How to uninstall VALORANT in 2025: Every working method

Jasmine Mannan
Duncan Proctor
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Table of Contents
  1. TL;DR
  2. Why would you want to uninstall VALORANT?
  3. Prerequisites before uninstalling VALORANT 
  4. Method 1 – Uninstall VALORANT via Windows Settings 
  5. Method 2 – Uninstall VALORANT via Control Panel 
  6. Method 3 – Manually remove VALORANT & Riot Vanguard 
  7. Troubleshooting common issues with VALORANT 
  8. VALORANT reinstallation guide 
  9. Alternative games to play after uninstalling VALORANT 
  10. Conclusion
  11. FAQs
  12. References
Four VALORANT's characters in futuristic outfits play video games intensely
If you’re getting fed up of VALORANT or you’re just facing some bugs then you can uninstall / Image credit: Riot Games

TL;DR

  • You can uninstall VALORANT via Windows Settings, Control Panel, or Command Prompt.
  • Riot Vanguard, VALORANT’s anti-cheat software, must be uninstalled before entirely removing the game.
  • Common VALORANT errors like VAN9001 or VAN140 can often be resolved by reinstalling the game.
  • Progress is saved to your Riot account, which means uninstalling VALORANT won’t erase your in-game achievements or purchases.

If you’re looking to work out how to uninstall VALORANT, then we’ve got you covered. The first-person shooter from Riot Games has absolutely dominated the gaming world since its release back in 2020. However, it has a high skill ceiling and can be extremely challenging at times, meaning it won’t be the right game for everyone.

Whether you want to take a break from VALORANT or hope to do a fresh install to fix any bugs, we’ve got all the details on how to uninstall VALORANT from your system.

Why would you want to uninstall VALORANT?

There are many reasons that may prompt you to uninstall VALORANT in 2025. VALORANT is a live service game, meaning that the shooter is always changing through regular patches, and there are also larger changes between new Seasons. You’ll likely find new Agents or Cosmetics, but these changes can also impact your favourite character, nerfing their abilities to the point they aren’t viable in the game anymore. This can be as good a reason as any to uninstall the game and take some time away. 

You may also be facing some bugs, which cause issues with patches or the game as a whole. A fresh install of VALORANT can help rectify these issues. The game also takes up 20GB to 25GB of storage space, meaning if you need some more room on your hard drive, it could be worth getting rid of it. A full VALORANT uninstall is a quick and easy process.

Prerequisites before uninstalling VALORANT 

If you are hoping to get rid of the game, there are a few steps to take that will make coming back to the game much easier after uninstalling VALORANT. If you’ve played the game a whole lot, then you may want to make a backup of your settings and any microtransactions you’ve made in-game. These will be tied to your Riot Games account. 

You’ll also need to uninstall Riot Games Vanguard before deleting VALORANT, which is the Riot Games sophisticated anti-cheat software. This ensures that everyone has a fair and level experience when in-game. Vanguard will appear in your system tray, and can be disabled straight from the tray if you don’t want to purge it completely. 

However, if you do want to completely uninstall Vanguard then follow the steps below: 

  • Navigate to your search bar and search “Add or remove programs”
  • Navigate to Apps & Features
  • You’ll find Riot Vanguard in the drop-down menu
  • Click uninstall
  • Follow the prompts which appear from Vanguard

Once you’ve done this, you’re ready to uninstall VALORANT from your PC.

Method 1 – Uninstall VALORANT via Windows Settings 

Arguably, the easiest way to delete VALORANT is to uninstall the game. By following our easy guide, you can remove the title from your computer in just a handful of quick steps until the next time you want to download and play it. 

Step-by-step guide to uninstalling VALORANT with Windows Settings 

  1. Open the Settings menu in Windows 11 
  2. Find VALORANT under Apps & Features 
  3. Find VALORANT and then click the blue “Uninstall” button 
  4. Follow the instructions from the dedicated installer 
  5. VALORANT will now be safely removed from your computer 

Method 2 – Uninstall VALORANT via Control Panel 

If the first method doesn’t work for you, you can try uninstalling VALORANT via Control Panel instead. This method gives you greater control, thanks to directly going through the system administrator’s account. It’s nice and easy, and it works with both Windows 11 and Windows 10, while the previous operating system is still supported. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstalling VALORANT with Control Panel

  1. In Windows 10/11, open the Control Panel by looking for it in the Search Panel 
  2. From the Control Panel, open Programs and then Programs and Features 
  3. Find VALORANT in the drop-down menu 
  4. Right-click on the game and then click the Uninstall prompt 
  5. VALORANT will now be safely removed from your computer

Method 3 – Manually remove VALORANT & Riot Vanguard 

If neither of the first two options work for you, then there’s always the method of manually removing VALORANT and Riot Vanguard instead of using Windows Settings or Control Panel to do so. This can be needed if problems with the initial installation cannot be easily repaired. 

  1. Open the Command Prompt as administrator from the Start Menu (or type in CMD)
  2. From the Command Prompt, type in “sc delete vgc” and press enter 
  3. Then type in “sc delete vgk” and hit enter 
  4. Restart or power off your computer so the changes can take effect 

Delete remaining VALORANT files 

Lastly, it’s important to go through and double-check the system files to ensure that any trace of VALORANT has been successfully removed if you’ve deleted the game this way. 

Uninstalling VALORANT should be straightforward, but look for any leftover files in the folders and delete them, too. Otherwise, they can complicate a reinstall. 

Troubleshooting common issues with VALORANT 

Now that we know how to delete VALORANT, it’s important to go over a few of the errors and common problems that might require the game’s removal in the first place. 

Common error codes you may encounter include:

VALORANT error codeMessage
VAN 140VALORANT cannot connect to the internet
VAN9001Secure Boot 2.0 isn’t enabled
VAN9002Vanguard requires Control Flow Guard enabled
VAN9003Secure Boot isn’t enabled

If you see any of these four common VALORANT error codes, then uninstalling and reinstalling the game should fix the problems

While there may be other workarounds, just cleaning the title and doing a clean install should prevent things from happening again. Sometimes, a game’s update or a Windows update can cause instabilities to happen. 

VALORANT reinstallation guide 

Installing VALORANT is a fast and straightforward process. It’s easy and quick through Riot Games’ official website. Our quick guide will help you get up and running in no time. 

  1. Go to the VALORANT website 
  2. Click the “Play Now” button on the home screen 
  3. Sign in (or create a new) Riot Games account 
  4. Download the Riot Games Launcher alongside VALORANT 
  5. Use the installer and follow the prompts 
  6. The game will now be re-installed on your computer 

Alternative games to play after uninstalling VALORANT 

After you’ve uninstalled VALORANT, you can pick up a range of other free-to-play or even paid competitive shooters. Regardless of whether you’re hoping to play first or third person, a range of games provide you with the same level of challenge and reward. 

We recommend

  • CS2: This title has a high skill ceiling and thrilling gameplay as well as tough combat. 
  • The Finals: This has high-octane team-based destruction. 
  • Apex Legends: This sees trios take on other teams in a massive map.

Conclusion

Uninstalling VALORANT is easy and can help fix a few problems that you may be having with the massively popular shooter. 

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just looking to take a break for some time, taking the game off your computer can free things up for you. You may be waiting for the next update to rebalance the meta or considering going for an alternative game like CS2 or The Finals. 

FAQs

Why can’t I uninstall VALORANT? 

If you’ve tried to uninstall VALORANT via Windows Settings or the Control Panel, then the best case scenario is to do it manually through the Command Menu. Vanguard needs to be removed completely before taking VALORANT off the PC, too. 

How do I uninstall VALORANT on Windows 11 on my PC? 

The easiest way to uninstall VALORANT on Windows 11 is to go through the Windows Settings uninstaller, which you can follow by using our guide. 

How do I uninstall VALORANT with the CMD? 

Using the Command Prompt and inputting “sc delete vgc” and “sc delete vgk” will manually delete VALORANT from your computer. 

How do I reinstall VALORANT? 

You can reinstall VALORANT by going to the dedicated website, making (or signing in with) a Riot Games account, and then following the prompts from the dedicated installer. 

Will I lose my progress if I uninstall VALORANT?

No, you will not lose your progress if you uninstall VALORANT. Progression is tied to your Riot Games account, but you should back up any local files before purging the program from your PC. 

References

  1. VALORANT — A 5v5 tactical shooter featuring agents with unique abilities (PlayValorant)

Jasmine Mannan

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Jasmine is an avid lover of all of the games everyone else dares to call terrible, sinking thousands of hours (and dollars) into League of Legends and Overwatch 2. She enjoys multiplayer games that allow her to relax after her days of writing at a range of sites, including GamesRadar and PCGN.
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