8 Ways to Fix Valorant Not Launching on a Windows PC

Valorant is a highly rated tactical shooter for which players frequently report startup issues on Reddit and help forums. One Valorant player’s Reddit post said this: “When I click “play” in Riot Client, the button goes gray like it’s going to launch, but then after a few seconds the button is reilluminated, and Val doesn’t launch. There is no error message or anything like that.” Players can’t play Valorant on Windows PCs when that game doesn’t start. These are some ways you can fix Valorant not launching on a Windows 11/10 PC.

Read also: 6 Ways to Fix the Valorant VAL 51 Error on a Windows 11/10 PC 

Set New Valorant Compatibility Settings

Some players have fixed Valorant not launching by selecting new compatibility settings for disabling fullscreen optimization and running that game with elevated privileges. So, that could be a good way to start your Valorant troubleshooting. You can select those compatibility settings as follows.

1. Right-click the Valorant shortcut on the Windows desktop area to select Properties.
2. Select Compatibility to access configuration settings.
3. Click Run this program as an administrator to select that compatibility option.
4. Next, select Disable fullscreen optimizations on the same tab.
   
   

   The Compatibility tab

5. Click Apply to save the new Valorant compatibility options.
6. Press the OK button to close Valorant’s properties window.

Restart or Start the VGC Service

Valorant startup issues often arise because of issues with the VGC Vanguard Client service. Restarting VGC can address issues with that service. Or you might need to start that service if it’s not already enabled and running. This is how you can restart the VGC service.

1. To activate the Run command accessory, hold the Windows logo key and press R.
2. Enter services.msc into the Run box and select OK.
3. Double-click the VGC service inside the Services app.
4. Click Stop if the VGC service is running.
5. Select Automatic on the Startup type menu if a different option is set there.
   
   

   The vgc Properties window

6. Press Start in the General tab to restart the VGC service.
7. Click Apply in the VGC Properties window.

Select OK to exit the service window for VGC. If you find VGC isn’t running, you will need to start that service. Select the Automatic startup option and click the Start button for the service. Reboot Windows after starting or restarting the VGC service.

Add the VGC Service to the Windows Startup

The VGC service required for Valorant won’t automatically start if Windows startup doesn’t include it. So, make sure that the service is selected within the Services tab of the MSConfig utility. You can add the VGC service to the startup as follows.

1. Start Run and type msconfig inside the Open box.
2. Click OK to access the System Configuration (MSConfig) utility.
3. Select MSConfig’s Services tab.
   
   

   MSConfig’s Services tab

4. Next, select the checkbox for the VGC service.
5. Select Apply to save your new service settings.
6. Click on OK to exit the System Configuration window.
7. Select Restart on the dialog prompt that appears after exiting MSConfig.

Install the Latest Driver for Your PC’s Graphics Card

Installing a new graphics driver could be a potential solution for Valorant not launching if your PC’s current graphics driver is old. It’s not uncommon for gaming issues to arise because of antiquated graphics drivers. This is how you can manually download and install a new NVIDIA or AMD graphics driver.

1. First, check your PC’s graphics card and platform details on the Display and System tabs within the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. You can open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool by pressing the Windows logo + S hotkey, inputting dxdiag, and selecting the search result that matches the keyword entered.
2. Open the Microsoft Edge browser and navigate to the NVIDIA or AMD drivers download page.
3. Select your PC’s graphics card and platform and click Search or Submit.
   
   

   The download page for NVIDIA graphics drivers

4. Next, click on the Download option for the latest NVIDIA/AMD driver you need.
   
   

   The Download option for a NVIDIA driver

5. Utilize Edge’s Ctrl + J hotkey to view files downloaded.
6. Click the downloaded NVIDIA or AMD graphics driver package to access its setup window.
7. Select Install within the driver setup window.

Rename the RiotGamesPrivateSettings File

1. Activate the Run app and input %localappdata% into its Open box.
2. Select OK to access a Local folder.
3. Open the Riot Games > Riot Client > Data folders from the Local directory.
4. Right-click the RiotGamesPrivateSettings.yaml file to select Rename.
   
   

   A renamed RiotGamesPrivateSettings.yaml file

5. Add .1 to the end of the RiotGamesPrivateSettings.yaml file name to make it RiotGamesPrivateSettings.yaml.1.
6. Press the Enter key and click Yes to confirm.

Change Your PC’s Display Resolution

Display resolution settings can sometimes cause Valorant startup issues to arise. That’s more likely to happen if your PC’s graphics card is quite old. So, try reducing the Windows display resolution like this.

1. Press the Windows logo key + S keyboard shortcut to access the file finder tool.
2. Enter a display resolution search phrase in the file finder tool.
3. Click Change the resolution of the display to access graphic options.
4. Select a slightly lower resolution option on the Display resolution drop-down menu.
   
   

   Resolution options in Windows 10’s Settings app

5. Click Keep changes to confirm the new resolution.

Set Valorant to Run With a High Performance GPU

Windows has high and power-saving graphics performance settings you can configure for software. Make sure you’ve got Valorant set for the best graphics performance option by selecting that option as follows.

1. Activate the Windows search box and input a graphics settings keyword.
2. Select Graphics settings to view that part of Settings.
3. Next, select Desktop app on the Choose an app to set preference drop-down menu.
4. Click Browse and select the VALORANT-Win64-Shipping.exe file in the Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64 folder.
   
   

   The Options button in Graphics settings

5. Press the Add button.
6. Click the Options button for Valorant.
7. Select High Performance and click Save.
   
   

   The High performance option

Disable Antivirus Shields

Some Valorant players have confirmed disabling antivirus shields can fix the game not starting. Doing this will ensure an antivirus shield cannot flag Valorant files. Those users who don’t have third-party security software solutions should disable Windows Security’s Microsoft Defender shield as instructed on this Microsoft webpage. Try running Valorant again after disabling real-time protection to see if the game starts.

The Real-time protection option

Players who have third-party antivirus apps installed will need to disable their shields. To do that, look at the context menu for the security software by right-clicking the antivirus icon within the Windows system tray area. Select a turn-off or disable option for the antivirus shield on that right-click menu.

However, I don’t recommend leaving antivirus shields permanently disabled. Turn the antivirus shield back on when you’re not playing Valorant. Or add the Valorant game folder to the antivirus tool’s exclusion list.

Other Possible Ways to Fix Valorant Not Launching

Do you still need to fix Valorant not launching after applying the potential resolutions above? Ok, try applying these additional troubleshooting methods as well:

• Clean Boot Windows by disabling startup items as instructed on this Microsoft help webpage. However, do not disable the VGC service within MSConfig.
• Run Valorant in compatibility mode with Windows 8 selected. You can do that by selecting then Run this program in compatibility mode option on the Compatibility tab.
• Reinstall Riot Vanguard and the Valorant game.
• Erase all files in the Logs and Config folders at the %localappdata%VALORANTSaved directory path.
• Disable or uninstall VPN software.

Many players have fixed Valorant not starting with the troubleshooting methods cited above. As there are many possible causes for Valorant startup issues, fixing that game not starting on a Windows PC isn’t always straightforward. So, you might need to apply many possible resolutions for Valorant not launching to find one that works.

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