Valorant's download size is approximately 30 GB once fully installed — making it one of the leaner tactical shooters on PC relative to its content. The initial installer you download from the Riot Games website is only around 8 GB, but it expands during installation as all game assets, agent data, and the Vanguard anti-cheat system are written to disk. This guide covers exactly what that space is used for, how to confirm the figure on your own machine, and how to reclaim storage if you're running low.
The quick answer
You need roughly 30 GB of free storage before you start, with Riot recommending at least 32 GB to leave a comfortable buffer for future patches. If you're tight on space, clear at least 35 GB so updates never stall mid-download. The game runs on Windows only and is free to play through the official Valorant website.
What you need to know about Valorant's size
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Section 1: Initial Download vs. Installed Size
The file you grab from the Riot Games launcher is a lightweight installer of about 8 GB. Once you run it, the client downloads and unpacks all remaining assets — maps, agent voice lines, weapon models, skin bundles, and more — bringing the total on-disk footprint to somewhere in the 25–35 GB range. The middle of that range, about 30 GB, is what most players see on a clean install. The size creeps upward after major patches that add new agents, maps, or game modes, but Riot periodically optimizes older assets to keep growth modest.
The installer is only about 8 GB, but the full installation expands to 25–35 GB on disk. -
Section 2: What's Inside the Install Folder
The roughly 30 GB breaks down across four main categories. Core game files — the engine, executable, and map geometry — account for around 18 GB. Agent and skin data (character models, animations, and cosmetic assets) add another 8 GB or so. Map and audio data (environmental textures, music, and sound effects) take up roughly 2 GB. Finally, Vanguard, Riot's always-on anti-cheat driver, adds a small but non-negotiable 1–2 GB footprint. None of these components can be selectively removed — Valorant requires all of them to launch.
Core game files make up the bulk of the install; agent and skin data, maps, and Vanguard fill the rest. -
Section 3: How to Check Your Valorant Install Size
You can verify the exact size on your machine in a couple of ways. The simplest is through Windows Settings: go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps, search for "VALORANT," and Windows will display the size next to the listing. Alternatively, navigate directly to the install folder — usually
C:\Riot Games\VALORANT— right-click it in File Explorer, choose Properties, and the size shown includes every sub-folder. You can also check the install path from within the Riot Client by going to Settings → General, where the install location is listed; the folder's properties reveal the exact byte count.
Find Valorant's exact size via Windows Settings → Apps, or by checking the install folder properties in File Explorer. -
Section 4: How to Free Up Space or Reduce the Footprint
There is no option to install a "lite" version of Valorant — all content is required. However, a few actions can recover gigabytes without uninstalling the game entirely. First, uninstall other Riot titles you no longer play: League of Legends can consume 20+ GB, Legends of Runeterra several more, and each lives in its own separate folder. Second, delete the download cache: navigate to
%localappdata%\VALORANT\Savedand remove the Cache subfolder — it rebuilds automatically. Third, if you're running out of room on your primary drive, reinstall Valorant to a different drive by uninstalling through the Riot Client and choosing a new path on reinstall. Finally, keep the game updated: Riot regularly ships compression improvements alongside new content, so a fully patched install is almost always smaller than a partially updated one.
Clearing the cache, uninstalling unused Riot games, and moving the install to a bigger drive are the fastest ways to recover storage.
Storage tips at a glance
- Set aside 35 GB, not 30. The extra buffer prevents update failures when a major patch lands.
- Use an SSD if you can. Valorant's load times improve noticeably on a solid-state drive over a spinning hard disk.
- Do not delete individual files from the VALORANT folder — the launcher will attempt to re-verify and re-download them, wasting time and bandwidth.
- Vanguard starts with Windows. Its small footprint is always live in the background; this is by design and cannot be disabled while keeping the game functional.
Troubleshooting
The installer says I don't have enough space, but my drive looks large enough
Windows often reserves a portion of drive capacity for system use. Make sure at least 35 GB shows as free in File Explorer, not just total capacity. If you're close to the limit, use Windows Storage Sense or manually delete large files before launching the installer.
The download stalled or the size on disk seems wrong after an update
Open the Riot Client, click the gear icon, and choose Repair. This scans your install for missing or corrupted files and re-downloads only what's needed without touching your settings or in-game progress.
My install is much larger than 30 GB
Old update packages and cached files can accumulate over time. Clear the %localappdata%\VALORANT\Saved\Cache folder and run a Repair from the Riot Client. If the size is still unusually large, a clean reinstall is the most reliable fix.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Valorant to download?
The initial download from the Riot Games website is around 8 GB. Once the launcher installs the full game, the total size on disk reaches approximately 25–35 GB, with 30 GB being the typical figure on a current install.
How many GB is Valorant after installing?
Most players see between 25 and 35 GB on disk after a complete installation, depending on the current patch and any bonus content downloaded. Plan for around 30 GB as a baseline.
Does Valorant take up a lot of storage?
Compared to most modern games, Valorant is reasonably compact. Triple-A titles regularly exceed 100 GB; Valorant's ~30 GB footprint is modest for a game that receives regular content updates.
Can I install Valorant on an external drive?
Yes. During installation the Riot Client lets you choose any drive, including an external USB drive. Performance may vary — a fast USB 3.0 or USB-C SSD is recommended for playable load times.
Does Valorant's size increase with updates?
Generally yes, but only slightly. New agents, maps, and skin collections add a few hundred megabytes each. Riot periodically optimizes older assets, so the growth rate is slower than you might expect over the lifetime of the game.
Wrapping up
Valorant's full download size lands at roughly 30 GB — small enough to sit comfortably alongside other titles on most drives, and well within reach even on budget laptops with 256 GB SSDs. Download the installer from the official Valorant site, ensure you have at least 35 GB free for headroom, and let the Riot Client handle the rest. If you ever need to reclaim space, the cache folder and unused Riot titles are the first places to look.
