Why Is Valorant Not Opening? Full Troubleshooting Guide (2026)

VALORANT occasionally fails to launch for some players, leading many to wonder why is Valorant not opening and how to fix it. When the client does not start, freezes, or immediately closes, it usually points to issues with Vanguard, missing system permissions, software conflicts, or corrupted files. This guide covers the most common causes, official Riot troubleshooting steps, VAN error explanations, and specific fixes for Windows 11 users.

If you have ever asked “why won’t Valorant open” or “why is my Valorant not opening,” the following methods will help you resolve launch issues and get back into the game.

Why Is My VALORANT Not Opening?

Here are the most common underlying problems that cause launch failure in VALORANT:

1. Outdated graphics drivers – Incompatible or old GPU drivers can prevent the game from starting.
2. Corrupted game files – Missing or damaged files stop the client from loading.
3. Software conflicts – Background programs or overlays may block VALORANT or Vanguard.
4. Insufficient system requirements – The PC may not meet the minimum required specs.
5. Vanguard anti-cheat issues – Vanguard must load correctly or VALORANT often refuses to launch.
6. Pending Windows updates or system instability – Outdated OS builds can clash with required components.
7. Excessive background processes – Many active apps at startup may interfere with launch.
8. Lack of administrator privileges – The game may need elevated rights to open.
9. Network issues – Connectivity problems can stop the game from reaching its servers properly.

Riot Support adds that additional causes include TPM or Secure Boot being disabled, corrupted install of Riot Client or Vanguard, and other system-level conflicts.

Riot’s Official Troubleshooting Steps

For why won’t Valorant open, Riot Support recommends a structured approach to fixing the issue:

• Restart the system and client, ensuring Vanguard is active.
• Run the game as administrator.
• Update Windows and GPU drivers, confirming DirectX is current.
• Repair or reinstall the game client and Vanguard if service fails to load.
• Check for VAN error codes, which usually indicate anti-cheat or driver issues. (See full list of VAN errors here.)
• Disable overlays or third-party apps potentially interfering with launch.

Basic Fixes That You Can Try

Based on the above list of issues and barring VAN errors, here are some common fixes you can try implementing to ensure your VALORANT runs smoothly and your game opens.

1. Launch in Compatibility Mode
   Right-click the VALORANT executable → Properties → Compatibility tab → check “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” then select “Windows 8” or “Windows 7”. Also check “Run this program as an administrator”. Apply changes and attempt to launch.
2. Reinstall Vanguard Anti-Cheat
   Navigate to Control Panel → Programs and Features → uninstall Riot Vanguard → Restart PC → Launch VALORANT to trigger Vanguard reinstall.
3. Update Graphics Driver
   Press Win + R → devmgmt.msc → Device Manager → Display adapters → right-click GPU → Update driver. Alternatively download latest from manufacturer.
4. Perform a Clean Boot
   Press Win + R → msconfig → Services tab → check “Hide all Microsoft services” → Disable all → Startup tab → Open Task Manager → disable all startup items → Restart.
5. Delete Configuration Files
   Press Win + R → %LocalAppData% → Locate VALORANT folder → Delete it → Relaunch game so fresh config rebuilds.
6. Check System Requirements
   Minimum for PC: CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 / AMD Athlon 200GE, RAM 4 GB, VRAM 1 GB, OS Windows 10 version 2004 or higher (64-bit). Recommended: Core i3-4150 / Ryzen 3 1200, 4 GB RAM, VRAM 1 GB, Windows 10/11 64-bit.
7. Add VALORANT as a Security Exclusion
   Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings → Add or remove exclusions → add folder for VALORANT and Riot Client → retry launch.
8. Reset Network Settings
   Press Win + I → Settings → Network & Internet → Network reset → Restart PC → Launch game.Lower Display Resolution
   Desktop → right-click → Display settings → Resolution drop-down → reduce resolution → Launch VALORANT to see if it opens.

Advanced Fixes for Windows 11 Users

Since folks are updating to Windows 11, there have been complaints of the game being frozen and not opening. If you encounter a “Suspended” or “Not Responding” issue on Task Manager, the cause is often Secure Boot or TPM not enabled. Steps to resolve this:

• Verify TPM & Secure Boot: Press Win + R → type tpm.msc, confirm TPM is enabled. Restart into BIOS/UEFI → enable Secure Boot → ensure TPM/PTT/fTPM is enabled.
• Reinstall Vanguard with Admin Rights: Uninstall Vanguard, reboot, reinstall via VALORANT installer run as administrator.
• Update GPU Drivers & DirectX: Ensure latest drivers and DirectX runtime are installed.
• Disable Conflict Software: Logs show that antivirus, VPNs, overlays, or older peripherals may lock Vanguard.
• Run VALORANT as Administrator: Right-click shortcut → Properties → Compatibility → check “Run this program as an administrator”.

These steps address why Valorant isn’t opening for many Windows 11 users, particularly after the OS update or hardware change.

Why won’t VALORANT open still?

If the game still fails after all steps, consider:

• Verifying system integrity with sfc /scannow to detect corrupted Windows system files.
• Reinstalling the Riot Client entirely or installing on a secondary drive if possible.
• Contacting Riot Support with diagnostic logs (DxDiag, MSInfo, Vanguard logs) if the issue persists.

Why is VALORANT Not Opening? – Final Thoughts

If you’ve been stuck wondering why can’t I play Valorant or why is Valorant not opening, the problem most often comes down to one of these: Vanguard conflicts, outdated drivers, background apps interfering, secure-boot/TPM issues, or corrupted game files. The nine methods above cover nearly all such scenarios, and when paired with Riot’s official troubleshooting steps, provide a complete roadmap back into the game.

With these instructions, you should no longer be locked out due to launch issues and instead be able to ask “why isn’t Valorant working” with solutions instead of frustration.