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Valorant Error Code ✓ Verified Fix

How to Fix Error Code: VAL 51 in Valorant — 2026 Guide

⚡ Quick Fix

Restart your PC completely (not just sleep/hibernate) — this restarts Riot Vanguard's kernel-level driver. If the error persists after a full restart, follow the detailed steps below.

What Causes Error Code VAL 51?

Error Code VAL 51 appears when Riot Vanguard (Valorant's anti-cheat system) fails to initialize properly. Vanguard runs as a kernel-level driver that loads at Windows startup. If it doesn't load—due to a Windows update, a conflicting program, or a corrupted installation—Valorant will refuse to launch and show this error.

This is one of the most common Valorant errors and is almost always fixable without reinstalling the game.

Step-by-Step Fix

1

Restart Your Computer

This is the most effective fix. Vanguard loads as a system driver at boot, so a full restart (not sleep or shutdown → power on) forces Windows to reload all kernel drivers. Click Start → Power → Restart. After your PC reboots, try launching Valorant again.

2

Manually Restart the Vanguard Service

If a restart didn't fix it, the Vanguard background service might be stopped or crashed. Here's how to restart it manually:

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
  3. Scroll down to find "vgc" in the list.
  4. Right-click it and select Restart. If it's stopped, click Start.
  5. Also set its Startup Type to Automatic so it runs on every boot.
3

Check for Windows Updates

Outdated Windows builds can conflict with Vanguard's kernel driver. Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Install any pending updates, then restart and try again.

4

Reinstall Riot Vanguard

If the above steps didn't work, Vanguard's installation may be corrupted. You can reinstall it without reinstalling Valorant:

  1. Open Apps & features in Windows Settings.
  2. Search for "Riot Vanguard" and uninstall it.
  3. Restart your PC.
  4. Launch Valorant — it will automatically re-download and install Vanguard.
  5. Restart your PC one more time after the installation completes.
5

Disable Conflicting Software

Some software can conflict with Vanguard's kernel-level access. Temporarily disable or uninstall:

  • Third-party antivirus (Avast, AVG, Kaspersky, etc.)
  • Virtualization software (VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V)
  • System tweaking tools (Process Hacker, CPU-Z, etc.)
  • Overclocking software with kernel drivers

If Valorant works after disabling one of these, you've found your conflict. You can then whitelist Vanguard in that software's settings.

💎 Pro Tip

To prevent Vanguard errors from happening in the future, make sure your GPU drivers are always up-to-date. Use NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin to enable auto-updates. Also, consider using an SSD for your game installs — faster read/write speeds reduce file corruption and improve load times significantly. A reliable 1TB NVMe SSD can make a massive difference in both stability and performance.

Still Not Working?

If none of the steps above resolved Error Code VAL 51, there may be a deeper system issue. Try these last-resort options:

  • Run a System File Check: Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run sfc /scannow
  • Submit a Riot Support ticket at support.riotgames.com with your system specs and Vanguard logs.