How to Uninstall VALORANT in 2026
By Arlo on Jan 7th, 2026, 05:15
Uninstalling Valorant should be as simple as a few clicks in your App Manager, right? Unfortunately, uninstalling Valorant is not as straightforward as most other games.
Whether you want to say farewell to Valorant or solve bugs with a quick reinstall, we've got you covered. Here’s a complete list of methods and extra tips to help you fully uninstall Valorant in 2026.
Uninstalling Valorant is more complicated than deleting typical games because Valorant includes Riot’s anti-cheat system, Vanguard. Valorant won’t truly be uninstalled unless Riot Vanguard is disabled.
Doing these steps in order will help you avoid errors while removing Valorant. So, don’t skip out on this part for any uninstallation method you choose.
Once you disable Vanguard, it’s time to try the first and most straightforward method: the basic uninstall. This should be your first move before attempting any of the other uninstallation tips we mention.
If the first method did not work, try completely removing files related to Valorant from your PC. Keep in mind that you need to be very careful when using this method. You may accidentally delete an important file from your computer unrelated to Valorant.
Mistakes can break your system. ONLY do this if you know what you're doing. Otherwise, you may seek third-party assistance.
1. Open Command Prompt (Run as Administrator)
2. Enter the following commands:
sc delete vgc
sc delete vgk
These commands delete Vanguard’s services. Be very careful not to enter other commands.
3.Restart your PC.
After you input the commands to remove Vanguard services, you need to remove Valorant and Riot files to eliminate any trace of the game from your PC. Manually remove the following folders if they still exist:
Since this is an optional step, we recommend that only tech-savvy users try this method. If you are not careful, you could select the wrong entries. Luckily, most people can skip this step.
In a worst-case scenario, Valorant might refuse to uninstall, or your Riot Client could be corrupted. If methods 1 and 2 do not work, you can get third-party uninstallers to eliminate stubborn Valorant files.
This option is only recommended when Valorant won’t uninstall using the default Windows methods.
You do not want to lose any precious moments or critical settings. If you plan to reinstall Valorant, it is best to prepare your account info and game settings. Here are some tips to follow before you uninstall Valorant:
Most players want to uninstall Valorant because it’s not their cup of tea. However, many gamers choose to uninstall Valorant to get rid of bugs that reinstalling the game could solve.
Players commonly uninstall Valorant to fix:
A fresh reinstall solves most persistent problems, but it’s not a guaranteed solution. If reinstalling the game doesn’t work, you might need to:
Removing Valorant properly requires uninstalling Vanguard first and removing all system files. Whether you're trying to solve errors or say goodbye to the game, these steps ensure a complete removal every time. By following the standard uninstall instructions, using the total removal method, or installing a trusted third-party uninstaller, you can remove Valorant from your PC.
