Check for Background Processes and Restart Completely
Before making any permanent changes, the simplest and most effective first step is to ensure that no leftover Valorant processes are running in the background. Even after a crash, the game’s anti-cheat system, Vanguard, may keep running and prevent a new instance from launching.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Look under the Processes tab for any entry labeled “Valorant,” “VALORANT-Win64-Shipping,” or “Riot Client.” If any are present, right-click each one and select End task. Also check for “vgc” (Vanguard) in the Services tab. If it is running, right-click it and select Stop.
After clearing all processes, restart your computer completely. This ensures that Vanguard and the Riot Client start fresh. Once your system boots up, launch the Riot Client first, allow it to update if needed, and then try launching Valorant.
Run the Riot Client and Valorant as Administrator
Permission issues are a common reason for the game failing to start. Windows may block Valorant from accessing necessary system files if it does not have sufficient privileges.
Locate the Riot Client shortcut on your desktop or in your Start menu. Right-click it and select Run as administrator. If the game launches successfully this way, you can set it to always run with admin rights.
To do this permanently, right-click the Riot Client shortcut, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check the box that says Run this program as an administrator. Click Apply and then OK. Repeat the same steps for the Valorant executable file, which is usually located in the installation folder under Riot Games\VALORANT\live\Valorant.exe.
Disable or Temporarily Remove Conflicting Software
Certain background applications, particularly those that overlay graphics or monitor system performance, can interfere with Valorant’s launch. Common culprits include:
- Discord (hardware acceleration and in-game overlay)
- MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner Statistics Server
- Overwolf
- Screen recording software (OBS, Nvidia ShadowPlay, Xbox Game Bar)
- RGB lighting control software
Close these applications entirely through Task Manager before launching Valorant. If the game starts, try enabling them one by one to identify the specific program causing the conflict. For a quick test, you can perform a clean boot in Windows to disable all non-Microsoft services and startup programs. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all. Then go to the Startup tab and open Task Manager to disable all startup items. Restart your computer and test the game. If it works, gradually re-enable services until the problem returns.
Reinstall Vanguard
Valorant relies heavily on Riot Vanguard, its custom anti-cheat driver. If Vanguard is corrupted, outdated, or not properly installed, Valorant will not launch. Reinstalling Vanguard is a safe and often effective fix.
- Open the system tray (the upward arrow icon near the clock on the taskbar).
- Right-click the Vanguard icon and select Exit Vanguard.
- Open the Start menu and search for Add or remove programs.
- Find Riot Vanguard in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. Confirm the action and restart your computer if prompted.
- After restarting, launch the Riot Client. It should automatically detect that Vanguard is missing and prompt you to install it. Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Once installation is complete, restart your computer again before attempting to launch Valorant.
If the Riot Client does not trigger the reinstallation automatically, open the Valorant page in the client and click the Install button. The installer will include Vanguard.
Repair or Reinstall the Riot Client and Valorant
Corrupted game files can prevent the game from starting. The Riot Client includes a repair function that can replace damaged files without requiring a full reinstall.
Open the Riot Client. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner, then select Settings. Under the General tab, scroll down to the game you want to repair. Click the Repair button next to Valorant. The client will scan the installation and replace any missing or corrupted files. This process may take several minutes. Once it finishes, restart the client and try launching the game.
If repairing does not work, a clean reinstall may be necessary. Uninstall Valorant through the Add or remove programs menu. After uninstallation, delete the remaining Riot Games folder (usually located in C:\Program Files\Riot Games or C:\Program Files (x86)\Riot Games) to remove any leftover configuration files. Then, download the latest installer from the official Valorant website and perform a fresh installation.
Check Windows Security and Firewall Settings
Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus program may block Vanguard or Valorant from running. Vanguard requires low-level kernel access, which some security software flags as suspicious.
Open Windows Security from the Start menu. Go to Virus & threat protection and then click Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings. Scroll down to Exclusions and click Add or remove exclusions. Add the following folders as exclusions:
- The Valorant installation folder (typically C:\Program Files\Riot Games\VALORANT)
- The Riot Client installation folder (typically C:\Program Files\Riot Games\Riot Client)
- Vanguard’s installation folder (typically C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard)
Also check the Windows Defender Firewall. Type Firewall in the Start menu and open Firewall & network protection. Click Allow an app through firewall. Ensure that both Valorant and the Riot Client are listed and that both the Private and Public checkboxes are selected. If they are not listed, click Change settings and then Allow another app to add them manually.
If you use a third-party antivirus, temporarily disable it or add the same exclusions according to that program’s instructions.
Update Graphics Drivers and Windows
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a frequent cause of launch failures. Visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver for your specific graphics card model. Run the installer and select the Clean installation option if available, which removes old driver files before installing the new one.
After updating the driver, restart your computer. Also ensure that Windows is fully updated. Open Settings (Windows key + I), go to Windows Update, and click Check for updates. Install any pending updates and restart your system.
Adjust Compatibility and Graphics Settings
If the game window appears briefly and then closes, specific launch parameters may help. Right-click the Valorant shortcut, go to Properties, and under the Shortcut tab, look at the Target field. At the end of the path, add a space and type -fullscreen (without quotes). Click Apply and try launching.
Alternatively, launching in a lower resolution or windowed mode can bypass certain display-related crashes. In the Target field, after the executable path, add a space and type -fps 30 -noantialiasing -screen-width 1280 -screen-height 720 -windowed. This forces the game to start in a small window. If it launches, you can adjust the settings to your preference once inside the game.
If the Problem Continues
If you have tried all the steps above and Valorant still refuses to launch, the issue may be related to hardware incompatibility or a corrupted Windows system file. Run the System File Checker tool by opening Command Prompt as an administrator and typing sfc /scannow. Let the scan complete and repair any corrupted files. Restart your computer afterward.
You can also check the official Riot Games support page for any known service outages or server status updates. If no wider issue exists, submitting a support ticket with details of what you have already tried can help Riot’s team provide more specific guidance.
