Gaming · Windows
How To Fix Valorant Stuck & Freeze on Windows 11
Original source date
Answer
First of all, make sure to close Valorant and the Riot launcher. When this is done, open up your Windows settings. Navigate to Display under System. Scroll down and select Graphics, or simply search for Graphics Settings to get here.
Change Valorant Graphics Preference
First of all, make sure to close Valorant and the Riot launcher. When this is done, open up your Windows settings. Navigate to Display under System.

Scroll down and select Graphics, or simply search for Graphics Settings to get here
Scroll down and select Graphics, or simply search for Graphics Settings to get here.

You can change the default GPU settings for applications installed on your Window…
You can change the default GPU settings for applications installed on your Windows PC. Click on Browse, and your file explorer will open up.

Navigate to the drive on which you install Riot Games
Navigate to the drive on which you install Riot Games. In this case, this will be the default C: drive > Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64. Select the Valorant-Win64-Shipping application and click on Add.

This will add the Valorant game process to this list of applications
This will add the Valorant game process to this list of applications. If you cannot find your install location, search for Riot Games in your start menu. Click on Open File Location, which will open the file location for the Riot shortcut. Right-click the shortcut and click on Open File Location again to get to your Valorant game process. Click on Options for Valorant and set the Graphics preference to High performance. This will ensure that your graphics card gets utilized as soon as you launch the game, which will, for most users, fix issues when the game gets stuck while on start-up, and it can also reduce freeze frames while in-game.

Start Valorant as Administrator
Next, return back to the game process in your file explorer under Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64. Right-click the VALORANT application and select Properties.

In the Compatibility tab, check the Disable full-screen optimizations and Run thi…
In the Compatibility tab, check the Disable full-screen optimizations and Run this program as an administrator option before applying your changes. This will ensure that the game has all the necessary permissions to start properly without having Windows services make a change. You can then try to launch Valorant to see if this fixes your problem.

Troubleshoot Network Connection & Disable VPN
If the issue persists, especially while launching the game, then make sure you’re using a reliable network connection. It would be best if you also considered disabling your VPN service, which could prevent you from logging into your game account properly.

Update & Restart Windows
Next, head back to your Windows settings. From here, navigate to the Windows Update tab. Make sure to download and install the latest update before restarting your PC. This will ensure that your OS is not the culprit to your Valorant startup issues.

Update Valorant Graphics Settings
Lastly, you should consider reducing some of your Valorant in-game graphics settings. Follow the short guide below to apply the best settings for your system performance.

Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- Why does Valorant get stuck or freeze on Windows 11?. There are several reasons why Valorant might freeze or get stuck on Windows 11. These can include outdated drivers, insufficient system resources, corrupted game files, or issues with the game's servers.
- What should I do if Valorant continues to freeze or get stuck?. If Valorant continues to freeze or get stuck, you may need to check your system for malware, perform a clean boot, or update your operating system
- How can I prevent Valorant from freezing or getting stuck in the future?. You can prevent Valorant from freezing or getting stuck in the future by ensuring that your system meets the game's requirements, updating your drivers regularly, and clearing temporary files and caches from your system. It's also a good idea to avoid running other programs while playing the game and to keep your computer free from malware.
- Can I play Valorant on Windows 11 with low-end hardware?. Valorant is optimized for low-end hardware, so you should be able to play it on Windows 11 with a system that meets the minimum requirements. However, if you experience lag or poor performance, you may need to upgrade your hardware or reduce the game's graphics settings to improve your gameplay experience.
