Gaming · VALORANT and Riot Vanguard on Windows

Fix VALORANT's System Reboot Required Message

Source-checked 2 September 2026About 15 minutes

Answer

Use Restart from the Windows power menu first; shutting down and turning the PC back on may not complete the same driver restart. After Windows returns, open Riot Client once. If the message remains, install Windows updates and follow Riot's exact Vanguard error instructions. Reinstall Vanguard only through Riot's documented process, then restart again.

Before you continue

Use RestartIt reloads Windows and Vanguard's driver.
Read any VAN codeRiot provides different steps for different Vanguard errors.
Reinstall only VanguardUse Riot's documented removal path before reinstalling the whole game.

Check Vanguard error codes Open Riot's Vanguard removal guide

Use Windows Restart

Save your work, open the power menu, and choose Restart. Do not use Shut down for this first test.

Open Riot Client once

After signing back in, wait for Windows to finish starting, then open Riot Client and launch VALORANT.

Record the exact message

If it returns, capture the entire reboot message and any VAN code. Use that code on Riot's Vanguard page.

Check Vanguard error codes

Install pending Windows updates

Open Windows Update, install required updates, and use Restart again if Windows requests it.

Close conflicting utilities for one test

Exit low-level monitoring, driver-tuning, or virtualization utilities only if the error began after installing one. Keep normal security software enabled.

Reinstall Vanguard through Riot

If Riot's instructions call for it, uninstall Riot Vanguard from Installed apps, restart, launch Riot Client to reinstall it, and restart once more.

Follow Riot's Vanguard removal steps

Collect logs if the reboot loop remains

Run Riot Repair Tool and send the logs, VAN code, Windows version, and completed restart sequence to Riot Support.

Collect VALORANT logs

If it does not work

If Windows cannot complete updates or restarts normally, fix that Windows problem before reinstalling VALORANT.
If the PC is managed by work or school, do not change security or virtualization policy; ask the administrator.
Do not repeatedly start or stop the vgc service without an exact Riot instruction; it can hide the useful error without correcting it.

Sources and verification

Checked against official documentation on 2 September 2026. Scope: VALORANT and Riot Vanguard on Windows.

The written steps follow the current official pages linked below. The saved video is an older walkthrough and may show different labels.