Valorant Not Launching or Working in Windows 11? 12 Ways to Fix

Is Valorant not launching on your PC, or does it crash sporadically and throw out error codes? Several factors could cause Riot Games’ free-to-play first-person shooter to malfunction, including compatibility issues, faulty processes, and outdated drivers.

Work through the suggestions and solutions below to resolve problems with Valorant not opening or functioning on Windows 11.

Check Valorant’s System Requirements

Valorant is not particularly demanding on system resources, but it’s always a good idea to begin by ensuring your PC meets the game’s system requirements.

To check your PC’s hardware, open the Windows Task Manager (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc), switch to the Performance section, and navigate to theCPU,Memory, andGPUtabs.

A system failing to meet the minimum requirements can result in problems. For example, an unsupported graphics card model is a common reason for failed launches, shoddy FPS (frames per second), and freezes.

Force-Quit and Relaunch Valorant

At times, Valorant might not launch due to stuck background processes or glitches. Force-quitting the game and all Riot-related processes can help. Just:

Check the VGC Service Status

Valorant’s anti-cheat system, Vanguard, must run in the operating system’s background for the game to launch. To start or force-restart the service:

It’s also best to configurevgcto always run in the background. To do that, double-click the service and setStartuptypetoAutomatic.

Restart Your Windows 11 PC

If you’re still facing issues, it’s time to restart your computer before moving on with the rest of the fixes. This action alone could resolve temporary software conflicts preventing Valorant from working. If you haven’t already, open theStart menuand selectPower>Restart.

Run Valorant With Administrative Rights

Running Valorant with administrative privileges fixes launch issues stemming from insufficient permissions. To do that, right-click theValorantorRiot Clientshortcut on your desktop and selectRunas administrator.

If that helps, here’s how you can always set up Valorant so it runs as an administrator:

Update the Graphics Card Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers cause numerous issues with video games. To update the drivers to their latest version:

Alternatively, visit your GPU manufacturer’s website—Intel,NVIDIA, orAMD—for the latest drivers oruse a dedicated driver update tool.

Note: If problems with Valorant occurred after a recent GPU driver update, considerrolling the driver back to its previous version.

Update Windows 11

It’s essential to keep Windows 11 updated for optimal compatibility and performance with games like Valorant. If you’ve turned off automatic updates, periodically check for and manually install available Windows updates. Here’s how:

Run Valorant in Compatibility Mode

Another fix that works is configuring Valorant to assume it’s running on an older version of Windows. Just:

Add an Environment Variable

Environment variables in Windows store important system information and configuration data, such as file paths and system directories, for applications to function correctly.Forum chatterindicates users resolving Valorant launch issues by adding a specific environment variable as follows:

Update and Repair Valorant

Repairing Valorant ensures there’s nothing wrong with the game’s installation. To do that:

Reinstall the Valorant Game

If the Riot Client fails to find problems with the Valorant installation, manually uninstalling and reinstalling the video game should help. To do that, you must also remove Riot Vanguard before deleting Valorant. Here’s how:

Note: If you don’t have any other video game installations from Riot Games, we recommend that you also remove and reinstall the Riot Client.

Enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0

Valorant requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to operate properly. If these features are not enabled, the game won’t launch. For more details, check our guide toenabling Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 via BIOS/UEFI.

Valorant Is Working Again

Valorant not launching or working in Windows 11 is annoying, but the fixes above should help you get it up and running normally. Start with basic troubleshooting, like checking system requirements and restarting your PC, then move to more specific solutions, such as updating drivers, adjusting system settings, and tweaking compatibility modes. If issues persist,contact Riot Games’ Supportfor additional troubleshooting advice.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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