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Valorant Failed to Launch: How to Fix It

1 min read

Valorant cover image

The client almost never fails on its own — Riot Vanguard does. Here is the order to work through, from leftover processes to the two BIOS errors a reinstall cannot touch.

Valorant failed to launch almost always means Riot Vanguard did not start, not that the game itself is broken. Vanguard loads as a kernel driver at boot, and when it is missing, disabled or blocked, the client refuses to open at all.

Clear the leftovers first

A previous session that did not close properly is the most common cause. Open Task Manager and end every VALORANT, Riot Client, vgc and vgtray process, then try again. A full restart does the same job with less clicking.

Check the vgc service

Vanguard's Windows service is called vgc. If a startup manager or a "debloat" script switched it off, the game cannot initialise:

  • Run msconfig, open Services, tick vgc, apply and reboot.
  • Launch the Riot Client as administrator so the driver can load.

The two BIOS errors

VAN9001 and VAN9003 are a different problem, and reinstalling will never fix them. On Windows 11 they mean TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are disabled in your firmware — you have to turn them on in the BIOS.

Last resort

Uninstall Riot Vanguard from Apps & Features, reboot, then start Valorant. It reinstalls itself on the next launch, which resolves most corrupted installs.