.
What to do if VALORANT still will not uninstall
- Riot Client is still running: open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, end the Riot Client task, and try again.
- Windows says the app is open: restart, do not launch Riot Client, and run the uninstaller first.
- The app entry is broken: try the Control Panel route or Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter.
- Vanguard keeps returning: follow the administrator Command Prompt steps above, then restart before deleting the leftover folder.
How to reinstall VALORANT
Download VALORANT again from Riot Games and run the installer. The installer adds Riot Client, downloads the game and reinstalls Vanguard when needed. Sign in with the same Riot ID to get your account content back.
Once the game is running, the VALORANT guide hub, sensitivity guide and resolution guide cover the settings worth checking after a fresh install.
Sources
- Riot Games: Uninstall and Reinstall Games, updated June 1, 2026
- Riot Games: Uninstall and Disable Vanguard, updated May 30, 2026
- Microsoft: Uninstall or remove apps and programs in Windows
