How to Uninstall Valorant Completely: A Step-by-Step Guide

Valorant, Riot Games’ popular tactical first-person shooter, has captured the hearts of many gamers worldwide. However, there might come a time when you need to uninstall the game. Whether you’re freeing up storage space, experiencing technical issues, or simply moving on to other gaming adventures, completely removing Valorant and its associated files is crucial to avoid potential conflicts and system clutter. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire uninstallation process, ensuring a clean and thorough removal of Valorant from your computer.

Why a Complete Uninstall Matters

Simply deleting the game’s folder might seem like the easiest solution, but it often leaves behind crucial files, registry entries, and services that can cause problems later. These remnants can:

• Clutter your system: Leftover files consume valuable storage space.
• Cause conflicts: Incomplete uninstalls can lead to conflicts with other software or future installations of Valorant.
• Affect performance: Residual services might continue running in the background, slowing down your computer.

Therefore, a complete uninstall is the recommended approach for ensuring a smooth and trouble-free experience.

Before You Begin: Essential Preparations

Before diving into the uninstallation steps, let’s take care of some crucial prerequisites:

1. Close Valorant and Riot Client: Make sure both the game and the Riot Client are completely closed. Check your system tray (usually in the bottom-right corner of your screen) and close any Riot Games icons.
2. Check for Running Processes: Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Go to the ‘Processes’ tab and look for any processes related to Valorant or Riot Games (e.g., `Valorant.exe`, `RiotClientServices.exe`). If you find any, select them and click ‘End Task.’
3. Administrator Privileges: Ensure that you have administrator privileges on your computer. You’ll need these rights to modify system files and settings during the uninstallation process.
4. Optional: Backup Settings: If you have specific Valorant settings you want to preserve (like keybindings and crosshair preferences), you might want to back them up. These settings are typically stored in `C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Valorant\Saved\Config` (replace `YourUserName` with your actual username). You can copy the entire ‘Config’ folder to a safe location.

Step-by-Step Uninstall Process

Now that you’ve completed the essential preparations, let’s proceed with the detailed uninstallation steps:

Method 1: Using Windows’ Add or Remove Programs Feature

This is the standard method for uninstalling programs in Windows. It’s the easiest approach and usually gets the job done.

1. Open Settings: Click the Start button (Windows icon), then click the ‘Settings’ gear icon, or press Windows Key + I.
2. Navigate to Apps: In the Settings window, click on ‘Apps’.
3. Locate Valorant: In the ‘Apps & features’ screen, scroll down the list of installed apps until you find ‘Valorant’. You can also use the search bar at the top to quickly find it.
4. Uninstall Valorant: Select ‘Valorant’ and click on the ‘Uninstall’ button. Windows will display a confirmation prompt. Click ‘Uninstall’ again to proceed.
5. Uninstall Riot Vanguard (if prompted): During the uninstall process, you might be prompted to uninstall Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software used by Valorant. If this prompt appears, click ‘Yes’ to continue with the uninstallation. It’s crucial to remove Riot Vanguard for a complete uninstall.
6. Confirmation and Restart: Follow any on-screen instructions. After the uninstall process, you may be prompted to restart your computer. If prompted, restart your system to ensure the changes take effect.
7. Verify Uninstallation: Once your system has restarted, double-check that both Valorant and Riot Vanguard are no longer listed in the ‘Apps & features’ list.

Method 2: Using Riot Client’s Uninstall Option (If Available)

In some cases, you might find an uninstall option within the Riot Client itself. While this method isn’t always available, it’s worth checking.

1. Open Riot Client: Launch the Riot Client.
2. Locate Valorant: In the client, find Valorant in your installed games list.
3. Look for Uninstall: If an uninstall option is available (usually within the settings menu associated with Valorant), click on it.
4. Follow Prompts: If an uninstall prompt appears, follow the on-screen instructions. You may be asked to uninstall both Valorant and Riot Vanguard.
5. Restart (if prompted): As with the first method, restart your computer if prompted to complete the process.

Method 3: Manually Removing Residual Files and Folders

Even after uninstalling through the standard methods, some residual files might remain. It’s recommended to manually check and remove these for a completely clean uninstall.

Important Note: Be cautious when deleting files. Only remove files and folders that you are certain are related to Valorant or Riot Games.

1. Show Hidden Files and Folders: Before proceeding, you need to enable the display of hidden files and folders. Open File Explorer, click on ‘View’ at the top, then check the box for ‘Hidden items’.
2. Check Program Files: Go to the following directory: `C:\Program Files\Riot Games`. If a ‘Valorant’ folder still exists, delete it. Also, carefully check if any other riot games folders persist, and delete them too.
3. Check Program Files (x86): Navigate to `C:\Program Files (x86)`. Similarly, if a ‘Riot Games’ folder exists here, carefully inspect and delete it’s content if they pertain to Valorant.
4. Check AppData Folder: Navigate to `C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData`. (Replace `YourUserName` with your actual username). Delete the following folders if they exist:
   • Local\Valorant
   • Local\Riot Games
   • Roaming\Riot Games
5. Check for Temp Files: Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box, type %temp%, and press Enter. In the Temp folder, look for any files or folders with names related to ‘Riot’ or ‘Valorant’ and delete them.
6. Clear Recycle Bin: Empty your Recycle Bin to ensure all deleted files are permanently removed.

Method 4: Manually Removing Registry Entries (Advanced)

Warning: Modifying the registry can be risky if done incorrectly. Proceed with caution and only follow these steps if you are comfortable working with the Registry Editor. Creating a backup of the registry before making changes is highly recommended.

How to Back Up the Registry:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type `regedit`, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Click on ‘File’ at the top, then select ‘Export’.
3. Choose a location to save the backup file and give it a name. Click ‘Save’.

Removing Registry Entries:

1. Open Registry Editor: Press Windows Key + R, type `regedit`, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER: Expand `HKEY_CURRENT_USER`, then `SOFTWARE`. Look for any keys or folders named `Riot Games` or `Valorant` and delete them. Right click on the desired item and choose the delete option. Confirm it by hitting Yes.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: Expand `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE`, then `SOFTWARE`. Look for keys or folders named `Riot Games` or `Valorant` and delete them. Right click on the desired item and choose the delete option. Confirm it by hitting Yes.
4. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node: This node might not exist on all systems; it’s for 32-bit apps on 64-bit operating systems. If you see it, explore and check inside of it if there’s any references to Riot games or Valorant and delete it if it is the case.
5. Close Registry Editor: Exit the Registry Editor after you’ve completed the removals.

Method 5: Removing Riot Vanguard (If Needed)

Riot Vanguard is the anti-cheat system that comes with Valorant. While it’s usually uninstalled during the game’s uninstallation process, there might be cases where you need to uninstall it separately.

1. Using the Control Panel: Open the Control Panel, go to ‘Programs’, and then select ‘Programs and Features’. Look for ‘Riot Vanguard’ and uninstall it. This is an alternate way to uninstall it if the main Valorant uninstall does not completely remove it.
2. Manual Uninstall: If the above method doesn’t work, you can use this method. Open File Explorer and go to the following directory: `C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard`. Look for the `uninstall.exe` file and run it. Follow the instructions to uninstall the program. After this method you will have to restart your system as instructed by the uninstaller.

Troubleshooting Common Uninstall Issues

Sometimes, the uninstall process doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are some common issues and solutions:

• Cannot Uninstall Error: If you get an error message stating you can’t uninstall Valorant or Riot Vanguard, make sure no related processes are running in Task Manager. If the issue persists, try restarting your computer and then attempt the uninstall again. You can also try Method 3 which deals with manually removing leftover files.
• Files Still Present After Uninstall: If you notice leftover files after uninstalling, refer to ‘Method 3: Manually Removing Residual Files and Folders’. You might have to dig a little deeper and check all locations for any remaining folders or files, since some files might not be removed because of the administrator permissions.
• Riot Vanguard Won’t Uninstall: Try the manual uninstall method for Riot Vanguard outlined in ‘Method 5’. If that still fails, restart your computer and then try the manual method again. If that fails too, use the registry editor to manually delete the registry entries for the program. This should be the last step, as registry manipulation carries potential risk.
• Issues with the Registry Editor: If you make a mistake while editing the registry, revert to the backup you created. You should always create a backup of your registry before editing it. Also make sure to double check each step so that you don’t delete critical components.

Final Thoughts

Completely uninstalling Valorant may seem like a daunting task, but by following these detailed steps, you can ensure a clean and thorough removal. Remember to be careful when manually deleting files or modifying registry entries. If you are unsure, please contact a technician for help. By following this guide, you’ll be able to successfully uninstall Valorant, freeing up storage space and preventing future conflicts.

Remember to always keep your system clean and well-maintained. A clutter-free system ensures optimal performance for all your gaming and computing needs. Happy gaming!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is intended for general informational purposes only. Always be careful when making changes to system settings or deleting files. If you are unsure about any step, consult a qualified professional.