Valorant has quickly become one of the most popular tactical first-person shooters, thanks to its competitive gunplay, diverse agents, and Riot Games’ commitment to frequent updates. However, not every player wants to keep it installed forever. Maybe you’re switching to another FPS, need to free up storage space, or simply want a break from the grind.

Uninstalling Valorant, however, isn’t as straightforward as deleting any other game. Because it comes bundled with Riot Vanguard (Riot’s anti-cheat software), you’ll need to remove both in the correct order. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to completely uninstall Valorant from your Windows PC—no leftover files, no errors.

Why Uninstalling Valorant Can Be Tricky

Unlike most PC games, Valorant cannot be uninstalled on its own. Riot Games requires you to first disable and remove Riot Vanguard, its anti-cheat security tool. Unless you uninstall Vanguard, you won’t be able to fully delete Valorant from your system.

Common Reasons to Uninstall Valorant

There are several valid reasons why you might want to remove Valorant from your computer:

  • Exploring other FPS games – Maybe you want to try Call of Duty, CS2, or Apex Legends.
  • Managing gaming addiction – Taking a break from competitive titles can improve focus and balance.
  • Freeing up storage space – Valorant and Vanguard consume system resources, which may slow down your PC.
  • Fixing errors or glitches – A corrupted installation might trigger frequent errors like “Your game requires a system restart to play.” A clean reinstall often solves this.

If any of these situations apply to you, follow the steps below to uninstall Valorant completely.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Uninstall Valorant on Windows

Step 1: Disable Riot Vanguard

1- Click on the System Tray (bottom-right corner of your screen).

2- Right-click the Vanguard icon.

3- Select Exit Vanguard.

4- Confirm by clicking Yes when prompted.

Step 2: Uninstall Riot Client, Vanguard, and Valorant

1- Press Windows + I to open Settings.

2- Click on Apps from the left-hand menu.

3- Select Installed apps.

4- Locate Riot Client and click Uninstall.

5- Repeat the same process for Riot Vanguard and Valorant.

Step 3: Restart and Delete Leftover Files

  1. Restart your computer after uninstalling.
  2. Open File Explorer.
  3. Navigate to C:\Riot Games.
  4. Delete any leftover Riot-related folders to ensure a complete removal.

While Valorant offers thrilling gameplay and competitive action, there are times when uninstalling it becomes necessary—whether for performance reasons, storage space, or personal choice. By following this guide, you can completely remove Valorant and Riot Vanguard from your PC without running into annoying errors.

And remember, if you ever decide to return, reinstalling Valorant is quick and easy through Riot’s official client. Until then, enjoy your extra storage and smoother system performance!

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to share it on social media and subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a post!

And if you'd like to go a step further in supporting us, you can treat us to a virtual coffee ☕️. Thank you for your support ❤️!
Buy Me a Coffee

Categorized in: