Why Can’t I Uninstall Valorant? Riot Client Won’t Close

Key Takeaways

Uninstalling Valorant can be hard on Windows PCs because parts like RiotClientServices and Vanguard might be running in the background, preventing the Riot Client from closing completely.
To uninstall Valorant, you need to close the Riot Client and all its services using the Task Manager, disable the Vanguard anti-cheat system, and then uninstall through the Control Panel without seeing the “Riot Client is still running” error.
If those steps do not work, using Safe Mode to uninstall Valorant can help, and to fully clean up, you might need to manually delete remaining Riot folders and Vanguard from the Control Panel for a fresh start.

Struggling to uninstall Valorant on your Windows PC because the Riot Client keeps running in the background? You click uninstall, and boom “Riot Client is still running” shows up and blocks everything. This issue is more frustrating than it should be, especially if you’re trying to clean your system or reinstall the game.

Don’t worry, this updated 2025 guide covers exactly how to uninstall Valorant, how to fully uninstall Riot Client, and why you can’t uninstall Valorant in the first place. We’ll walk you through step-by-step fixes that actually work on both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

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Why Can’t I Uninstall Valorant?

The reason you can’t uninstall Valorant is usually because some part of it is still running in the background. It could be:

RiotClientServices.exe still running silently.
Vanguard, the anti-cheat system, is auto-starting with Windows.
Riot processes don’t close properly even when you quit the client.
You’re trying to uninstall without stopping all Riot-related services.

So, before you try again, you’ll need to shut everything down cleanly.

Step-by-Step: How to Uninstall Valorant on Windows 11/10

Step 1: Close Riot Client and Valorant from Task Manager

Just closing the Riot Client window doesn’t shut it off completely.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

Look for:

RiotClientServices.exe
Valorant.exe
VanguardTray.exe

Select each of these, then click End Task.

This stops most of the active processes. If that works, you can jump to the uninstall step. If not, continue to the next step.

Step 2: Disable Vanguard Anti-Cheat (vgc)

Vanguard loads with Windows and runs in the background even when Valorant is closed.

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
In the list, find vgc.
Right-click > Stop.
Right-click again > Properties > Set Startup type to Disabled.
Click Apply > OK.

Now Vanguard won’t block the uninstall process.

Step 3: Uninstall Valorant

Now that everything is stopped, you can uninstall the game.

Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program.
Select Valorant.
Click Uninstall and follow the instructions.

You shouldn’t see the “Riot Client is still running” error anymore.

Alternative Fix: Use Safe Mode to Uninstall Valorant (If Above Fails)

Still can’t uninstall? Then booting into Safe Mode is your best move.

Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
Under the Boot tab, check Safe boot > Minimal.
Click OK and restart your PC.
Once booted in Safe Mode:
Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program
Select Valorant and uninstall.
After that: Open msconfig again, uncheck Safe boot, and restart normally.

This method works when Riot processes won’t quit even through Task Manager.

How to Uninstall Riot Client Completely

Even after you uninstall Valorant, Riot Client might still be hanging around. Here’s how to remove it too:

Method 1: Manual Uninstall

Go to this folder:

C:\Riot Games

Delete the Riot Client folder.
Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and delete the Riot Games folder from there too.

Method 2: Uninstall Vanguard (If Left Behind)

Even after removing Valorant, Vanguard may still show up.

Go to Control Panel > Programs.
Find Riot Vanguard.
Click Uninstall.

That should clean up everything.

Extra Cleanup: Delete Riot Registry Entries (Optional)

If you want a full clean slate before reinstalling:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Back up your registry (File > Export).

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\vgc

Delete the vgc entry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games

Delete any Riot entries if they still exist.

If you’re not comfortable editing the registry, skip this part.

FAQs

Q: How to uninstall Riot Client if it doesn’t show up in Programs?

It’s normal. Just go to C:\Riot Games and delete the folder manually. Also clean %localappdata%.

Q: Why can’t I uninstall Valorant on Windows 11?

Because Vanguard or Riot processes are still running. You need to disable or stop them first before uninstalling.

Q: Will deleting Riot folders break my PC?

No, as long as you’ve uninstalled Valorant and Vanguard, deleting leftover Riot folders is safe.

Q: Can I reinstall Valorant after doing all this?

Yes. Just download the installer from playvalorant.com and install it fresh.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been stuck figuring out how to uninstall Valorant or how to uninstall Riot Client, this guide should solve it. The trick is not just uninstalling from Control Panel, but making sure everything Riot-related is fully shut down—especially Vanguard.

This method works in 2025 and has been tested on the latest versions of both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

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