Vanguard Crashing PC? Fixes That Actually Work

If Vanguard is crashing your PC, the problem is almost always the Vanguard anti-cheat driver, not the game itself. The fix usually involves updating Windows, updating your graphics drivers, or performing a clean reinstall of Vanguard. Below are the specific steps to stop the crashes and get back to playing.

What Is Vanguard and Why Does It Crash PCs?

Vanguard is Riot Games’ anti-cheat system used in Valorant and League of Legends. It operates at the kernel level, which means it runs with the same high-level privileges as your operating system. This gives it deep access to your hardware and software to detect cheating, but it also means any conflict with other drivers or system components can cause crashes, blue screens (BSOD), or boot failures.

Common culprits include outdated Windows builds, incompatible graphics drivers, conflicting third-party software (like RGB lighting tools or other anti-cheat programs), and corrupted Vanguard installation files. The crash can happen during game launch, mid-game, or even when Vanguard loads at startup.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Vanguard Crashes

Try these in order, as each one is more thorough than the last. Stop when the issue is resolved.

Update Windows and your graphics driver. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install all pending updates. Then update your GPU driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel’s official site. Outdated drivers are the #1 cause of Vanguard-related crashes.
Run Vanguard as administrator. Right-click the Riot Client or Valorant shortcut, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check Run this program as an administrator. This ensures Vanguard has the privileges it needs to load correctly.
Repair Vanguard. Open the Riot Client, click your profile icon, select Settings, then Repair under the game you’re playing. This will re-download any corrupted files.
Clean reinstall Vanguard. Uninstall Vanguard via Control Panel > Programs and Features, then delete the folder C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard. Restart your PC, then launch Valorant or League – the game will reinstall Vanguard automatically.
Disable conflicting software. Temporarily turn off any RGB lighting software, overclocking tools (like MSI Afterburner), or other anti-cheat systems (like Easy Anti-Cheat). If crashes stop, add Vanguard to the exclusion list of that software or update it.
Check for BIOS updates. Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website and install the latest BIOS. Vanguard sometimes conflicts with older BIOS versions that have insecure UEFI settings.

Why Does Vanguard Cause Blue Screens (BSOD)?

Vanguard’s kernel driver (vgk.sys) can trigger a blue screen if it encounters a system call it doesn’t expect. This often happens after a Windows update changes kernel APIs, or if another driver is doing something unusual. The most common BSOD error codes are SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED and DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. If you see these, the fixes above (especially updating Windows and drivers) usually resolve them.

Vanguard Crashing on Startup vs. In-Game

If Vanguard crashes during startup (before the game window opens), the issue is usually the anti-cheat service failing to load. This can be due to a disabled service, corrupted driver, or a conflict with your antivirus. Check that the “vgk” service is set to Automatic in Services.msc. If it crashes mid-game, it’s more likely a graphics driver issue or overheating. Monitor your GPU temperature with a tool like HWMonitor; if it exceeds 85°C, improve your case airflow or clean your fans.

How to Prevent Future Vanguard Crashes

Keep Windows Update enabled – never skip “security” or “quality” updates.
Update your GPU driver at least once a month, or whenever a new game patch releases.
Don’t use registry cleaners or “game booster” tools; they can break Vanguard’s installation.
If you have a dual-boot system, ensure both OSes have the same Vanguard version.
Run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair Windows system files that may interfere with Vanguard.

Vanguard vs. Other Anti-Cheat Systems

Unlike Easy Anti-Cheat or BattlEye, Vanguard loads at boot time, not just when the game runs. This makes it more effective at preventing cheating but also more likely to cause crashes because it’s always active. If you’re comparing anti-cheat systems, know that Vanguard’s boot-time driver is the reason it’s so strict – and why it sometimes conflicts with other kernel-level software. If you use a tool like Cheat Engine for any purpose, even for single-player games, Vanguard will flag it and may crash to protect the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Vanguard crash my PC only when I play Valorant?

Valorant requires Vanguard to be running. If the anti-cheat driver crashes, the game will crash or your system may blue screen. The crash is often triggered by a conflict between Vanguard and another program that only loads when you’re gaming, like Discord overlay or a GPU monitoring tool.

Can I uninstall Vanguard to stop the crashes?

Yes, but you won’t be able to play Valorant or League of Legends. Vanguard is mandatory for those games. If you uninstall it, the games will prompt you to reinstall it before launching. If you’re done with Riot games, uninstalling Vanguard will stop all its background activity.

Will Vanguard crash my PC if I have an AMD or Intel CPU?

No, Vanguard works on both, but there are known issues with older AMD chipsets that lack certain virtualization features. If you have an AMD system, make sure you’ve installed the latest chipset drivers from AMD’s website. Intel users should ensure their Management Engine drivers are up to date.

Does Vanguard cause permanent damage to my PC?

No, Vanguard cannot permanently damage hardware. Crashes and blue screens are software-level issues. However, frequent BSODs can occasionally corrupt system files, which is why a clean reinstall of Vanguard and Windows updates are the first line of defense.

Why does Vanguard crash after a Windows update?

Windows updates sometimes change kernel-level APIs that Vanguard relies on. Riot usually releases a Vanguard patch within a day or two. If you’re crashing right after a Windows update, check for a Vanguard update in the Riot Client, or manually reinstall Vanguard as described above.

Is there a way to play Valorant without Vanguard?

No. Vanguard is non-negotiable for Riot’s multiplayer games. There is no official way to disable it and still play online. If you’re concerned about privacy, note that Vanguard only runs when it’s needed and doesn’t collect personal data beyond what’s required for anti-cheat.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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