How to uninstall VALORANT – A step-by-step guide

Be gone, VALORANT.

Killjoy agent in VALORANT looking at code reflecting in her glasses.
Image via Riot Games

Uninstalling VALORANT isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Fortunately for gamers fed up with being killed by a stray Jett knife or any of the game’s quirks, there’s a way to finally rid yourself of VALORANT.

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If you’re wondering how to uninstall VALORANT, you’re in the right place—just follow the steps below.

How to uninstall VALORANT

A screenshot of the Exit Vanguard command that you'll need to use to Uninstall Valorant
“Shutting down.” Image via Riot Games

To uninstall VALORANT, first uninstall the anti-cheat software Vanguard using your system tray. Once that is done, you’ll be able to uninstall VALORANT using the usual method.

Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for each part of the uninstall process, including screenshots.

1) Disable Vanguard

Uninstall Vanguard, the anti-cheat system created by Riot Games:

  1. Open your system tray—found on the bottom right-hand side of your desktop.
  2. Right-click on the red Vanguard icon.
  3. Select exit.
A screenshot of the Exit Vanguard command that you'll need to use to Uninstall Valorant
Get rid of pesky Vanguard. Screenshot by Dot Esports

A message will pop up at this point asking if you want to “turn off” Vanguard. Click Yes.

A screenshot asking if the user really wants to turn off Riot's anticheat Vanguard when uninstalling Valorant
Click Yes. Screenshot by Dot Esports
Tip: Why is it so hard to uninstall this game?

Exit the Vanguard anti-cheat first.

2) Uninstall Vanguard and VALORANT

When it’s closed, you can uninstall both Vanguard and VALORANT as normal:

  1. Press the Windows Key or click the Windows icon on your taskbar.
  2. Type “Add or remove programs” in the search bar.
  3. Press enter.
A screenshot of the Windows System settings that you'll have to navigate to uninstall Valorant
Look for add or remove programs. Screenshot by Dot Esports

From there, scroll down to “Riot Vanguard,” right-click, and uninstall. Finish the uninstall process.

A screenshot of the Apps & Features page that you'll have to navigate on Windows to Uninstall Valorant
Search for Riot Vanguard. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Similarly, find the VALORANT app under the apps list and hit uninstall to delete the game. You can do the same for the Riot Client app if you don’t play or intend to continue playing any other Riot games like League and TFT.

How to reinstall VALORANT

As frustrating as it can get, we can’t seem to get enough of the competitive experience of VALORANT’s tactical shooter. It’s addictive. It’s fun. It’s painful. It’s one of the best tactical shooters around.

So if you rage uninstalled the game and want to reinstall it, we won’t judge you. It’s significantly easier to reinstall VALORANT compared to deleting it from your PC, so allow us to help you do so:

  1. Head to the Download VALORANT website.
  2. Click the Play Free button in the middle of the screen.
  3. Make a new Riot account or sign in to an old one.
  4. Click the Play Free button once more, and you’ll be a click away from downloading VALORANT.

While you may be fed up with abilities and getting flicked or run-and-gunned on the head, sometimes you’re just having a bad game, day, week, month, or year, and uninstalling the game seems to be the best way to tackle the emotions you feel looking at that long losing streak. If you want to remove it again, just scroll up, and follow the process.

Why am I having a bad time playing VALORANT?

Valorant agents
It’s not for everyone. Image via Riot Games

VALORANT, or any multiplayer tactical FPS, isn’t for everyone. To win consistently, hit these modes to help improve your gameplay.

  • Deathmatch.
  • Practice Range
  • Aim training apps

Make sure to practice your abilities in custom matches. Even if you’ve got the lineups and your aim is hot one day, you may get stuck in Elo hell or get queued with toxic or unhelpful players who hold you down. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of VALORANT.

Of course, you can always lessen the chances of getting poor teammates by queuing up with friends. If you’re looking for new friends to play with, check out these VALORANT LFG Discord Servers.

Another way to freshen up your VALORANT experience is by switching up your agent of choice. Changing your agent can change your mentality completely and help you get back in the saddle.

If neither of these options helps you enjoy the game more, deleting VALORANT could be the right choice for you. It’s not like you’ll lose anything. All the content you’ve acquired so far will be waiting for you if you ever choose to return.

Author
Image of Jerome Heath
Jerome Heath
Senior editor at Dot Esports. Jerome has been in and around the gaming industry for the last eight years, and he's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Author
Image of Scott Robertson
Scott Robertson
VALORANT lead staff writer, also covering CS:GO, FPS games, other titles, and the wider esports industry. Watching and writing esports since 2014. Previously wrote for Dexerto, Upcomer, Splyce, and somehow MySpace. Jack of all games, master of none.
Author
Image of Sharmila Ganguly
Sharmila Ganguly
Freelance Writer at Dot Esports. An enthusiastic gamer who bumped into the intricacies of video game journalism in 2021 and has been hustling ever since. Obsessed with first-person shooter titles, especially VALORANT. Contact: sharmila@dotesports.com