Running Valorant on Windows 11 isn’t exactly rocket science, but still, a few things can get in the way—like outdated drivers, certain system settings, or the wrong installation process. It’s kind of weird, but sometimes, even if your PC meets the specs, the game just refuses to launch properly. Or maybe it crashes right after startup. The good news is, most problems are fixable with some basic tweaks. This guide walks through practical steps that have worked for folks in similar situations, so if Valorant isn’t playing nice, here’s what to try.
How to Fix Valorant Running Issues on Windows 11
Method 1: Make sure your system is fully updated and ready to run Valorant
It’s pretty basic but surprisingly overlooked. Windows 11 needs to have all the latest updates, especially security patches and performance fixes, otherwise, it can cause weird compatibility issues with newer games like Valorant. So, check your Windows update status: Open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. While you’re at it, double-check your graphics drivers—because outdated drivers are the main culprits behind graphical glitches or crashes.
You can update your GPU drivers by heading over to NVIDIA’s driver download page or AMD’s drivers site. Install the latest version—sometimes it’s just a matter of a quick click, but on some setups, a clean install option is best to get rid of old, conflicting files. On my own machine, updating drivers fixed a lag spike issue I’d been fighting for weeks.
Method 2: Confirm your hardware meets the game’s requirements and tweak game settings
Ensuring your hardware is not under specs is obvious but worth double-checking. Riot’s minimum is usually 4GB RAM, Intel i3-370M or better, and a decent GPU. But if you’re borderline, setting the game to low or medium graphics helps avoid lag or crashing, especially if your system runs hot or has low VRAM. To tweak your in-game settings, launch Valorant, go into Settings > Video tab > Lower the graphics quality. Also, close any background apps—because Windows loves to run a million processes that steal RAM and CPU cycles when you’re trying to get your game up and running.
Method 3: Adjust Windows 11 settings for better compatibility
This is where some people get caught off guard. Windows 11’s automatic app permissions might block Valorant’s launcher or Vanguard, Riot’s anti-cheat system. To prevent that, head to Settings > Privacy & Security > App permissions > Files and folder access and make sure Valorant and Riot client are allowed to access your files. Also, disable Automatic app updates temporarily—sometimes Windows Update can interfere with game installs or file permissions.
Next, enable Game Mode: Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Turn on Game Mode. This tells Windows to prioritize gaming processes, which can boost frame rates a little. On my last setup, toggling Game Mode made a noticeable difference in stability during multiplayer matches.
Method 4: Run Valorant as administrator and disable overlays
Kind of weird, but running the game with admin rights can prevent some startup issues. Right-click the Valorant shortcut or exe file, choose Properties > Compatibility > Run this program as administrator. Also, disable overlays like Steam, Discord, or NVIDIA GeForce Experience overlay—because these can sometimes conflict with Vanguard, causing Valorant to crash or not launch at all.
On some machines, this step alone fixes the launch problem. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary for some apps to get the permissions they need.
Method 5: Reinstall Valorant and clear cache if nothing else works
If all else fails, uninstall Valorant, then delete leftover files—these are usually in C:\Program Files\Riot Games\ or similar. Also, clear the Riot Client cache by deleting the folder in %localappdata%\Riot Games\. Then install everything fresh from the official Valorant website. Sometimes, corrupted files or incomplete installs cause issues, and a clean install just resets everything. On one setup it worked the first time, on another it took multiple reinstalls, so don’t give up if it’s stubborn.
All these fixes are aimed at making sure your game has the best shot at running smoothly on Windows 11, especially if you hit weird bugs or startup errors. Not sure why it works, but these steps seem to cover most common issues—mainly driver updates and permissions.