How do you delete Valorant? If you’re looking to uninstall Riot’s immensely popular tactical shooter and remove every trace – including the notorious Riot Vanguard anti-cheat – the answer is that you’ll need to follow a few key steps to properly wipe Valorant from your system. While it’s simple to free up space by right-clicking and uninstalling, actually removing all files and background programs can be a little more involved. Whether you’re switching to another game, troubleshooting a bug, or just need a clean break, this guide will walk you through the full process. Let’s dig into the details so you can take control of your PC once again.

Getting Ready: What to Know Before Uninstalling Valorant

Before you jump straight into uninstalling, you might want to consider what, exactly, is on your machine. Valorant isn’t a standalone game – once installed, it comes bundled with the Riot Client and the Vanguard anti-cheat system (which runs at a deep system level). That means uninstalling Valorant the right way means handling both Valorant and Riot Vanguard. If you skip a step, you might find Vanguard still running quietly in the background, which can mystify even long-time PC users.

Besides, Valorant saves some local data, logs, and cache files that aren’t always scrubbed by the default uninstaller. A tidy uninstall ensures you avoid leftover files, headaches with future installs, or mysterious popups requesting admin permission days later.

Step 1: Make Sure Valorant and Riot Launcher Are Fully Closed

Here’s where to start: First, make sure that Valorant itself isn’t running. Close the game, then check the system tray (the little icons next to your clock) for the Riot Client or Vanguard logo. Right-click each and select “Exit” or “Close.” Failing to close these can prevent the uninstaller from working, or leave some background processes hanging.

Step 2: Uninstall Riot Vanguard First

This may surprise you: trying to uninstall Valorant without first removing Vanguard often leads to error messages. Riot Vanguard is the game’s anti-cheat engine, and it can block you from removing Valorant until it’s dealt with. Here’s what to do:

  • Open the Windows Settings (Windows key + I) and go to Apps > Installed Apps (in older Windows versions, this is Apps & Features).
  • Find Riot Vanguard in the list.
  • Click the three-dot menu (or right-click) and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to remove it completely.

Alternatively, if you prefer the Classic way, use Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, then uninstall Riot Vanguard from there.

Some players run into Vanguard errors, or find the uninstaller grayed out. If that happens, don’t panic – there’s a stronger approach, using Command Prompt, coming up in the next section.

Step 3: Uninstall Valorant via Settings or Control Panel

Once Vanguard is gone, deleting Valorant itself is a breeze:

  • Back in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps or Control Panel, locate Valorant in the list.
  • Click the menu and choose Uninstall. Give it a moment – the uninstaller will remove the main program files and shortcuts.

If both Vanguard and Valorant are uninstalled without error, congratulations! For most players, you’re done. But if you want to be thorough, or you’ve run into strange issues, read on for deeper cleaning.

Step 4: For Tough Cases – Clean Uninstall with Command Prompt

On rare occasions, Vanguard gets “stuck” and won’t uninstall the normal way (corrupt files, service running in the background, you name it). When that happens, you can force-remove Vanguard with a quick Command Prompt action:

  • Search for cmd in your Start Menu, then right-click and choose Run as administrator.
  • In the black window, type: sc delete vgc and press Enter.
  • Next, type: sc delete vgk and press Enter.
  • Restart your computer immediately after running these commands to clear residuals.

Now, repeat Steps 2 and 3 if needed. This trick almost always works if nothing else does.

Step 5: Delete Leftover Files and Folders

Let’s be real, uninstallers can be lazy. If you want to leave your PC sparkling clean, it’s best to hunt down leftover Riot and Valorant files:

  • Open File Explorer and go to C:\Program Files or C:\Riot Games. Delete any “Riot Games” or “Valorant” folders.
  • Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%, and click OK. In the window that opens, delete any folders named “Valorant” or “Riot Games.”
  • Do the same for %appdata% and, optionally, %programdata%.

Not sure if you found them all? Don’t stress – as long as you remove the big folders, your system will be ready for a new game or a fresh install of Valorant Down the line.

Step 6: (Optional) Clean Up Registry Entries – For Power Users Only

This step is entirely optional and should only be done if you’re comfortable in the Windows Registry. Unnecessary fiddling here can harm your system. But if you’re tech-savvy and aiming for zero-trace, here’s what to do:

  • Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start Menu.
  • Go to Edit > Find and search for “Valorant,” “Riot Games,” or “Vanguard.”
  • Carefully delete only keys you’re 100% sure are related to Valorant.

Or, play it extra safe and use a well-known registry cleaner instead. But again, this is above-and-beyond for most users.

Uninstalling Valorant on Console (PS5 and Xbox)

While Valorant launched initially as a PC exclusive, there may be console versions in the future. The uninstall process on consoles (if applicable) is much simpler:

  • PlayStation 5: Highlight Valorant in your library, press the Options button, and choose “Delete.”
  • Xbox: Find Valorant in “My Games & Apps,” press the Menu button, select “Uninstall.”

Done. No hidden drivers, no leftover anti-cheat, and no registry worries!

Want a Visual Guide? Check Out This Step-by-Step Video

What Happens After? Reinstalling or Saying Goodbye

Now that Valorant is gone, you’ve freed up gigabytes of disk space and tidied up your system for whatever comes next. Planning to take a break? Enjoy the extra headroom for other games, streaming, or just a cleaner PC experience. If you ever change your mind, you can always download the latest installer from the official Valorant website and start fresh. In fact, sometimes a clean uninstall and reinstall is one of the best fixes for nagging update or launch problems – don’t rule it out as a troubleshooting tool.

On the flip side, if you’re saying goodbye to Valorant for good, good luck and good fragging in whatever game (or offline pursuit) you take up next!

FAQ: Deleting Valorant – Your Questions Answered

Does uninstalling Valorant automatically remove Vanguard?

No, it usually doesn’t. Riot Vanguard is a separate program running at a system level, so you’ll need to uninstall it directly (via Settings or Control Panel) before or after uninstalling Valorant. If you skip this step, some Vanguard files might stick around and prompt for admin access on next reboot.

Why can’t I uninstall Valorant – I keep getting errors?

This usually happens if Riot Vanguard is still running, or if there’s a background process blocking the uninstaller. Make sure both Valorant and all Riot processes are closed (check the system tray), uninstall Vanguard first, and if all else fails use the Command Prompt method to forcibly remove Vanguard’s services. Restart your PC, and the uninstall should work.

Will deleting Valorant affect my Riot Games account or other games?

Uninstalling Valorant only removes the game and related files from your PC. Your Riot account, progress, cosmetics, and data are stored in the cloud, so deleting the game has no effect on your account or on other Riot games like League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics. You can reinstall Valorant anytime and pick up right where you left off.

How do I reinstall Valorant after deleting it?

If you decide to return, simply download the latest installer from the official Valorant site. Run the installer, let it set up Vanguard again, and log in with your Riot Games account. All your progress, purchases, and settings will be waiting for you.

Are there any risks in deleting files or cleaning the registry manually?

Yes! If you’re not sure about deleting certain files or registry entries, don’t touch them. Deleting system files or unrelated registry keys can make your computer unstable or cause unexpected problems. When in doubt, stick to the built-in uninstallers or use reliable third-party cleaning tools. Manual registry cleaning is only recommended for experienced users.

Does uninstalling Valorant free up a lot of disk space?

It definitely can! Valorant, along with Vanguard and cached data, typically takes up several gigabytes. Deleting leftover folders in Program Files and AppData can free up even more. After a full uninstall, you’ll likely reclaim between 20-30GB, depending on how much you’ve played and how many updates were downloaded.

Will removing Valorant make my PC run faster or stop errors?

It might. If you were having performance issues caused by Vanguard or were short on disk space, uninstalling could help. However, if your PC is still struggling, there may be unrelated issues at play (like hardware, background apps, or Windows errors). But for troubleshooting Valorant-specific bugs, reinstalling after a clean uninstall is a proven fix.

For more detailed visual guides, check out the video above or visit resources like ProSettings or the official Riot support site for step-by-step help.