Welcome to our guide on how to delete Valorant from your computer. Valorant is a popular first-person shooter developed by Riot Games. While the game is enjoyed by many, some players may wish to uninstall the game due to various reasons. Uninstalling Valorant completely ensures that all associated files and data are removed from your computer, freeing up storage space and preventing any potential issues. In this guide, we will provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to uninstall Valorant properly, including removing Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat.
Key Takeaways
- Uninstalling Valorant frees up storage space and ensures that all associated files and data are removed from your computer.
- Following our step-by-step guide ensures a complete removal of the game from your computer.
- Removing Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat is an important additional step for a complete uninstallation.
Why Uninstalling Valorant Properly is Important
Uninstalling Valorant properly is crucial for ensuring the complete removal of the game from your computer. When the game is not uninstalled correctly, it can leave behind leftover files and data that take up storage space and potentially cause issues. Additionally, some users may want to remove Valorant because they no longer play the game, want to free up space on their computer, or have experienced technical issues.
By following the step-by-step guide provided, you can easily and thoroughly remove Valorant from your computer. This ensures that all associated files and data are removed, freeing up valuable storage space and preventing any potential problems. Properly uninstalling Valorant also ensures that the game does not continue to run in the background, potentially slowing down your computer’s performance.
It’s important to note that simply deleting the game’s executable file or shortcut is not enough to fully uninstall it. To completely remove the game from your computer, follow the step-by-step guide provided in the next section.
Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstall Valorant
Uninstalling Valorant is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few easy steps. Follow this guide carefully to ensure a complete and successful uninstallation of the game.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1: | Close Valorant and Riot Games Client Before uninstalling Valorant, ensure that the game and the Riot Games Client are closed. You can do this by right-clicking on the Valorant icon in your taskbar and selecting “Exit.” Do the same for the Riot Games Client icon. |
| Step 2: | Access Control Panel on Windows Go to your computer’s Control Panel by clicking the Start button and typing “Control Panel” in the search bar. Click on “Control Panel” in the search results to open it. |
| Step 3: | Uninstall Valorant from Control Panel In the Control Panel, click on “Programs and Features.” Find Valorant in the list of installed programs and click on it. Then, click on “Uninstall” and follow the instructions to complete the uninstallation process. |
| Step 4: | Remove Valorant Files and Folders Even after uninstalling the game, some files and folders associated with Valorant may still remain on your computer. To remove them, navigate to the Valorant installation folder and delete it. The default installation folder is “C:\Program Files (x86)\Riot Games\VALORANT.” |
| Step 5: | Empty Recycle Bin After deleting the Valorant installation folder, empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete all associated files and folders. This will free up valuable space on your computer. |
If you have also installed the Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat software, make sure to follow the additional steps outlined in the previous section to fully remove it from your computer.
If you encounter any issues during the uninstallation process, refer to the troubleshooting section below for assistance.
Step 1: Close Valorant and Riot Games Client
The first step to uninstalling Valorant from your computer is to ensure that the game and the Riot Games Client are closed. If these programs are still running, the uninstallation process may not be successful. To close them:
- Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
- Select the Processes tab.
- Locate and select Valorant and Riot Games Client processes.
- Click on End task to close them.
Once these programs have been closed, you can proceed with the uninstallation process.
Step 2: Access Control Panel on Windows
The Control Panel is a crucial tool for managing programs and settings on your Windows computer.
To access the Control Panel, first click on the Start menu in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. In the search bar at the bottom of the menu, type in “Control Panel”.
Once you see “Control Panel” appear in the search results, click on it to open the program.
If you prefer using the Classic Control Panel, you can access it by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard, typing in “control” and then hitting Enter.
Note: Depending on the version of Windows you’re using, the layout and interface of the Control Panel may vary slightly. However, the steps for uninstalling Valorant will be the same.
Step 3: Uninstall Valorant from Control Panel
Now that you have closed Valorant and the Riot Games Client and accessed the Control Panel on your Windows computer, it’s time to uninstall Valorant. The following steps will guide you through the process:
- Scroll down to find ‘Valorant’ in the list of installed programs.
- Select ‘Valorant’ and then click on the ‘Uninstall’ button at the top of the list.
- A popup window will appear, asking if you want to uninstall the game. Click ‘Yes’ to confirm.
- The uninstallation process will begin and may take a few minutes to complete. Follow the prompts on the screen to complete the process.
Once the uninstallation is complete, Valorant will be removed from your computer.
Note: If you receive an error message during the uninstallation process, try restarting your computer and attempting the uninstallation again. If the issue persists, refer to the troubleshooting section of this guide for further assistance.
Next, it’s important to remove any remaining Valorant files and folders to ensure a complete uninstallation.
Step 4: Remove Valorant Files and Folders
After uninstalling Valorant from the Control Panel, you may still have leftover files and folders on your computer. To ensure a complete uninstall, you must remove these as well.
First, navigate to your computer’s file explorer and search for any files or folders related to Valorant. These may include:
- The Riot Games folder
- The Valorant folder
- The Riot Vanguard folder (if you had it installed)
Once you have located these folders, right-click on them and select “Delete.” If you encounter an error message stating that a file or folder is in use and cannot be deleted, restart your computer and try again.
It’s important to note that deleting folders related to other programs may cause issues with those programs. So, be sure to only delete folders related to Valorant to avoid any conflicts.
Step 5: Empty Recycle Bin
After completing the previous steps, the Valorant game has been successfully uninstalled from your computer. However, there may still be residual files left in the Recycle Bin. Therefore, it is recommended to empty the Recycle Bin to ensure that all associated files and components are permanently deleted from your computer.
To empty the Recycle Bin, right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select ‘Empty Recycle Bin’ from the drop-down menu. If prompted to confirm the action, click ‘Yes’ to proceed with emptying the Recycle Bin.
It is important to note that once the Recycle Bin is emptied, all files contained within it are permanently removed from your computer and cannot be recovered. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that all necessary files have been backed up before proceeding with emptying the Recycle Bin.
Additional Steps for Uninstalling Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat
If you want to completely uninstall Riot Games’ Valorant, it’s essential to remove the anti-cheat software called Riot Vanguard. Here are the steps to follow:
- Close any running programs, including Valorant and the Riot Games client.
- Navigate to the Control Panel on your Windows computer.
- Select “Uninstall a program” under the Programs section.
- Find Riot Vanguard in the list of installed programs and choose “Uninstall.”
- Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
Please note that depending on your computer’s settings, Riot Vanguard may restart automatically after uninstallation. If this happens, you can repeat the process to make sure it is fully removed.
If you encounter any issues while uninstalling Riot Vanguard, you can try running the uninstaller as an administrator. To do this, right-click on the uninstaller executable file and choose “Run as administrator.”
After completing these steps, you should have successfully uninstalled both Valorant and Riot Vanguard from your computer.
Troubleshooting Common Uninstallation Issues
Uninstalling a game may seem like a simple task, but errors can occur. Here are some common issues that may arise during the Valorant uninstallation process, and some troubleshooting tips to help you overcome them:
Issue #1: Unable to Uninstall Valorant from Control Panel
Sometimes, when trying to uninstall Valorant from the Control Panel, you may encounter an error message stating that the game can’t be uninstalled. Here are some steps that can help:
- Restart your computer and try again.
- Use the software’s uninstaller in the Valorant folder to remove the game.
- Use a third-party uninstaller software to remove the game.
Issue #2: Files and Folders Remain After Uninstallation
Even after you uninstall Valorant, sometimes some game files and folders remain on your computer. This can take up significant space and cause issues in the future. Here’s what you can do:
- Manually delete the remaining files and folders associated with Valorant.
- Run a disk cleanup utility to delete the remaining files and folders.
Issue #3: Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat Won’t Uninstall
Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat is a component of Valorant that may not uninstall along with the game. Here’s how you can remove it:
- Go to the Control Panel and select Programs and Features.
- Look for Riot Vanguard and select Uninstall.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to completely remove the anti-cheat software.
By following these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to successfully uninstall Valorant without any issues.
Conclusion
Uninstalling Valorant properly is essential to free up storage space and prevent potential issues. By following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, you can ensure a complete removal of Valorant from your computer. Remember to close Valorant and the Riot Games Client, access the Control Panel on your Windows computer, and uninstall Valorant from the list of installed programs. Remove any remaining Valorant files and folders, and empty your Recycle Bin. If you have also installed Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat, follow the additional steps provided in this guide to remove it. If you encounter any issues during the uninstallation process, refer to the troubleshooting tips provided in this article. By following these steps, you can successfully uninstall Valorant and free up storage space on your computer.
FAQ
Q: How do I delete Valorant from my computer?
A: To delete Valorant from your computer, you can follow the step-by-step guide provided below.
Q: Why is it important to uninstall Valorant properly?
A: Uninstalling Valorant properly ensures that all associated files and data are removed from your computer, freeing up storage space and preventing any potential issues.
Q: What are the step-by-step instructions for uninstalling Valorant?
A: The step-by-step guide to uninstall Valorant is as follows:
Q: How do I close Valorant and the Riot Games Client?
A: To close Valorant and the Riot Games Client, follow these steps:
Q: How do I access the Control Panel on a Windows computer?
A: To access the Control Panel on a Windows computer, follow these steps:
Q: How do I uninstall Valorant from the Control Panel?
A: To uninstall Valorant from the Control Panel, follow these steps:
Q: How do I remove Valorant files and folders?
A: To remove any remaining Valorant files and folders, follow these steps:
Q: Why should I empty the Recycle Bin after uninstalling Valorant?
A: Emptying the Recycle Bin after uninstalling Valorant ensures that all associated files are permanently deleted.
Q: How do I uninstall Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat?
A: To uninstall Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat, which is a component of Valorant, follow these steps:
Q: What should I do if I encounter common uninstallation issues?
A: If you encounter common uninstallation issues, try the following troubleshooting steps:
