Why Does Valorant Keep Crashing My PC? (And How to Fix It)

Valorant crashes are a frustrating reality for many players. Several factors can cause these crashes, ranging from outdated drivers and insufficient hardware to software conflicts and corrupted game files. This guide will walk you through the common culprits and provide step-by-step solutions to get you back in the game.

Understanding the Culprits Behind Valorant Crashes

Before diving into fixes, it’s crucial to understand what might be causing Valorant to crash. Here are some of the most common reasons:

  • Outdated or Corrupted Graphics Drivers: This is a frequent offender. Drivers are the software that allows your operating system to communicate with your graphics card. Outdated or corrupted drivers can lead to instability and crashes.
  • Insufficient System Requirements: Valorant has minimum and recommended system requirements. If your PC doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll likely experience performance issues, including crashes.
  • Software Conflicts: Other programs running in the background can conflict with Valorant, causing it to crash. This is especially true for overlay programs, antivirus software, and other games.
  • Overheating: If your CPU or GPU is overheating, it can lead to system instability and crashes. This is more common in older PCs or those with inadequate cooling solutions.
  • Corrupted Game Files: Sometimes, the game files themselves can become corrupted, leading to crashes. This can happen due to interrupted downloads, power outages, or other unexpected events.
  • Hardware Issues: Less commonly, but potentially devastating, faulty hardware components like RAM or the GPU itself can be the source of the problem.
  • Riot Vanguard Interference: Valorant’s anti-cheat system, Riot Vanguard, can sometimes be overly sensitive and cause crashes if it detects a perceived threat.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Valorant Crashes

Now that we’ve covered the potential causes, let’s explore how to fix Valorant crashes. Follow these steps in order, testing the game after each to see if the issue is resolved.

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

  • NVIDIA: Download the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website or through the GeForce Experience application.
  • AMD: Download the latest drivers from the AMD website or through the AMD Adrenalin software.
  • Intel: Download the latest drivers from the Intel website or through the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.

After downloading the drivers, perform a clean installation. This involves uninstalling the old drivers completely before installing the new ones. During installation, choose the “Custom (Advanced)” option and check the box that says “Perform a clean installation.” This will remove any remnants of previous drivers that could be causing conflicts.

2. Verify System Requirements

Make sure your PC meets Valorant’s minimum or ideally, recommended system requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 or AMD Athlon 200GE
  • RAM: 4GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 200
  • OS: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit

Recommended Requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
  • RAM: 4GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 or AMD Radeon R7 240
  • OS: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit

If your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, you’ll need to upgrade your hardware to play Valorant smoothly.

3. Close Background Applications

Close any unnecessary programs running in the background, especially overlay programs like Discord, Overwolf, and Rivatuner. Also close any other games or resource intensive programs. To do this:

  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
  • Go to the “Processes” tab.
  • Identify programs that are consuming a lot of resources (CPU, Memory, Disk).
  • Select the program and click “End Task.”

4. Repair or Reinstall Valorant

Corrupted game files can cause crashes. Try repairing Valorant through the Riot Client:

  • Open the Riot Client.
  • Click on Valorant.
  • Click on the settings icon (gear icon).
  • Click “Repair.”

If repairing doesn’t work, try reinstalling the game completely.

5. Check for Overheating

Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing Valorant. You can use monitoring software like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor. If your components are overheating (typically above 80-90°C), you need to improve your cooling solution.

  • Clean the dust from your PC’s fans and vents.
  • Reapply thermal paste to your CPU and GPU.
  • Consider upgrading your CPU cooler or GPU cooler.

6. Update Windows

Ensure your Windows operating system is up to date. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. Install any available updates.

7. Disable Riot Vanguard (Temporarily)

As a temporary troubleshooting step, try disabling Riot Vanguard. Note: You won’t be able to play Valorant while Vanguard is disabled. This is solely for testing purposes.

  • Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon in the system tray.
  • Click “Exit Vanguard.”
  • Restart your PC.

If Valorant doesn’t crash after disabling Vanguard, it suggests that Vanguard might be the culprit. Try reinstalling Vanguard or contacting Riot Support for further assistance.

8. Run a Memory Diagnostic

Faulty RAM can cause system instability. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check for memory errors.

  • Press the Windows key and type “Windows Memory Diagnostic.”
  • Select “Restart now and check for problems.”

The tool will run a memory test and report any errors.

9. Check Your Hardware

If none of the above steps work, consider checking your hardware components. This might involve testing your RAM with a different PC or using a different graphics card. This is best done by a qualified technician.

Contact Riot Support

If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and Valorant is still crashing, contact Riot Support. They can provide more specific guidance based on your system configuration and the error messages you’re receiving. Provide them with as much detail as possible including your hardware configuration, the steps you’ve already taken, and any error codes.

Conclusion

Valorant crashes can be frustrating, but by systematically troubleshooting the common causes, you can often resolve the issue and get back to enjoying the game. Remember to update your drivers, check your system requirements, close background applications, and monitor your hardware temperatures. Good luck, and happy gaming!