How to Download Valorant on PC: Step-by-Step Installation, Riot Client and Vanguard
Valorant is a free tactical shooter from Riot Games, and anyone can download it. But newcomers often have questions: where to download, why the Riot Client is required, how the Vanguard anti-cheat works and what to do if the game won't install. In this guide we walk through everything step by step — from downloading the client to your first match.
Where to download Valorant
You should only download the game from the official website playvalorant.com — third-party "Valorant launchers" don't exist, and torrent builds may contain malware. The game is distributed through the proprietary Riot Client — the same launcher used for League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics.
Step-by-step installation
Step 1. Go to playvalorant.com and click "Play Free". The site will offer to download the Riot Client installer (a few megabytes).
Step 2. Run the installer. It will download and install the Riot Client — this takes a few minutes and a stable internet connection.
Step 3. Sign in to your Riot account. If you don't have one, registration takes a couple of minutes: an email, a nickname and a password.
Step 4. In the client, select Valorant and click "Install". Choose a folder — you'll need about 40–50 GB of free space.
Step 5. Wait for the game to download (anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours depending on your internet speed) and click "Play".
On first launch the game will install the Vanguard anti-cheat — more on that below. After the tutorial you can jump straight into matches against bots or other newcomers.
What Vanguard is and why it matters
Vanguard is Riot's proprietary anti-cheat, operating at the operating system kernel level. It's one of the reasons Valorant has almost no cheaters at high ranks. Features worth knowing:
- Vanguard launches with the system and runs constantly while installed;
- it requires Windows security services to be enabled (Secure Boot on Windows 11) and TPM 2.0;
- it's incompatible with some third-party software — overlays, cheats and macros;
- you can uninstall Vanguard at any time, but the game won't launch without it.
Conflicts between Vanguard and antivirus software are rare, but if the game won't start — temporarily disable your third-party antivirus and reinstall Vanguard through the client.
Typical installation and launch errors
- VAN 9003 error / TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required — enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in the BIOS (relevant for Windows 11).
- "Vanguard installation error" — run the client as administrator and disable the antivirus during installation.
- Errors 46, 51, 59 — network or server issues: check your connection, restart the router, make sure the game isn't blocked by the firewall.
- Black screen on launch — update your GPU driver and run the game in windowed mode.
- Download stuck at 0% — check free disk space and try changing the download region in the Riot Client settings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Valorant paid?
No, the game is completely free. Only cosmetic skins and the battle pass are paid.
How big is Valorant?
Officially 30+ GB is listed; plan for 40–50 GB of free space with updates.
Can you play without Vanguard?
No, the anti-cheat is mandatory — the game won't even launch without it.
Is Valorant on phones?
There's no mobile version yet. Riot has announced Valorant Mobile, but there's no release date. The game launched on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles in 2024.
Can you download Valorant in Russia?
Yes, the game is officially available: the website and client work, and accounts register from any region.
Conclusion
Downloading Valorant is simple: official website, Riot Client installer, an account and 40–50 GB of free space. The main pitfalls are the Vanguard anti-cheat's requirements (TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on Windows 11) and possible conflicts with third-party software. But if your system meets the minimum requirements, from download to first match will take no more than a couple of hours — and all of it is free.