Riot Vanguard Not Initialized – Proven Fixes (2026)

Table of Contents

• Why Riot Vanguard Not Initialized Happens
• 1. Restart Your PC
• 2. Restart the VGC Service
• 3. Restart the VGK Kernel Driver via Command Prompt
• 4. Enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0
• 5. Reinstall Riot Vanguard
• 6. Run Riot Client and Valorant as Administrator
• 7. Disable Conflicting Software
• 8. Update Graphics and System Drivers
• 9. Disable Windows Test Mode
• 10. Install the Latest Windows Updates
• Advanced Troubleshooting for Riot Vanguard Not Initialized
• Conclusion
• FAQ

Hub: Gaming Errors Hub

Quick Answer
Riot Vanguard Not Initialized is usually caused by the VGC service failing to start, disabled Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 on Windows 11, corrupted Vanguard files, or software conflicts. The fastest fixes include restarting your PC, restarting the vgc service, and enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 in your BIOS. If the error persists, reinstalling Vanguard or disabling conflicting software often resolves the problem immediately.

Why Riot Vanguard Not Initialized Happens

When a Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error appears, it means Valorant’s kernel-level anti-cheat system has failed to start properly. This prevents the game from launching and typically appears with error codes like VAN 57, VAN 128, or messages such as “Vanguard Anti-Cheat has not been initialized”[reference:0]. Understanding why Riot Vanguard Not Initialized happens is the first step toward fixing it.

Riot Vanguard is designed to load when your computer boots up[reference:1]. If this initial process is interrupted, or if Vanguard needs to apply an update that requires a system reboot, it will remain in a non-functional state and block the game from launching[reference:2]. This deep integration at the kernel level is what makes Vanguard so effective at detecting cheats, but it’s also the source of most launch problems[reference:3].

The most common cause is the VGC service not running. The vgc service is what allows Riot Vanguard to run in the background. If it doesn’t start properly, Valorant won’t detect Vanguard at all, leading to the Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error[reference:4]. On Windows 11, Vanguard also requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled—if either is turned off, the anti-cheat will refuse to initialize[reference:5].

Other potential causes include corrupted Vanguard or game files[reference:6], conflicts with other software such as antivirus programs, hardware monitoring tools (MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner), or virtual machine software[reference:7], and Windows Test Mode which allows unverified drivers to run[reference:8]. For more gaming troubleshooting, visit our Gaming Errors Hub.

1. Restart Your PC

The simplest and most effective first step when encountering a Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error is to restart your computer. This is not just generic advice—Vanguard loads when Windows boots, and a full system reboot allows it to properly load its kernel driver and apply any pending updates[reference:10]. If you have just installed or updated Valorant, this step is mandatory[reference:11].

1. Close all Riot Client and Valorant processes completely.
2. Click the Start menu and select Restart.
3. Wait for your PC to reboot fully.
4. Launch Valorant and check if the error is resolved.

2. Restart the VGC Service

If the VGC (Valorant Game Client) service is not running, you will encounter a Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error[reference:12]. Manually restarting this service can resolve the issue immediately[reference:13].

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter[reference:14].
2. Scroll down and find vgc (Riot Vanguard) in the list[reference:15].
3. Right-click on vgc and select Properties.
4. Set the Startup type to Automatic[reference:16].
5. Click Start (if the service is stopped), then click OK.
6. Restart your PC and launch Valorant again.

3. Restart the VGK Kernel Driver via Command Prompt

If restarting the vgc service doesn’t resolve Riot Vanguard Not Initialized, you can reset Vanguard’s kernel driver using Command Prompt[reference:18].

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (right-click the Start button and select “Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)”).
2. Run the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each[reference:19]:
   • sc stop vgc
   • sc stop vgk
   • sc start vgk
   • sc start vgc
3. Close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.
4. Launch Valorant and check if the error is resolved.

4. Enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0

On Windows 11, Vanguard requires both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled[reference:21]. If either is turned off, Valorant will not launch and you may see a Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error with VAN9003[reference:22].

1. Check Secure Boot: Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. Look for Secure Boot State—it should say On[reference:23].
2. Check TPM 2.0: Press Windows + R, type tpm.msc, and press Enter. It should say TPM 2.0, ready for use[reference:24].
3. If either is disabled, restart your PC and enter UEFI/BIOS (usually by pressing F2, F12, or Delete during boot)[reference:25].
4. Navigate to the Security or Boot tab.
5. Enable Secure Boot (may be under “Boot” or “Authentication” settings)[reference:26].
6. Enable TPM 2.0 (may be listed as “TPM Device,” “PTT” for Intel, or “fTPM” for AMD)[reference:27].
7. Save changes and exit BIOS[reference:28].
8. Windows may prompt you to register keys—allow it to proceed[reference:29].

5. Reinstall Riot Vanguard

If Vanguard files are missing or damaged—often after a failed update or interrupted installation—it may fail to initialize completely[reference:31]. A clean reinstall of Vanguard is the most effective fix for corrupted installations[reference:32].

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 11) or Control Panel > Programs and Features (Windows 10)[reference:33].
2. Find Riot Vanguard in the list and click Uninstall[reference:34].
3. After uninstallation, navigate to C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\ and delete any remaining folders[reference:35].
4. Restart your PC—this is critical before reinstalling[reference:36].
5. Launch Valorant. The game will automatically reinstall Vanguard[reference:37].
6. If prompted, restart your PC again to complete the Vanguard installation.

6. Run Riot Client and Valorant as Administrator

Both the game and Vanguard require elevated permissions to function correctly. If they are not run as an administrator, they may fail to launch[reference:38].

1. Right-click the Valorant shortcut or the Riot Client shortcut.
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
4. Check “Run this program as an administrator”.
5. Click Apply and OK.
6. Repeat for both the Riot Client and Valorant executables.
7. Launch Valorant and check if the error is resolved.

7. Disable Conflicting Software

Vanguard is highly aggressive in monitoring other software and can conflict with various programs[reference:39]. Common offenders include[reference:40][reference:41]:

• Other anti-cheat software (Easy Anti-Cheat, BattleEye)
• System monitoring tools (MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner)
• RGB controller software (Corsair iCUE, ASUS Aura)
• Virtual machine software (VMWare, VirtualBox)
• Third-party antivirus software

1. Temporarily disable or close any of these programs.
2. If you have antivirus software, add Valorant and Riot Vanguard to the exception list.
3. Launch Valorant and check if the Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error is resolved.

8. Update Graphics and System Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause Riot Vanguard Not Initialized errors[reference:42]. Vanguard requires up-to-date system drivers to function correctly[reference:43].

1. Update Graphics Driver: Open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and select Update driver[reference:44].
2. Alternatively, download the latest driver from your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel)[reference:45].
3. Check for unsigned drivers: Open Start, type sigverif, and run the File Signature Verification tool to identify unsigned drivers[reference:46].
4. If unsigned drivers are found, update or remove them[reference:47].
5. Restart your PC and launch Valorant.

9. Disable Windows Test Mode

Windows Test Mode (Test Signing mode) allows users to run unverified drivers, which can conflict with Vanguard and trigger a Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error[reference:49].

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: bcdedit /set testsigning off
3. Restart your PC.
4. Launch Valorant and check if the error is resolved.

10. Install the Latest Windows Updates

Vanguard requires up-to-date Windows security patches[reference:50]. Outdated Windows versions can cause Riot Vanguard Not Initialized errors.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install all pending updates, including optional updates[reference:51].
4. Restart your PC and launch Valorant.

Advanced Troubleshooting for Riot Vanguard Not Initialized

If none of the standard methods resolve Riot Vanguard Not Initialized, deeper system issues may be involved. Here are advanced solutions for persistent cases.

Enable Memory Integrity (HVCI):

1. Open Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation.
2. Enable Memory Integrity (also known as Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity or HVCI)[reference:52].
3. Restart your PC and test Valorant[reference:53].

Perform a Clean Boot:

1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Services tab and check “Hide all Microsoft services”.
3. Click Disable all.
4. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
5. Disable all startup items.
6. Restart your system and test Valorant[reference:54].

Check msconfig for VGC Service:

1. Open System Configuration (msconfig).
2. Go to the Services tab.
3. Ensure vgc is checked and not disabled[reference:55].

Flush DNS Cache:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter[reference:56].
3. Restart your PC and test Valorant.

Delete Riot Games AppData Folder:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local.
2. Delete the Riot Games folder[reference:57].
3. Restart your PC and launch Valorant (this will recreate the folder).

Contact Riot Support:

1. If all else fails, submit a ticket to Riot Games Support through their official website[reference:58].
2. Include screenshots of the error and details about your system configuration.

For more gaming troubleshooting, explore our Gaming Errors Hub.

Conclusion

Encountering a Riot Vanguard Not Initialized error is frustrating, especially when you’re eager to play Valorant. However, the vast majority of cases are resolved with the methods above. Start with the simplest fixes—restarting your PC and restarting the vgc service—before progressing to more advanced solutions like enabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 or reinstalling Vanguard.

If you have tried every fix and Riot Vanguard Not Initialized still persists, consider that the problem may be related to Windows 11’s security requirements. Check that Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 are properly enabled in your BIOS, as these are mandatory for Vanguard on Windows 11[reference:59]. In the meantime, you can submit a support ticket to Riot Games for further assistance. For broader gaming troubleshooting, explore our Gaming Errors Hub.

For similar anti-cheat and launch issues on other platforms, check out our guides on Valorant VAN Error Codes or Vanguard Blocking Driver.

Related Guides

• Gaming Errors Hub
• Valorant VAN Error Codes
• Vanguard Blocking Driver
• Epic Games Launcher High CPU Usage
• Riot Vanguard Crash Windows 11
• Valorant Not Launching
• Windows 11 TPM 2.0 Issue
• How to Enable Secure Boot
• Update Graphics Driver Windows 11
• Valorant Error Code 57 Fix

FAQ