Uninstall Riot Client? Steps & What Happens

Yes, you can uninstall Riot Client, but doing so will also remove every Riot game installed on your PC, including VALORANT and League of Legends. The Riot Client is the mandatory launcher for all Riot Games titles, so uninstalling it removes the games themselves, not just the launcher shell. This article explains exactly what the Riot Client does, how to uninstall it properly, what happens to your accounts and settings, and how to reinstall it later if you change your mind.

What Is the Riot Client?

The Riot Client is a unified game launcher introduced by Riot Games in 2020 to replace the separate launchers for League of Legends, VALORANT, and other Riot titles. Before it existed, each game had its own updater and login screen. The Riot Client centralizes game installation, updates, patches, and account login into a single application. When you install VALORANT or League of Legends today, the Riot Client is installed first, and the game files are then managed through it.

It also handles background services like the Riot Vanguard anti-cheat system (used by VALORANT) and the Riot Games service that keeps game processes running. Unlike Steam or Epic Games Store, the Riot Client only manages Riot’s own games—you cannot add third-party titles to it.

How to Uninstall Riot Client on Windows

Uninstalling the Riot Client is straightforward, but you must be aware that it removes all Riot games in the same uninstall action. Here are the steps for Windows 10 and Windows 11:

1. Close the Riot Client completely. Check the system tray (bottom-right corner) for the Riot icon, right-click it, and select “Exit.” Also make sure no Riot game is running in the background.
2. Open the Start menu and type “Add or remove programs” (or go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps).
3. Search for “Riot Client” in the list. You will also see entries for each Riot game (e.g., VALORANT, League of Legends).
4. Click the three-dot menu next to “Riot Client” and select “Uninstall.” Windows will ask for confirmation.
5. Follow the uninstaller prompts. The Riot Client uninstaller will ask if you want to remove all Riot Games titles. If you confirm, it deletes the games and the client.
6. After the uninstaller finishes, restart your PC to ensure all background services (including Riot Vanguard) are fully removed.

If you only want to remove one game but keep the client, you should uninstall that specific game from the same “Add or remove programs” list instead of uninstalling the Riot Client itself.

What Happens to Your Games and Accounts?

Uninstalling the Riot Client deletes the local game files for every Riot title installed. Your account, in-game purchases, skins, ranks, and settings are not stored locally—they are tied to your Riot ID and saved on Riot’s servers. This means you will not lose your progress, but you will need to re-download the entire game (often 20–80 GB) if you reinstall later.

Your Riot account itself remains active. You can still log in to the Riot website, manage your account, and change your password. Uninstalling the client does not delete or ban your account. However, you will not be able to launch any Riot game until you reinstall the client.

Why You Might Want to Uninstall It

There are several legitimate reasons to remove the Riot Client:

• Freeing up disk space: VALORANT alone can take up 30–50 GB, and League of Legends about 20–25 GB. Removing them can free significant storage.
• Performance issues: The Riot Client runs background services that consume RAM and CPU even when you are not playing. On low-spec PCs, this can slow down other tasks.
• Vanguard anti-cheat: VALORANT’s anti-cheat runs at system startup and is always active. Some users prefer to remove it for privacy or performance reasons.
• Taking a break: If you are quitting a Riot game for a while, uninstalling frees up space and removes the temptation to open the launcher.

There is no subscription fee or cost to uninstall and reinstall later—the client and games are free to download again from the official Riot website.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Users often run into issues during or after uninstallation. Here are the most common ones:

• “Riot Client is still running” error: The uninstaller may refuse to run if background processes are active. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), look for processes named “RiotClientServices.exe” or “RiotVanguard.exe,” right-click them, and select “End task.” Then try uninstalling again.
• Leftover folders: After uninstalling, you may find leftover folders in C:\Riot Games or C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard. You can delete these manually, but restart your PC first to ensure no files are in use.
• Vanguard not fully removed: Riot Vanguard is a separate driver that may remain after the client is gone. To remove it, go to “Add or remove programs,” find “Riot Vanguard,” and uninstall it. If it fails, restart and try again.
• Reinstall issues: If you reinstall later and get an error about a corrupted installation, delete the leftover Riot Games folder and the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games (if present) before reinstalling. Do not edit the registry unless you are comfortable doing so.

How to Reinstall the Riot Client

If you uninstall and later want to play again, reinstalling is simple:

1. Go to the official Riot Games website (riotgames.com) and download the Riot Client installer for your region.
2. Run the installer. It will download the client and then prompt you to install the specific game you want (e.g., VALORANT or League of Legends).
3. Log in with your existing Riot account. Your skins, ranks, and settings will be restored automatically.
4. Wait for the game files to download. The download size depends on the game, and your download speed determines the wait time.

There is no limit to how many times you can uninstall and reinstall. Your account data is never deleted by uninstalling the client.

Alternatives and Final Considerations

There is no official alternative to the Riot Client—it is the only way to launch Riot games on PC. Some third-party tools claim to bypass the launcher, but they violate Riot’s terms of service and can result in account bans. The only safe alternative is to not install Riot games at all, or to play on a different platform (e.g., League of Legends on mobile via Wild Rift, which uses a different launcher).

Before uninstalling, consider whether you might want to play again soon. Re-downloading a 50 GB game can take hours on slower connections. If you are only trying to free up space, you might instead uninstall just the game you are not playing, keeping the client for future use. If you are sure you want to remove everything, follow the steps above and restart your PC afterward to ensure all background services are gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Riot Client delete my VALORANT account?

No. Your account is stored on Riot’s servers, not on your PC. Uninstalling the client only removes local game files. Your account, rank, skins, and purchase history remain intact and will appear when you log in again after reinstalling.

Can I uninstall Riot Client but keep League of Legends?

No. League of Legends requires the Riot Client to launch and update. If you uninstall the client, the game becomes unplayable. To keep the game, you must keep the client installed.

Does uninstalling Riot Client remove Vanguard?

Not always automatically. The Riot Client uninstaller may leave the Riot Vanguard anti-cheat driver behind. You should uninstall “Riot Vanguard” separately from “Add or remove programs” to ensure it is fully removed.

Why does Riot Client run in the background even when I’m not playing?

The Riot Client starts background services to enable quick game launches and to run the anti-cheat system. You can disable its startup in Task Manager (Startup tab) to prevent it from launching with Windows, but some services may still run after you open the client once.

Is it safe to delete the Riot Games folder manually?

After uninstalling through the official uninstaller, you can delete any leftover folders. However, do not delete the folder before running the uninstaller—this can leave registry entries and cause errors. Always use the official uninstall process first.

Will I lose my settings and keybinds if I uninstall?

Most game settings, like keybinds and video options, are stored in local config files. Uninstalling will delete those files, so you will need to reconfigure them after reinstalling. Account-level data like rank and skins are safe, but local settings are not backed up automatically.

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