VALORANT won't launch
There's a difference worth pinning down first: whether the Riot Client opens and the game never follows, or whether nothing happens at all. They point at different causes, and trying the wrong fixes wastes time.
What causes it
The Riot Client is already running in the background
A stuck client process blocks a new one from starting, and it often leaves no visible window — so it looks like nothing is happening.
Vanguard failed to initialise
If Vanguard starts but fails its checks, the client can load while the game never does.
Game files are damaged
An interrupted patch can leave files in a state the client won't launch from.
Overlays are interfering
Third-party overlays inject into the game, and Vanguard blocks anything it can't verify.
How to fix it
In order — the earlier steps are both quicker and more likely to work, so there’s no reason to skip ahead.
- 1
End the Riot Client in Task Manager
Open Task Manager, end every Riot Client and VALORANT process, then start the game again. This is the fastest fix and it works surprisingly often.
- 2
Run as administrator
Vanguard needs elevated permissions to load its driver. Right-click the shortcut and choose Run as administrator.
- 3
Disable overlays
Turn off Discord, GeForce Experience and similar overlays, then launch again. If it works, re-enable them one at a time to find the culprit.
- 4
Repair the installation
The Riot Client has a repair option in its settings, which re-checks the game files without a full reinstall.
Common questions
Why does the Riot Client open but not VALORANT?
That pattern points at Vanguard rather than the client. The client doesn't need Vanguard to run; the game does, so it's the one that stops.
Do I need to run VALORANT as administrator?
It isn't required on every system, but it resolves a class of Vanguard permission failures and costs nothing to try.