Valorant not launching ('Vanguard not running' / VAN 25)
✅ Verified on 2026-11-15 · Valorant version Patch 13.10 (Season 2026 // Act 6) — re-verify before publish · Platform: PC (Windows)
Quick fix
Press Win+R, run services.msc, set the 'vgc' service Startup type to Automatic and start it, then restart your PC before launching Valorant.
Symptoms
Valorant opens to a black screen or immediately quits, or you see 'Vanguard not running' / 'VAN 25'. The VGC service or vgk driver did not start at boot, so the game aborts before the client loads.
Fixes that work
Set the vgc service to Automatic and start it
- Press Win+R, type services.msc and press Enter.
- Find the service named vgc, double-click it, set Startup type to Automatic, then click Start if the status shows Stopped.
- Restart your PC and launch Valorant.
Source: https://support.riotgames.com/en-us/valorant/performance/error-codes-and-solutions-in-valorant
Fix VAN 25 (startup trust check failed)
- Open Command Prompt as administrator (search cmd > Run as administrator).
- Run: bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING off
- Restart your PC and launch Valorant; Windows test mode blocks Vanguard's integrity check.
Source: https://support.riotgames.com/en-us/valorant/performance/error-codes-and-solutions-in-valorant
Clean reinstall Vanguard when the service still will not start
- End all VALORANT, Riot Client and Vanguard processes in Task Manager > Details.
- Uninstall Riot Vanguard via Control Panel > Uninstall a program.
- Relaunch Valorant so Vanguard reinstalls, then fully restart the PC.
- If 'Windows could not start the vgc service on Local Computer' still appears, run 'sc start vgc' in an admin Command Prompt and check Secure Boot/TPM are enabled — persistent failures are usually driver-signature or firmware related.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Valorant say 'Vanguard not running' even though it is installed?
The vgc service is set to Manual or was stopped, so Vanguard never started with Windows. Vanguard only works if its service and driver load at boot — setting vgc to Automatic and rebooting fixes it.
Do I need to run Valorant as administrator?
It can help as a last resort: right-click the Riot Client and VALORANT shortcuts > Run as administrator. If that changes nothing, the cause is the Vanguard service/driver, not permissions.
Will reinstalling Valorant itself fix launch failures?
Usually no — reinstalling just the game keeps the broken Vanguard install. Uninstalling and reinstalling Vanguard (restart between uninstall and relaunch) is what resets the anti-cheat.