The Tool Desk
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Identify where the installation fails
Write down the full message and any VAN code before troubleshooting. Note whether the problem happens while downloading, installing a required component, starting Vanguard, or launching the game. Riot documents separate remedies for these cases; a generic stalled download by itself does not identify a cause.
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Fix a required-dependency or Vanguard reboot message
If you see “We couldn’t install a required dependency” or “Vanguard Anticheat has encountered an error, please reboot,” Riot’s recommended path starts with Windows Update and then proceeds to a Vanguard and game reinstall if necessary.
- Open Settings > Windows Update, check for updates, and install available updates. Restart if Windows requests it, then retry the VALORANT installer.
- If the message remains, uninstall Riot Vanguard and VALORANT from Windows’ installed apps, then restart the PC.
- Download the installer again from Riot’s official site and run it by right-clicking the installer and selecting Run as administrator.
- If the same error persists, submit a ticket to Riot Support and include the exact message and the steps you have already tried.
These steps address the dependency and Vanguard reboot messages; they are not a universal remedy for every download that appears stuck.
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Use the fix for the specific Vanguard code
VAN 9002: check Exploit Protection
Riot associates VAN 9002 with Windows Exploit Protection being disabled and says Vanguard requires it to be enabled. Follow Riot’s VAN 9002 Exploit Protection instructions and verify the named setting. Do not disable unrelated Windows security features as a workaround.
VAN 9005: check the security configuration Riot requires
Riot associates VAN 9005 with a security configuration it cannot recognize. Its code-specific guidance covers TPM 2.0, UEFI-compatible firmware, Secure Boot, and Memory Integrity. Follow the VAN 9005 instructions, then restart and retry.
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Firmware menus and setting names vary by PC and motherboard manufacturer. If the instructions require a BIOS/UEFI change, consult your device or motherboard maker’s guidance rather than changing firmware options at random. If VAN 9005 remains, Riot advises contacting support with logs.
Fix the Windows file or path access error
If Windows says it “cannot access the specified device, path, or file,” check the game executable’s compatibility setting before reinstalling:
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- Right-click the VALORANT executable and choose Properties.
- Open the Compatibility tab.
- Make sure Run this program as an administrator is not selected, then apply the change and try again.
Riot lists reinstalling as the next step only if that check does not resolve the access error. Its file and path access guidance describes this Compatibility check.
When a clean reinstall is warranted
A clean reinstall removes more than the game itself, so use Riot’s current instructions for your locale and avoid deleting unrelated folders. Close Riot Client and other Riot processes first. Riot’s uninstall and reinstall guidance describes uninstalling, removing VALORANT and Riot Client folders and local data, restarting, and downloading the client again through RiotGames.com. Follow the page’s exact folder directions; do not remove similarly named folders outside those instructions.
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Escalate with the information support can use
If the relevant steps do not fix the problem, send Riot Support the exact error text or VAN code, your Windows version and build, and a concise list of what you tried. Riot’s support form points Windows users to the Riot Repair Tool (RRT) for collecting logs; attach the resulting logs to the ticket.
For a download that stops without an error, the cited Riot guidance does not establish a universal fix or a current numeric download-size or disk-space requirement. Avoid guessing at requirements or making security and firmware changes without a matching error code; use Riot Support if the download remains blocked.
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