Why Does Valorant Keep Crashing? Troubleshooting Guide

Valorant is a highly competitive and engaging first-person shooter, but like any complex software, it’s prone to crashes. A crashing game can be frustrating, especially during a crucial match. The reasons for Valorant crashes are varied, ranging from hardware issues to software conflicts. This guide will walk you through common causes and effective solutions to get you back in the game.

Understanding the Common Culprits

Before diving into solutions, it’s essential to understand why Valorant might be crashing. Here’s a breakdown of the usual suspects:

  • Outdated Drivers: Graphics card drivers are critical for rendering the game correctly. Outdated drivers can lead to instability and crashes.
  • Hardware Incompatibility: Valorant has specific hardware requirements. If your system doesn’t meet these, crashes can occur.
  • Software Conflicts: Other programs running in the background might interfere with Valorant. This includes overlays, antivirus software, and other games.
  • Corrupted Game Files: Damaged or incomplete game files can cause the game to malfunction and crash.
  • Overheating: If your CPU or GPU is overheating, it can lead to system instability and crashes.
  • Network Issues: While less common for direct crashes, unstable internet can sometimes trigger errors that appear as crashes.
  • Riot Vanguard Issues: Valorant’s anti-cheat system, Riot Vanguard, can sometimes cause conflicts or errors leading to crashes.

Troubleshooting Steps: Fixing Valorant Crashes

Now that we know the potential causes, let’s explore the solutions. Follow these steps in order to systematically address the problem.

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers are a primary cause of game crashes. Here’s how to update them:

  • Nvidia: Download the latest drivers from the Nvidia website or use the GeForce Experience application.
  • AMD: Download the latest drivers from the AMD website or use the AMD Radeon Software.
  • Intel: Download the latest drivers from the Intel website or use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.

After updating, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

2. Verify Hardware Compatibility

Ensure your system meets Valorant’s minimum and recommended specifications:

  • Minimum:
    • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 or AMD Athlon 200GE
    • GPU: Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 200
    • RAM: 4GB
    • OS: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
  • Recommended:
    • CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
    • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 730 or AMD Radeon R7 240
    • RAM: 4GB
    • OS: Windows 10 64-bit

If your hardware falls below the minimum requirements, consider upgrading your components.

3. Close Background Applications

Conflicting software can cause crashes. Close unnecessary applications before launching Valorant:

  • Task Manager: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and close any programs you don’t need, especially overlays like Discord or MSI Afterburner.
  • Antivirus: Temporarily disable your antivirus software to see if it’s interfering with the game. Remember to re-enable it after testing.

4. Repair Game Files

Corrupted game files can lead to crashes. Use the Riot Games client to repair Valorant:

  • Riot Client: Open the Riot Games client, navigate to Valorant, and look for the repair option (usually found in the settings menu).
  • Reinstall: If repairing doesn’t work, consider reinstalling Valorant completely.

5. Monitor Temperatures

Overheating can cause crashes. Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures:

  • Monitoring Software: Use software like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to track temperatures during gameplay.
  • Cooling Solutions: If temperatures are consistently high (above 80°C for CPU or GPU), consider improving your cooling solution (e.g., better cooler, reapplying thermal paste).

6. Check Your Internet Connection

Although less frequent, a poor internet connection can contribute to crashes or disconnects. Ensure you have a stable connection.

  • Ping Test: Run a ping test to check your connection stability.
  • Restart Router: Restart your router to refresh your network connection.

7. Troubleshoot Riot Vanguard

Riot Vanguard, Valorant’s anti-cheat system, can sometimes cause issues. Try these steps:

  • Restart Vanguard: Restart your computer, as Vanguard starts with Windows.
  • Reinstall Vanguard: If restarting doesn’t help, reinstall Vanguard through the Riot Games client.
  • Check Compatibility: Ensure Vanguard is compatible with your system (secure boot and TPM 2.0 enabled in BIOS if running Windows 11).

8. Check Event Viewer

The Event Viewer logs system errors and can provide clues about the cause of the crashes.

  • Open Event Viewer: Search for “Event Viewer” in the Windows search bar.
  • Check System and Application Logs: Look for errors related to Valorant around the time of the crashes.

9. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps identify if a background program is causing the crashes.

  • System Configuration: Type “msconfig” in the Windows search bar and open System Configuration.
  • Services Tab: Check “Hide all Microsoft services” and then click “Disable all.”
  • Startup Tab: Click “Open Task Manager” and disable all startup items.
  • Restart: Restart your computer and test Valorant.

If Valorant runs without crashing in a clean boot environment, you can re-enable services and startup items one by one to identify the culprit.

Conclusion

Valorant crashes can be frustrating, but by systematically troubleshooting the potential causes, you can often resolve the issue. Start with the most common solutions, like updating drivers and closing background applications, and then move on to more advanced steps if necessary. Remember to keep your system well-maintained and monitor temperatures to prevent future crashes. With a little effort, you’ll be back in the game in no time.