Installing the Riot Games Launcher is the first thing you need to do before you can play Valorant on PC. The launcher — officially called the Riot Client — is a small piece of software that handles downloads, updates, and login for every Riot Games title. Once it is set up you can install Valorant (and any other Riot game) directly from inside it. The whole process takes about five minutes of active time, plus the download.
What you need before you start
- A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC (Valorant does not run on macOS or Linux).
- At least 22 GB of free disk space for the Riot Client and Valorant together.
- A stable internet connection — the game download is several gigabytes.
- Administrator rights on your PC so the installer can run correctly.
How to install the Riot Games Launcher
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Step 1: Visit the official Valorant download page
Open your web browser and go to playvalorant.com. On the page you will see a large Download button. Click it and your browser will start downloading the Riot Games installer (the file is usually named RiotClientInstalls.exe and is around 50 MB). You do not need to create an account before downloading — you will sign in after the client is installed.
Go to playvalorant.com and click DOWNLOAD to fetch the Riot Client installer. -
Step 2: Run the installer and allow it through Windows
When the download finishes, open the file from your browser's download bar or from your Downloads folder. Windows will show a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking whether to allow the app to make changes to your device. The publisher is listed as Riot Games, Inc. — click Yes to proceed. If your antivirus flags the file, this is a false positive; the official installer from playvalorant.com is safe.
Click "Open file" in your browser, then choose Yes on the Windows security prompt to start installation. -
Step 3: Wait for the Riot Client to install automatically
A dark Riot Client Setup window will appear, showing a progress bar as the launcher installs itself. This part is fully automatic — there are no options to configure and no folders to choose. Just leave the window open and wait. On most computers this takes under two minutes. Once it reaches 100%, the Riot Client will open on its own and present you with a login screen.
The Riot Client Setup installs itself automatically — do not close the window while the progress bar is running. -
Step 4: Sign in or create a free Riot account
Once the Riot Client opens, you will see a sign-in screen. If you already have a Riot account (from League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, or any other Riot game), enter your username and password here — the same account works for Valorant. If you are new to Riot Games, click Create account and fill in a username, password, and email address. Creating an account is completely free and takes less than a minute.
Sign in with your existing Riot account or register a new one — it is free and only takes a moment. -
Step 5: Install Valorant from inside the Riot Client
After signing in, the Riot Client shows all Riot games available to you. Click the Valorant icon in the left sidebar. The main area will display the game banner and a large Install button. Click it, confirm the install location if prompted, and Valorant will begin downloading in the background. The game is around 22 GB, so download time depends on your internet speed. When the download finishes the Install button changes to Play — click it and you are ready to compete.
Select Valorant in the Riot Client sidebar and click Install to download the game files.
Tips and things worth knowing
- Keep the client running in the background. The Riot Client starts with Windows by default and keeps your games up to date automatically. You can disable this in the client's Settings if you prefer to open it manually.
- Vanguard anti-cheat installs alongside Valorant. Riot Vanguard is required to play and starts with your PC. If you ever uninstall Valorant, Vanguard is removed with it.
- Play the tutorial first. After launching Valorant for the first time you are guided through a short training range — this is worth completing before your first match since it covers movement, shooting, and ability usage.
- One account, all games. Any Riot games you own — League of Legends, Wild Rift, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra — are all accessible from the same Riot Client with the same login.
- Changing the install directory. By default Valorant installs to your C: drive. If you want to use a different drive, click the small folder icon next to the install path before clicking Install in Step 5.
Troubleshooting common issues
The installer does not open
Right-click the downloaded file and choose Run as administrator. This is the most common fix when the installer appears to do nothing after being double-clicked.
Installation gets stuck or errors out
Temporarily disable your antivirus, try again, and re-enable it afterwards. Some security suites incorrectly block the Riot Client installer. If the problem persists, delete the partially downloaded files in %ProgramData%\Riot Games and run the installer again.
The Riot Client opens but Valorant shows as unavailable
Make sure your Windows version is up to date. Valorant requires Windows 10 version 1903 or later. You can check your version by pressing Win + R, typing winver, and pressing Enter.
Vanguard error on startup
Riot Vanguard requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled in your BIOS. If you see a Vanguard error when launching Valorant, check your BIOS settings to make sure these are turned on.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Riot Games Launcher free to download?
Yes. The Riot Client and Valorant are both completely free. You download the launcher from the official Valorant website at no cost, and Valorant itself is a free-to-play game — you only spend money if you choose to buy cosmetics.
Can I install the Riot Client on Mac or Linux?
No. Valorant and the Riot Client are only supported on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Riot Games has not released a native Mac or Linux version, and Vanguard anti-cheat prevents the game from running through compatibility layers.
Do I need a separate launcher for each Riot game?
No. The Riot Client is a single launcher for all Riot Games titles. Once installed, you can download and switch between Valorant, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, Wild Rift, and other Riot games from the same app.
How long does it take to install Valorant?
The Riot Client itself installs in about one to two minutes. Downloading Valorant's game files (roughly 22 GB) depends entirely on your internet connection — typically 30 minutes on a fast home connection or a couple of hours on a slower one.
What is Riot Vanguard and do I have to install it?
Riot Vanguard is Riot Games' anti-cheat system. It installs automatically when you install Valorant and is required to play. It runs as a kernel-level driver to detect cheating software. If you uninstall Valorant, Vanguard is removed as well.
Ready to play
Installing the Riot Games Launcher is a straightforward five-step process: download the installer from the official site, run it and approve the Windows prompt, wait for the Riot Client to set itself up, sign in or create a free account, and then install Valorant from the client library. From there, hit Play and jump into the tutorial to get your bearings before your first competitive match. For the latest patch notes and updates, check the official Valorant website.
