VALORANT typically needs one or two clicks to launch. But if the game decides not to open or begin, the number of clicks may substantially increase.
Various factors might cause VALORANT to fail to launch or open such as blank screens, crashes, or even bugs, sending users right back to their home screens.
In this article, we have explained troubleshooting techniques to quickly fix VALORANT not launching problem on Windows PC.
How To Fix The VALORANT Not Launching?
1. Check System Requirements
Low enough system specifications frequently cause Valorant to launch improperly or not at all. It is still recommended to review the official Valorant system requirements which are mentioned below to make sure there are no issues that are preventing it from opening.
System Requirements | Minimum (FPS 30) | Recommended (FPS 60) | High-End (FPS 144) |
OS | Windows 10/8/7 64-bit | Windows 10/8/7 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
GPU | Intel HD 4000 / Radeon R5 200 | GeForce GT 730 / Radeon R7 240 | GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon R7 370 |
CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 / AMD Athlon 200GE | Core i3-4150 / Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel i5 9400F / AMD Ryzen 5 2600x |
RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
VRAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
HDD | 23 GB | 23 GB | 34 GB |
2. Change Your Computer Resolution
Unsupported desktop screen resolutions can also be a direct or indirect cause of Valorant failing to start, crashing during startup, or crashing at the loading screen. To modify the resolution and resolve the problem, follow the instructions:
- Open the Start Menu and enter Settings.
- Once settings are open, click on System > Display from the left-hand navigation pane,
- Under the Scale & Layout section, click Display Resolution.
- Choose Recommended Resolution, then select OK.
3. Close Background Processes
- Press Ctrl, Shift, and Esc to open Task Manager.
- Choose the task you want to end after clicking on the Processes tab.
- Right-click on that and select End Task from the sub-menu, you can repeat it for each task.
- Once finished, simply restart your PC.
4. Update Windows & Graphics Drivers
Valorant and other games may not run or crash unexpectedly at startup due to an outdated Windows OS or graphics drivers. By upgrading our respective Windows and Graphics drivers, we can quickly solve this.
Related: How To Fix Valorant Freezes PC On Startup?
How To Update Your Windows OS
- Firstly, select Start Menu and then enter Settings.
- Navigate Settings and choose Windows Update from the options on the left side.
- Select Check for Updates, then hold on while it finds and downloads the necessary Windows updates.
- Lastly, click Restart Now when the process has been completed.
How To Update Graphic Drivers
- Firstly, type Device Manager in the search bar and open it by clicking on the first result.
- To open the Device Manager, click on it.
- Next, click on Display Adapter then a sub-menu will appear.
- Find the video driver.
- Then right-click on the name of the graphic card.
- Once you choose Update Driver then the drivers will be updated.
- Restart your system and check if the error is resolved, if not move toward the next solution.
Best Alternate To Update Graphics Driver
Updating the graphics card drivers is a time-consuming task, and if you are a newbie you can end up installing the wrong drivers.
So we recommend downloading Driver Easy software on your PC. This program is a professional system driver updater that automatically scans a PC’s old driver and updates it instantly.
The Driver Easy is an N0.1 software updater tool in its field and for 12 years users have been using it to fix their PC errors.
So download Driver Easy and let it deal with all the system drivers.
5. Run The Game as an Administrator
It may result in problems with the game starting up, crashing during start-up, or even the game not loading, if you’re not operating your video game with administrator privileges. To do so follow the procedure:
- On your PC, locate Valorant.exe and right-click on it.
- From the shortcut menu, select Properties.
- The Compatibility tab will appear.
- Tick the box Run this application as an administrator option by clicking on it.
- To save changes, select OK after clicking Apply.
Verify the Integrity of Game Files
Verifying and fixing the game files with the help of the game launcher may be quite beneficial if, for some reason, your game files end up being corrupted or missing. How to do it:
- Firstly, open Steam and choose Library.
- From the list of installed games, select Valorant with the right click.
- Next, select Properties then Local Files.
- Select Check Game File Integrity.
- You’ll have to wait till the procedure is finished.
- Restart your computer after you’re finished.
- Check Valorant Instance Running in the Background
When Valorant won’t open, it may be because a Valorant process is still active in the background and hasn’t fully terminated after the last session ended and the game was closed. Follow these instructions before launching it:
- Enter Task Manager by clicking Start.
- Click on More Details after opening it, then select the first tab, Processes.
- Selecting End Task from the sub-menu when you see Valorant.exe.
8. Reset Network Settings
Resetting network settings can also assist in resolving the problems with Valorant not starting up, since having poor network settings may be the only reason for Valorant to crash or not start at all when it is unable to establish a stable connection to its servers. Take the following actions to repair it:
- Type Settings into the Start menu.
- In the left-hand navigation pane of Settings, click on Network & Internet.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and select Advanced Network Settings.
- Next, select Network Reset from the More Settings section.]
- Tap Reset Now.
Remember to stop utilizing any VPNs you may be using, since doing so may result in Valorant crashing or failing to launch at all.
9. Delete Configuration Files
Text (.txt) files called configuration files are typically used to store data like resolution, graphics quality, aspect ratio, etc. Invalid, unsupported, or damaged configuration files may also result in Valorant or other games crashing or failing to run. By removing the Valorant configuration files, which will reset them once Valorant is launched once again, you can follow the procedure:
- Launch File Explorer and head to this location: C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local
- Find the Valorant folder, right-click on it, choose Delete, and then click Yes to confirm.
10. Add an Exclusion in Windows Security/Defender
Windows Security/Defender may interact with Valorant and prevent it from running. Either add Valorant as an exclusion in Windows Security/Defender or fully disable the Windows Security/Defender Real-time Protection to see if it resolves the issue. Observe the directions below:
- To access Windows Security from the Start Menu, click the Start Menu button.
- Launch Windows Security, and from the left-hand navigation pane, choose Virus & Threat Protection.
- Select Manage Settings from the menu next to Virus & Threat Protection Settings.
- Next, place your cursor on Add or Remove Exclusion in the Exclusions section of the page at the bottom of the page.
- Select Folder by clicking Add an Exclusion.
- Now, include the following folders in the list of Windows Security Exclusions: C:\Riot Games and C:\Program Files\ Riot Vanguard
11. Launch the Game in Windowed Mode
To see if it helps, try starting the game in Windowed display mode. A PC with ordinary hardware specs may occasionally have several problems when running a game in fullscreen mode.
- Go to Library in the Steam client by opening it.
- Right-click Valorant and then choose Properties.
- Select Set Launch Options under the General heading.
- Then, copy the subsequent command-line argument and paste it: -windowed -no border
- To verify whether Valorant launches successfully or not, be sure to save modifications and try running the game again.
12. Perform a Clean Boot
Performing a clean boot may also help in resolving the issue of VALORANT not launching or opening which you can do by performing these steps:
- To bring up the Run dialog box, use the Windows + R keys together.
- Then press Enter to bring up the System Configuration window after typing MSConfig.
- Click the Services tab and check the box next to Hide all Microsoft services.
- Select Disable all and to save changes, select OK after selecting Apply.
- Select the Startup tab and open Task Manager.
- From the Task Manager window, under the Startup tab, choose specific tasks that are allowed for startup boot then select Disable.
- Pick the starting applications with the most influence and disable them one at a time.
- Restart your computer to implement adjustments when everything is finished.
13. Reset Valorant
- Access the Quick Link Menu by pressing the Windows + X keys.
- Choose Apps and Features then from the list of installed apps, select Valorant.
- Select Reset by clicking on Advanced options now.
- After finishing, restart your computer and attempt to start the game.
14. Reinstall Valorant
If none of the solutions above helped you then you should try reinstalling the Valorant game to see if it solves the problem. Try these procedures to remove Valorant:
- To open the Run box, simultaneously press the Windows logo key and R.
- Enter “control” and hit OK, The Control Panel will be open.
- Choose features and programs.
- To remove Valorant and Riot Vanguard, perform a double-click on each one individually.
- Access the official Valorant website and download the most recent version.
14. Contact Riot Support
If everything else fails, you may try contacting Riot Support and explaining the issue to them while also providing them with system and valorant logs via the Riot Repair Tool (RRR), which will make it easier for them to spot and address the problems.
The Riot support team often responds quickly, generally within 24 hours of receiving your request.