How to Fix VALORANT Not Updating

First, identify what “not updating” means

Do not jump straight to a reinstall. Note the message shown by the Riot Client, whether the progress number changes, and whether other Riot services work. That evidence points to the smallest useful fix.

1. Check whether Riot is deploying a patch or having an outage

Open the official Riot Games service-status page, choose VALORANT and your region, and read active incidents or scheduled maintenance. Then compare the date with Riot's VALORANT patch-notes feed.

Patch notes can be published before every region has finished deployment. If Riot reports maintenance or an incident, changing local security settings will not make the server-side work finish sooner. Wait for the regional notice to clear, then restart the client once.

2. Fully restart VALORANT and the Riot Client

Closing the visible window may leave the Riot Client running in the Windows notification area. Use the client or tray icon's Exit option, then confirm that VALORANT is closed. Reopen the Riot Client normally and give it time to check the installed files.

If the same progress value remains frozen, restart Windows. A reboot releases files held by stale game, client, or Vanguard processes and starts required services in their normal order. Do not repeatedly end random Windows processes; close only software you recognize.

3. Check the install drive and your connection

Leave working room on the install drive

Open Windows Settings, go to System > Storage, and check the drive that contains VALORANT and the Riot Client. An update needs room to download, unpack, verify, and replace files, so the temporary requirement can be larger than the final change. Riot does not publish one reliable size for every patch; do not trust an undated universal figure.

Remove only files and applications you recognize, empty the Recycle Bin if appropriate, and retry. Do not manually delete folders inside the live VALORANT installation as a shortcut.

Test connection stability, not only headline speed

• Pause unrelated large downloads, cloud backups, and high-resolution streams.
• If possible, use a stable wired connection or move closer to the Wi-Fi access point.
• Disconnect a VPN or proxy that you do not need; it can change routing or interfere with a regional service.
• Check whether ordinary websites and the Riot status page load consistently.

If every device on the network is losing access, restart the router according to its manufacturer's instructions or contact the internet provider. If only the Riot Client is affected, continue with the client and Windows checks below.

4. Check supported Windows updates and the Riot Client

VALORANT on PC depends on a supported Windows installation and Riot Vanguard. Compare your machine with Riot's current minimum and recommended PC requirements. Install normal operating-system updates from Windows Settings > Windows Update, then restart.

Keep the Riot Client pointed at the established game installation. If the problem began after moving files or changing drives, use the dedicated VALORANT install-path guide; copying individual game folders while the client is running can leave it looking at an incomplete location.

If the update completed but a Vanguard code appears, follow that code's current instructions. VAN 57 means Vanguard is not running, while the VAN 81 guide covers a different connection-startup failure. Treating every launch error as a failed download can lead to unnecessary reinstall attempts.

5. Reinstall VALORANT only after the basic checks fail

A reinstall is reasonable when Riot reports no incident, Windows and the connection are healthy, there is enough storage, and the client repeatedly fails on the same local files. It is not the first step because the download takes time and may reproduce a server-side or network problem unchanged.

1. Exit VALORANT and the Riot Client completely.
2. Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
3. Uninstall VALORANT using the normal Windows control.
4. Restart Windows.
5. Download the installer from the official VALORANT website and follow Riot's prompts.

Use Riot's current support instructions if it specifically asks you to reinstall Vanguard as part of a displayed Vanguard error. Do not download a repacked client or a third-party “updater.”

6. Collect useful evidence before contacting Riot Support

If the update still fails, record the exact message, the time and timezone, your region, the step where progress stops, the free space on the install drive, and the troubleshooting already attempted. A screenshot of the error is more useful than “it does not work.”

Riot's Riot Repair Tool instructions explain how to collect game and client logs. The tool gathers diagnostic evidence; it is not a promise that clicking it will repair the update. Attach its generated archive to a ticket submitted through official VALORANT Support.

Frequently asked questions

Should I wait when VALORANT says it is updating?

Yes, if disk or network activity continues. The client may be verifying or unpacking files even when the visible percentage changes slowly. If the same value and activity remain unchanged for a sustained period, fully restart the client and then Windows.

How much free space does a VALORANT update need?

There is no dependable single number for every update. The requirement varies with the patch and installed files, and the client may need temporary working space while unpacking. Trust a current storage message from the Riot Client rather than an old size estimate.

Should I disable Vanguard, antivirus, or the firewall?

No. Do not broadly disable security controls or Riot Vanguard to force an update. Check Riot status, restart safely, verify supported Windows updates, and use Riot Support when a security product or Vanguard error is specifically identified.

Will reinstalling erase my VALORANT settings?

Many account settings are associated with Riot's services, but local configuration can still matter. Note important settings before reinstalling. If configuration changes disappear after a successful update, use the separate settings-reset troubleshooting guide.

What if VALORANT will not update on console?

This article's Windows steps do not apply to PlayStation or Xbox. Check Riot status and the console network first, then use that platform's normal game-update and storage controls. Do not attempt PC file or Vanguard fixes on a console.

The shortest reliable path back to the game

Start with Riot status, then fully exit the client, reboot Windows, and check storage plus connection stability. Match any error code to its own instructions. Reinstall only after those checks, and send Riot a log-backed ticket if the same failure returns. That order fixes common temporary problems without exposing the PC to unsafe shortcuts.