Riot Vanguard Won’t Uninstall: Start With Riot’s Supported Methods
Exit Riot software and use the Vanguard tray menu or Windows Installed apps first. Only consider Riot’s documented command-line fallback if both normal uninstall methods fail.
If Riot Vanguard will not uninstall, close VALORANT and any other Riot game, exit Riot Client, and try the Vanguard system-tray menu (Advanced > Uninstall Vanguard) or Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Riot Vanguard > Uninstall. Restart Windows and check again. Riot still documents administrative Command Prompt removal of the vgc and vgk service registrations for stubborn cases, but this is an advanced fallback, not the first step. Removing Vanguard prevents games that depend on it from launching until it is reinstalled.
Before removing Vanguard: check other Riot games
Vanguard is a shared component of certain Riot games, including VALORANT and League of Legends on PC. Uninstalling it is different from exiting it temporarily, and games that require Vanguard will not work normally until it is restored.
- Save your work and leave any running matches. Close all Riot games.
- Exit Riot Client from the system tray, not just its visible window. If Vanguard is still active, use its tray icon and follow Riot’s supported exit/uninstall menus.
- If you use another Vanguard-dependent Riot title, plan for it to stop launching after Vanguard is removed; reinstall Vanguard through Riot Client when needed.
Do not remove Vanguard on someone else’s managed PC without permission. Deleting security-related services is not routine application maintenance.
Method 1: use the Vanguard tray menu
- Find the Riot Vanguard icon in the Windows system tray; expand hidden icons if necessary.
- Right-click it and choose Advanced > Uninstall Vanguard, as shown in Riot’s May 2026 guide.
- Approve the normal Windows confirmation and follow the prompts. Restart afterward to verify the tray icon is gone.
Choosing Exit Vanguard only turns off its running component and is not an uninstall. If the tray icon is missing, use Windows Settings instead.
Method 2: uninstall through Windows
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or search for Add or remove programs).
- Find Riot Vanguard and choose Uninstall; follow the prompts.
- If the uninstall says a Riot app is in use, close that app; use Task Manager only for an unresponsive, clearly identified Riot process. Restart and retry once.
A missing tray icon alone does not confirm that all Vanguard components are removed. Check Installed apps after a restart.
Advanced last resort: only after normal uninstall fails
Riot’s current support page documents these commands for cases where Vanguard refuses to uninstall. They require an elevated Command Prompt and remove named Windows service registrations. Microsoft explains that sc delete removes the service registry entry or marks a busy service for deletion; it is not a general-purpose file cleanup command.
- Only proceed on your own PC with administrator permission, after closing all Riot games and Riot Client. Confirm that both standard uninstall routes failed.
- Open Start, search for Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. Make sure you are in Command Prompt (cmd.exe), not a copied script from an unknown website.
- Run the two commands below, exactly as documented by Riot, for Vanguard only. Do not substitute unrelated service names.
sc delete vgc
sc delete vgk- Restart Windows. In File Explorer, locate the specific remaining Riot Vanguard installation folder if one is still present; remove only that leftover folder following Riot’s procedure. Do not delete Riot Games, Riot Client or League folders wholesale.
- Check Installed apps and the Vanguard tray presence after restarting. If an error or access-denied message remains, stop and ask Riot Support rather than editing the registry or deleting drivers manually.
These commands can disrupt Vanguard-dependent games and may not complete removal until after reboot. Do not use them to delete other Windows services, and do not interpret “service deleted” as proof all files were removed.
If you want to play Riot games again
Riot’s reinstall instructions say to launch Riot Client or a Vanguard-dependent Riot game so Vanguard can be installed again. Follow any restart prompt before playing. If the installer still fails, report the precise error and attach relevant Riot logs.
If Vanguard was automatically reinstalled, check whether a Riot game was launched after the uninstall. A return of the app is not necessarily evidence that removal failed.