This document provides a complete, technically accurate procedure for fully removing the Riot Client, Riot Vanguard, and any installed Riot Games titles from a Windows system. It also explains how to clear leftover installation files, cache directories, configuration data, and kernel level components.
Riot Vanguard operates as a kernel level anti cheat driver. It must be uninstalled before removing the Riot Client or any Riot titles. If Vanguard is not removed first, the system will not complete a clean uninstall process.
Phase 1: Uninstall Riot Vanguard (Kernel Level Anti Cheat)
- Open Windows Settings
- Select Apps > Apps and features
- Locate Riot Vanguard in the installed applications list
- Select Uninstall
- Confirm when prompted
- Restart the computer after the uninstall completes
Restarting the operating system is required to fully detach the Vanguard driver from the kernel.
Phase 2: Uninstall Riot Client and Game Installations
A. Remove the Riot Client
- Open Apps and features
- Search for Riot Client
- Select Uninstall and follow the instructions
B. Remove installed Riot Games individually
In Apps and features, locate and uninstall each title separately:
- VALORANT
- League of Legends
- Legends of Runeterra
- Teamfight Tactics
- Any additional Riot titles installed on the system
Uninstalling the Riot Client does not remove the games. Each title must be manually removed.
Phase 3: Delete Remaining Riot Files and Directories
A. Delete the primary installation folder
- Open File Explorer
- Navigate to the main drive (typically C:)
- Delete the following folder if it exists:
C:\Riot Games
If installed to a custom path (for example D:\Games\Riot), delete that directory.
B. Delete configuration, cache, and log data
Step 1: Remove Local AppData directories
- Press Windows Key + R
- Enter:
%localappdata% - Delete the following directories if present:
- Riot Games
- Riot Client
Step 2: Remove Roaming AppData directory
- Press Windows Key + R
- Enter:
%appdata% - Delete the directory:
- Riot Games
Final Removal Checklist
| Phase | Required Action | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | Uninstall Riot Vanguard | Yes |
| Vanguard | Restart system | Yes |
| Client | Uninstall Riot Client | Yes |
| Games | Uninstall all Riot games individually | Yes |
| Cleanup | Delete C:\Riot Games directory | Yes |
| Cleanup | Delete Riot folders from %localappdata% | Yes |
| Cleanup | Delete Riot folders from %appdata% | Yes |
Additional Technical Resources
Below are reference resources that may be useful for advanced troubleshooting, clean reinstall preparation, development environments, or modding workflows.
REFramework (RE Engine modding and scripting framework)
https://reframework.dev
REFramework GitHub repository
https://github.com/praydog/REFramework
Microsoft documentation: Remove apps using Windows Settings
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/desktop/modernize/app-settings
Microsoft documentation: Windows AppData directory explanation
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/knownfolderid
Steam Community threads for Riot uninstall troubleshooting
https://steamcommunity.com/app/2050650/discussions
If your goal is reverse engineering, automation, debugging, or development with RE Engine, REFramework provides runtime scripting, VR integration, memory inspection, and modding interfaces. It is widely used in the game modification community and supports multiple RE Engine titles.
Summary
The steps above fully remove the Riot Client, Riot Vanguard, game binaries, cache content, configuration files, and kernel level components. This procedure is required when troubleshooting system conflicts, resolving Vanguard related driver errors, or performing a clean reinstall.