How to download VALORANT
One legitimate source: playvalorant.com/download. Free, PC-first, and it installs two things — the game and the Vanguard anti-cheat — which is where the surprises live.
The clean install, start to finish
- Create or sign into a Riot account, then grab the installer from the official download page — nowhere else.
- Run it. You are installing the Riot Client (the launcher for all Riot games), the game content, and Vanguard, the kernel-level anti-cheat.
- On Windows 11, Vanguard requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled. If the game refuses to start after installing, this is the first thing to check — our Secure Boot guide walks through the firmware settings.
- Restart when Vanguard asks. It genuinely requires the reboot — skipping it is the second most common "won't launch" cause.
Before you commit the disk space
The real install footprint and why the first launch downloads more than the installer suggested are measured on how big is VALORANT. If the download stalls or the updater loops, that is covered in won't update — and if it installs but never opens, won't open is the diagnosis path.
Uninstalling properly — Vanguard included, which the normal uninstaller leaves behind — has its own guide.
Common questions
Is VALORANT free to download?
Yes — the game is free-to-play from Riot's official site. Money only enters for cosmetics. Anywhere charging for the download itself is not Riot.
Why does VALORANT install Vanguard?
Vanguard is Riot's anti-cheat and it is not optional: it installs with the game, runs at system level, and on Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled. Most 'VALORANT won't install' problems are actually one of those two settings being off.
Can I download VALORANT on Mac or console storefronts?
There is no Mac version — Vanguard rules it out. Console players get it through the PlayStation and Xbox stores rather than Riot's PC installer; there is no cross-progression gap, since the account is the same Riot login.
How long does the download take?
The installer itself is small; the game content is the wait. The full size and why the first patch makes it bigger than advertised are broken down on our download-size page.