How to Fix Vanguard Error 57: Riot Vanguard Not Running Issue

Vanguard Error 57 usually means Riot Vanguard isn’t running properly in the background, so VALORANT, League of Legends, or another Riot game can’t complete its anti-cheat checks before launch. The fastest fix is to restart your PC first, then make sure the vgc service is enabled, repair or reinstall Riot Vanguard, and check Windows security requirements like Secure Boot and TPM if the problem keeps showing up.

Quick Answer: Restart your PC, open services.msc, set vgc to Automatic, start the service, then relaunch Riot Client as administrator. If Vanguard Error 57 returns, uninstall Riot Vanguard, restart, open the Riot game again so Vanguard reinstalls, and restart once more before launching the game.

What Vanguard Error 57 Actually Means

Riot’s current Vanguard error documentation lists VAN 57 as Vanguard Not Running. What this means for you: the game client asked Riot Vanguard to verify the system, but the Vanguard background service was stopped, missing, blocked, corrupted, or couldn’t initialize in time.

This error is different from a normal game crash. The game itself may be installed correctly, your Riot account may be fine, and your internet may be working. The failure happens at the anti-cheat layer that starts before the game fully opens. Riot’s Vanguard error codes page recommends restarting first, then reinstalling Vanguard and the game if the issue persists.

You might see this error after a Windows update, a failed Riot Client update, a forced shutdown, an aggressive antivirus cleanup, or after disabling startup services while troubleshooting another issue. If you recently cleaned up a game installation, the same careful approach used in this game uninstall guide applies here too: remove the right components, restart at the right time, and don’t delete random system files.

Before You Start: Confirm the Exact Error

First, check whether the message says VAN 57, VAL 57, or another Vanguard-related code. They sound similar, but Riot documents them differently. VAN 57 is the one tied to Vanguard not running. Some VALORANT client errors use VAL codes and may point to login, session, or client initialization issues instead.

If your message specifically says Vanguard is not running, continue with the steps below in order. Don’t jump straight into BIOS settings unless the simpler Windows-side fixes fail.

How to Fix Vanguard Error 57 Step by Step

The cleanest way to fix Vanguard Error 57 is to work from least disruptive to most disruptive. Restarting and re-enabling the service takes a minute. Reinstalling Vanguard takes longer. BIOS and Windows security checks should come after that unless the error clearly mentions Secure Boot, TPM, or compliance.

1. Restart Your PC Properly

Start with a real restart, not a shutdown followed by power on. Windows Fast Startup can preserve parts of the previous session, while a restart gives services and drivers a cleaner reload.

1. Close VALORANT, League of Legends, Riot Client, and any Riot-related tray icons.
2. Press Start → Power → Restart.
3. After Windows loads, wait 30–60 seconds before opening Riot Client.
4. Launch your Riot game again and check whether the error returns.

This sounds basic, but it’s also Riot’s first recommendation for VAN 57. Vanguard loads early and depends on a service-driver chain. If that chain got stuck during a previous boot, a clean restart may be enough.

2. Start the Riot Vanguard Service Manually

If the restart doesn’t work, check the vgc service. This is the Riot Vanguard service that Windows should be able to start automatically.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. Find vgc in the services list.
4. Double-click it.
5. Set Startup type to Automatic.
6. Click Start if the service is stopped.
7. Click Apply, then OK.
8. Restart your PC again and launch Riot Client.

If vgc starts successfully, you should usually be able to open the game after the reboot. If it stops again immediately, something is blocking or corrupting Vanguard, so continue with the next fixes.

3. Use Command Prompt to Check and Start vgc

If you prefer a direct check, use an elevated Command Prompt. This is also useful when Services opens slowly or the buttons are greyed out.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type cmd.
3. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
4. Run these commands one by one:

sc query vgc
sc config vgc start= auto
net start vgc

If the command returns that the service is already running, restart Riot Client and try again. If you see an access denied message, you didn’t open Command Prompt as administrator. If Windows says the service doesn’t exist, Riot Vanguard is missing or broken and needs to be reinstalled.

4. Enable Vanguard at Startup

Vanguard normally needs to start with Windows. If it was disabled from startup while you were optimizing boot time, cleaning apps, or testing startup programs, the game may keep throwing Error 57.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup apps tab.
3. Look for Riot Vanguard or related Riot startup entries.
4. If disabled, select it and click Enable.
5. Restart your PC.

Don’t disable Vanguard startup if you actively play Riot games. It may look like an optional startup item, but the game expects the anti-cheat component to be available when you launch.

5. Run Riot Client as Administrator

Sometimes the service is present, but Riot Client doesn’t have the permissions it needs to repair, update, or trigger Vanguard correctly. Running the client as administrator can help during troubleshooting.

1. Close Riot Client completely from the system tray.
2. Open the Start menu and search for Riot Client.
3. Right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
4. Let it check for updates.
5. Launch the game from inside Riot Client.

If the game opens after this, the underlying install may be fine. Still, restart once more and test a normal launch. You don’t want to rely on admin mode forever if a service setting or startup entry was the real issue.

6. Update Riot Client and the Game

A partially updated Riot Client can leave Vanguard in a mismatch state. Open Riot Client directly, let it sit for a minute, and allow all pending updates to complete before pressing Play.

Also avoid launching the game from an old shortcut while the client is updating. Use the Riot Client entry from the Start menu so you know the current launcher is running.

1. Open Riot Client.
2. Sign in if needed.
3. Wait for game or client updates to finish.
4. Close Riot Client.
5. Restart Windows.
6. Open the game again.

If the issue started right after a failed update, this step is especially important. Similar to Windows update failures covered in this Windows update fix, partial patch states can cause symptoms that look unrelated until the update process completes cleanly.

7. Uninstall and Reinstall Riot Vanguard

If vgc is missing, won’t start, or keeps stopping after every reboot, reinstall Riot Vanguard. This is safer than manually deleting files from Program Files.

1. Close Riot Client and the game.
2. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
3. Search for Riot Vanguard.
4. Choose Uninstall.
5. Restart your PC.
6. Open VALORANT, League of Legends, or your Riot game again.
7. Allow Riot Client to reinstall Vanguard.
8. Restart your PC again when prompted.

That second restart matters. Vanguard isn’t a normal lightweight launcher plugin; it includes components that load early with Windows. If you reinstall it and immediately try to play without rebooting, Error 57 can return because the service-driver chain hasn’t fully initialized yet.

8. Reinstall the Riot Game if Vanguard Still Fails

Riot’s official guidance for persistent VAN 57 includes uninstalling Vanguard and the game, then performing a fresh reinstall. Do this only after the service-level steps above fail.

1. Uninstall Riot Vanguard from Windows Settings.
2. Uninstall the affected Riot game.
3. Restart Windows.
4. Download the latest installer from Riot’s official website.
5. Install the game through Riot Client.
6. Restart again after Vanguard installs.
7. Launch the game and test.

If you have limited disk space, clean temporary files before reinstalling. Avoid third-party “driver cleaner” or “registry cleaner” tools for this. They often remove more than they should, and anti-cheat services are particularly sensitive to broken permissions and missing service entries.

Check Windows Security Requirements

If Vanguard Error 57 keeps returning after a clean Vanguard reinstall, look at Windows security and firmware requirements. Riot’s Vanguard restriction guide documents requirements and checks around UEFI, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, IOMMU, and memory integrity for supported systems.

Check Secure Boot and BIOS Mode

On Windows 11 especially, Riot Vanguard may require Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be correctly enabled. Even if Error 57 doesn’t explicitly say VAN 9001 or VAN 9003, broken firmware security settings can create confusing Vanguard launch problems.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter.
3. Look for BIOS Mode.
4. Look for Secure Boot State.

Check TPM 2.0

To check TPM status:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type tpm.msc and press Enter.
3. Look for Status and Specification Version.

You want to see that TPM is ready for use and that the specification version is 2.0. If TPM is disabled, you usually need to enable it in BIOS/UEFI. The exact name varies by motherboard. Intel systems may call it PTT, while AMD systems may call it fTPM.

Riot’s Windows 11 Vanguard troubleshooting page specifically connects Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 problems with Vanguard launch failures on Windows 11.

Check Memory Integrity and Virtualization Features

Riot’s newer Vanguard restrictions also reference virtualization-related protections like HVCI/VBS Memory Integrity. On some systems, these settings are required or interact with Vanguard’s compliance checks.

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Go to Device security.
3. Open Core isolation details.
4. Check Memory integrity.
5. Restart if Windows asks you to.

If Windows says Memory Integrity can’t be enabled because of incompatible drivers, update those drivers from the manufacturer rather than deleting driver files manually. GPU, chipset, storage, and RGB/control software drivers are common places to check first.

Repair Windows System Files if the Service Won’t Start

If vgc fails with unusual Windows service errors, or if other apps and services are also acting strangely, repair Windows system files before reinstalling everything. Microsoft’s System File Checker guidance recommends running DISM first, then SFC.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Run DISM:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

3. After DISM completes, run SFC:

sfc /scannow

4. Restart your PC.
5. Try starting vgc again.

This won’t directly “fix Vanguard” in every case, but it can repair the Windows component store and protected system files that services depend on. If you’re also seeing Windows file errors, broken updates, or missing system tools, compare the symptoms with this Windows file error guide before assuming Riot alone is responsible.

Check for Software Conflicts

Security tools, debloat scripts, startup optimizers, overlay apps, and low-level hardware utilities can interfere with Vanguard. The goal isn’t to disable your protection permanently. The goal is to test whether another program is blocking Vanguard from starting.

Common Conflict Sources

• Third-party antivirus tools: Check quarantine history and exclusions if Vanguard files were removed or blocked.
• System optimizer apps: Some tools disable startup services aggressively to reduce boot time.
• Overlay tools: FPS counters, capture tools, RGB utilities, and tuning software can occasionally collide with anti-cheat systems.
• Virtual machines or emulation layers: Riot documents some Vanguard errors around running games from virtualized environments.
• Old drivers: Outdated chipset, storage, or security drivers can break Windows security features that Vanguard checks.

Try a Clean Boot for Testing

Microsoft’s clean boot process is useful when you suspect a background program but don’t know which one. Use it as a temporary diagnostic step, not as a permanent setup.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
3. Go to the Services tab.
4. Check Hide all Microsoft services.
5. Disable non-essential third-party services, but avoid disabling Riot/Vanguard while testing this issue.
6. Open Task Manager’s Startup apps tab and disable non-essential startup apps.
7. Restart and test the game.

If Vanguard works after a clean boot, re-enable services in small groups until the error returns. That helps you identify the conflicting program without guessing.

What Not to Do While Fixing Vanguard Error 57

Vanguard runs at a low level, so rough cleanup methods can make the issue worse. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Don’t delete random Riot folders manually before using the official uninstall option.
• Don’t disable Secure Boot or TPM to “test” Vanguard on Windows 11 unless you know exactly why you’re doing it.
• Don’t run unknown registry fixes from forums or video descriptions.
• Don’t use cracked game clients or modified launchers; they can trigger anti-cheat problems and account risks.
• Don’t ignore repeated service failures if other Windows services are failing too; that may point to a wider Windows issue.

If your PC is generally unstable while gaming, display issues and driver problems can also make troubleshooting harder. For example, if the game launches but looks wrong or feels smeary afterward, this monitor ghosting fix is a separate display-side troubleshooting path, not a Vanguard fix.

Advanced Checks for Persistent VAN 57

If you’ve already restarted, re-enabled vgc, reinstalled Vanguard, checked Secure Boot/TPM, and repaired Windows files, use these deeper checks before opening a Riot support ticket.

Check Event Viewer

Event Viewer can show whether vgc is failing because of permissions, missing files, driver load errors, or another service dependency.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Open Event Viewer.
3. Go to Windows Logs → System.
4. Look for errors around the time you tried to start the game.
5. Search for entries mentioning vgc, vgk, Riot Vanguard, or service control failures.

You don’t need to understand every event. You’re looking for repeated, time-matched errors. If the same service failure appears every time you launch the game, include that detail when contacting support.

Check Windows Updates and Drivers

Install pending Windows updates, then update chipset and GPU drivers from the official manufacturer sources. Vanguard problems can appear after major Windows builds, firmware changes, or driver updates that leave security features in a half-working state.

1. Open Settings → Windows Update.
2. Install pending updates.
3. Restart.
4. Update GPU drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
5. Update chipset drivers from your motherboard or laptop vendor.

For laptops, prefer the manufacturer support page if the device uses customized firmware or hybrid graphics. For desktops, use your motherboard vendor for BIOS/chipset updates and your GPU vendor for graphics drivers.

Check Whether You’re Running Inside a VM

Riot’s error documentation includes Vanguard errors for virtual machine environments. If you’re trying to run a Riot game inside a VM, cloud PC, nested virtualization setup, or heavily modified Windows instance, Vanguard may refuse to run. Install and play on a normal supported Windows installation instead.

When to Contact Riot Support

Contact Riot Support if all of the following are true:

• You restarted the PC more than once.
• vgc is set to Automatic but still fails.
• You fully uninstalled and reinstalled Riot Vanguard.
• You reinstalled the Riot game if needed.
• Secure Boot, TPM, and Windows security requirements look correct.
• DISM and SFC don’t find unresolved Windows corruption.

Before submitting a ticket, collect useful details. Include your Windows version, the exact error code, when it started, whether vgc exists, what happens when you run net start vgc, and any Event Viewer errors that mention Vanguard. That gives support something actionable instead of forcing them to start from the basic restart script.

Final Thoughts

Vanguard Error 57 is usually fixable because it points to a clear problem: Riot Vanguard isn’t running when the game expects it. Start with a proper restart, then check the vgc service, enable Vanguard at startup, run Riot Client as administrator, and reinstall Vanguard if the service is missing or broken.

If the error keeps returning after a clean reinstall, widen the troubleshooting path. Check Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, Memory Integrity, Windows system files, drivers, and possible software conflicts. The right fix depends on where the chain breaks, but working in this order keeps you from making risky BIOS or registry changes before you’ve ruled out the simple causes.