How to fix Valorant not opening

Valorant ^[1] is one of the most popular competitive games out there, with players constantly starting their Valorant journey for the first time. While Riot Games has a dedicated team to ensure players have a smooth experience, some issues still slip through the cracks.

One of the most common issues is Valorant refusing to launch. Some potential fixes for this include reinstalling GPU drivers, closing the Riot Games launcher from your Task Manager, and disabling any antivirus software you may have enabled.

So, if you've been struggling to get Valorant to launch, keep reading because we have you covered.

Close the Riot Games launcher

Those who have been playing Riot-made games for a while will likely know that they all use a special Riot Games launcher. While that's well and good, the launcher is objectively buggy and can cause multiple issues.

One of the most common issues is that the launcher refuses to run games after someone closes a different Riot game. So, for example, if you close League of Legends and try to run Valorant instantly after, there may be issues with launching the second game.

The best fix for this is usually just running Valorant again, since that forces the launcher to work. However, if that doesn't prove fruitful, you can always close both Valorant and the Riot Games launcher from your Task Manager and then run the game again to boot the launcher and Valorant from zero.

Reinstall the GPU drivers or roll back to an older version

If Valorant refuses to launch, your graphics drivers might be to blame, especially if you have updated them recently. Many players, especially those with NVIDIA GPUs, have noticed that new driver updates can clash with the game or Vanguard. Old and corrupted drivers can also cause problems, indicating something went wrong during an update or install.

Consider reinstalling the drivers through your GPU manufacturer’s website or software (GeForce Experience, Radeon Software, etc). Try reinstalling the latest version first, and choose the clean install option during setup. But if this does not work, roll back to a previous version (usually one or two updates back). Once done, restart your PC and open Valorant, and it should work.

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Check your internet if Valorant is stuck on the loading screen

Drivers may solve issues with the game not opening, but it can still freeze on the loading screen after agent selection. It is particularly troublesome as it prevents you from entering the match and gives you a temporary ban, even if it is not your fault. It is due to an issue with connecting to the game servers, and not by your system or game files.

Start by checking your internet connection and ensuring your WiFi or Ethernet cable is connected properly. Next, exit the game, turn on a VPN, and reopen the game. Several users have reported that this gets them past the annoying loading screen. If that does not fix it, check Riot’s service status website to see if the issue is on their end.

Reinstall DirectX and Visual C++ packages

If driver reinstalls do not resolve the issue, your PC could also be missing two key major background files: DirectX and Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables. If either is corrupted or not properly installed, Valorant might refuse to launch. This issue usually comes with an error message indicating a certain .dll file is missing from your computer. This problem is common, and repairing or reinstalling these components can fix the issue in one go.

Download the latest versions of DirectX and the Visual C++ Redistributables directly from Microsoft’s official website. Ensure you pick the correct versions for your system (x86 or x64). You can alternatively search and download the specific missing file, but it is better to redownload the entire library if more than one is missing. After reinstalling, restart your computer, and Valorant should run successfully.

Disable conflicting services in System Configuration

Another possibility for Valorant refusing to start is that something interferes with Vanguard, the game’s anti-cheat system. Things like audio tools (AMD Noise Suppression, etc) or other unnecessary services can cause problems without you realizing it. It can happen after installing new software, drivers, or updates that come with background services.

A proven fix is to open the System Configuration > Services tab, and check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services. Then, click disable all to turn off everything, scroll down, and re-check VGC, which is Vanguard’s service. Hit apply, then restart your PC. It trims down background processes while keeping Vanguard active. If you notice apps like Steam or other games having problems, re-enable their services.

Disable antivirus or exclude Valorant from the antivirus’s firewall

Sometimes it is not the system settings, but Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus that flags Valorant or Vanguard as suspicious. Antivirus sometimes does not play nice with certain game files or background services, causing Valorant to not launch without a proper error message.

A simple workaround is adding Valorant and Vanguard to your antivirus’s exclusion list. Head to Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings > Exclusions, and add the Riot Vanguard and Valorant folders. If the game still refuses to open, then turn off the antivirus entirely. This minor tweak helps many players get back into the game.

Perform a repair or clean reinstall of Valorant

If you have tried all the above steps and Valorant still refuses to open, try repairing game files. At this point, the problem lies in the game instead of your computer or internet connection. Head to the Riot Games client, navigate to Valorant from your profile, and select the repair option. It’s important to keep in mind that this repair procedure works for every Riot Games-developed game, which means League of Legends and more.

If even that does not work, reinstalling is a last-ditch effort. To do this, open the Control Panel, head to Programs and Features > Uninstall a program. From there, remove both Valorant and Riot Vanguard. Remove leftover folders in %AppData% and %LocalAppData% for anything related to Riot or Valorant. Once everything is wiped, reinstall the game from Valorant’s official site.

FAQs

Why won't Valorant launch on my PC even after clicking the icon?

This can happen if Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat system, is not running properly. If Vanguard fails to load at startup, Valorant will not open. Restarting your PC often fixes this, but if it doesn’t, try uninstalling and reinstalling both Valorant and Vanguard to reset the service.

What should I do if Valorant still won’t open after reinstalling?

If reinstalling doesn’t fix the issue, check that your graphics drivers and Windows are fully updated. Also, ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements. If the problem continues, use Riot’s repair tool or visit their support site to look for any known issues or submit a ticket for help.

References

1. [1] "official Valorant homepage". playvalorant.com. Retrieved May 11, 2025