How to uninstall valorant

Valorant, the competitive first-person shooter developed by Riot Games, has garnered millions of players since its release. However, there may come a time when you no longer want the game installed on your computer. Whether you're freeing up space, experiencing technical issues, or simply moving on to other games, uninstalling Valorant is a straightforward process if you follow the correct steps.

For a comprehensive guide, you can also visit this step-by-step walkthrough on how to uninstall Valorant.

Understanding the Uninstallation Process

Valorant does not just install the game itself. It also installs Riot's Vanguard anti-cheat system, which runs on startup to help detect cheating in the game. If you want to completely remove Valorant from your system, you’ll need to uninstall both Valorant and Vanguard.

Step 1: Close Valorant and Riot Vanguard

Before you proceed with uninstallation, make sure Valorant and Vanguard are not running in the background.

  1. Right-click on the taskbar and open the Task Manager.
  2. Search for any processes related to Valorant or Riot Vanguard.
  3. Select each process and click “End task” to close them.

Step 2: Uninstall Riot Vanguard

Since Vanguard is a separate program, you need to uninstall it manually using the following steps:

  1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter. This will open the Programs and Features window.
  3. Look for Riot Vanguard in the list of installed programs.
  4. Right-click on it and select Uninstall.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to fully remove Vanguard.

Step 3: Uninstall Valorant

Once Riot Vanguard is removed, you can remove the Valorant game files:

  1. In the same Programs and Features window, scroll to find Valorant.
  2. Right-click on Valorant and choose Uninstall.
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the process.

Alternative Method via Settings

You can also uninstall both programs through Windows Settings:

  1. Click on the Start menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Apps and then Apps & features.
  3. Find Riot Vanguard and click Uninstall.
  4. Repeat the same steps for Valorant.

Additional Cleanup (Optional)

Uninstalling Valorant and Vanguard through the control panel should remove most files. However, some temporary or configuration files may remain.

How to Remove Leftover Files

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Riot Games, if the folder exists.
  2. Delete the Valorant folder manually, if it hasn't been removed.
  3. Check C:\Program Files or %localappdata% for any Riot-related folders and delete them if no longer needed.

Troubleshooting Uninstallation Issues

Sometimes, users may encounter errors while trying to uninstall Valorant or Vanguard. Common issues include permission errors or files being in use.

Tips to Avoid Uninstallation Errors

  1. Make sure that all Riot-related applications are fully closed before attempting to uninstall.
  2. Run the uninstaller as an administrator by right-clicking and choosing “Run as administrator.”
  3. If issues persist, try restarting your system and attempting the uninstallation again.

Conclusion

Uninstalling Valorant is a simple process, but it requires removing both the game and the Riot Vanguard anti-cheat system. By following the steps outlined above, you can thoroughly remove the software from your system to clear up disk space or resolve technical problems. If you decide to return to the game later, you can always reinstall it from Riot's official website.