Alex Ruben
How To Resolve Valorant Launch Issues on Windows 10 and 11 in 2025
So, Valorant just refuses to open? Yeah, happened to quite a few people after the latest updates or Windows patches. Usually, it’s some combo of Vanguard, drivers, or weird system quirks. Been there, done that, here’s what finally worked (or at least tried to):
Step 1: Tackle third-party antivirus interference
If you have something like Avast, Norton, or other security tools kicking around, they can block Valorant from launching — especially if they flag Vanguard or Riot’s files as suspicious. So, you can try temporarily uninstalling or disabling them. To do that:
- Head over to Control Panel.
- Click on Uninstall a program and find your antivirus.
- Right-click, choose Uninstall. Might need to reboot afterward.
After you clear that out, make sure Valorant’s shortcut has the right permissions:
- Right-click the Valorant shortcut, hit Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- And check Run this program as administrator.
Click Apply and OK. Then try launching again. Honestly, on some setups this hit or miss, sometimes a reboot after uninstalling the antivirus helps. Not sure why it works, but it does for some.
Step 2: Update your GPU drivers – really, do it
Outdated graphics drivers can be the root of many launch problems with Valorant. Especially after Windows updates, drivers can get wonky. Here’s the gist:
For Nvidia users:
Go to the Nvidia Driver Download Page. Pick your model and Windows version:
- Select your GPU and OS.
- Download the latest driver.
- Run the installer, restart your PC — done.
For AMD users:
Visit the AMD Driver Support Page. Download and install the latest package. Sometimes a clean install helps—there’s an option during setup.
For Intel integrated graphics:
Download the Intel Driver Support Assistant. Let it scan, then install any updates. Easy enough.
Step 3: Reinforce Vanguard’s setup
Some folks just have Vanguard acting up — either it doesn’t start, or Valorant refuses to launch. The fix is to uninstall Vanguard, then reinstall it properly:
- Right-click the system tray icon for Vanguard and exit it. (Just right-click and choose Exit Vanguard)
- Go back to Control Panel > Uninstall a program.
- Find Riot Vanguard or just Vanguard in the list, right-click, select Uninstall.
- Reboot your PC.
- Launch Valorant — it’ll prompt to install Vanguard again. Just follow the steps and let it do its thing.
Once reinstalled, check the Services: hit Win + R, type services.msc and hit Enter. Locate VBoxService or vgc services, double-click, and make sure startup type is Automatic. Then restart the service if needed.
Extra tips & common gotchas
Make sure Windows is fully up to date: Settings > Windows Update. Also, check if your firewall is blocking Valorant or Vanguard — sometimes security apps can be overzealous. And yeah, keep your system drivers current.
When all else fails, what’s left?
Sometimes weird stuff happens — corrupted files, registry hiccups, or just some secret Windows setting that needs flipping. If nothing else works, try a complete reinstall of Valorant, or even reset Windows settings selectively. Also, a quick check if Windows Defender isn’t blocking anything related to Riot’s files helps — because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if Valorant still won’t launch after all this?
Reinstall might be the last resort. Or, check forums for any recent outage or bugs — sometimes it’s on Riot’s side. Also, look in the logs in `%localappdata%/Riot Games/VALORANT` for clues.
Is disabling antivirus always necessary?
Not always, but it seems like the most common cause after driver and Vanguard issues. As a last test, disable it temporarily to see if that solves the problem.
Can I play Valorant without Vanguard?
Nope. Vanguard is completely integrated — Riot even made it mandatory. If Vanguard isn’t working, the game won’t run.
Summary
- Uninstall problematic antivirus tools if present
- Update your graphics drivers
- Reinstall Vanguard if it’s acting up
- Make sure Windows is fully patched up
- Check firewall and security settings
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck out there — and don’t forget, sometimes reboots are your best friend.