VALORANT not opening? Here’s how to fix launch issues

Launching VALORANT usually requires just one or two clicks, but the number of clicks can significantly increase if the game refuses to open or launch. Unfortunately, spamming the executable doesn’t help in this case, but some workarounds definitely can.

You may fail to launch VALORANT on your PC due to various reasons. If your game is giving you grief before you can even get into the server, here’s how to fix VALORANT when it won’t open.

How to fix VALORANT not opening or launching

End VALORANT and the Riot Client in the task manager

A common reason VALORANT appears to “not launch” for me is the game is technically “running” according to the task manager, but it did not load properly. With the game running in the background, clicking the VALORANT icon won’t get it to work.

Closing down the program and the Riot Client often resolves this issue. Open Task Manager by hitting the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys, and then underneath the Apps section on the main tab, right-click VALORANT and select End Task. Do the same with the Riot Client.

You should be able to re-open the client and VALORANT without a problem.

Run VALORANT as an administrator

Games require quite a few permissions to function. If you don’t have administrative rights on your gaming PC, it can cause games to malfunction since they may not be able to interact with certain parts of your system.

1. Right-click on the icon you use to open VALORANT and select “Run as administrator”
2. Select “Yes” in the window that opens asking for confirmation
3. Try to launch VALORANT

This process may require you to enter a password. Talk with your device’s admin if you don’t know the password.

Restart your PC

If the first step doesn’t help, restarting your PC almost always does. It may take a few minutes of your schedule, but rebooting your system works wonders when it comes to the pesky VALORANT not opening error.

Check VALORANT server status

Sometimes, the problem isn’t anything you can control or fix. A server issue may be what’s blocking VALORANT from running on your PC. If this is the case, there’s nothing you can do except wait.

Here are two spots where you can check to see if VALORANT servers are operating as intended

1. Official VALORANT website
2. Official Riot Games Support account on X (formerly Twitter)

You can also try to use the website Down Detector, but you’ll want to keep in mind that some of the information there can be skewed by trolls that could be submitting server error issues when there are none. But the site is pretty reliable for determining if there’s a massive outage.

Update your graphics card

New driver updates often get overlooked by players. Not only do graphical driver updates ensure your GPU is in top shape for newly released games, but they can also fix new or old bugs.

NVIDIA and AMD cards typically come with a program that lets you update your graphics cards manually or automatically. You can use the Geforce Experience app for NVIDIA graphics cards or the AMD Radeon software for an AMD GPU to update drivers.

If you don’t have either of those programs, you can update your graphics card through the Device Manager.

1. Click the “Start” button on your PC
2. Search for and open the app called “Device Manager”
3. Select the option labeled “Display Adapters” and click on the section that shares its name with your graphics card
4. In the new window that opens, select the “Driver” tab
5. Select the “Update Driver” option
6. Finally, click on “Search automatically for drivers” to update your graphics card

Finally, if you know the exact model of your graphics card, you can search for the most updated version of the driver directly from the NVIDIA or AMD website.

Ensure you meet the minimum requirements

If you have downloaded the game for the first time and are unable to open it, it’s probably best you give your system specs a check for gaps. Here are the minimum requirements your PC will have to meet to run VALORANT:

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 / AMD Athlon 200GE
• RAM: 4 GB
• VRAM: 1 GB
• OS: Windows: 10 (Version 2004 / Build 19041 or higher) or 11 64-bit
• GPU: Intel HD 4000 / Radeon R5 200

Here are the recommended requirements for running VALORANT:

• CPU: Core i3-4150 / Ryzen 3 1200
• RAM: 4 GB
• VRAM: 1 GB
• OS: Windows: 10 (Version 2004 / Build 19041 or higher) or 11 64-bit
• GPU: GeForce GT 730 / Radeon R7 240 

Reduce your PC’s resolution

If you often switch your resolution based on the task you’re performing on your PC, VALORANT may have gotten confused in the process. Even if the game already has its dedicated resolution setting, not matching it while launching VALORANT may cause it to misbehave and fail to open.

1. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop
2. Select “Display Settings”
3. Scroll to the “Display Resolution” option
4. Select either the Recommended resolution or a lower one

Experiment with lower-than-recommended resolutions to see if they make a difference and allow you to open VALORANT.

Make VALORANT a security exclusion

Unfortunately, your computer’s antivirus program might believe VALORANT to be a potential threat, and it could be causing the game to shut down before it can even launch. Leaving your PC vulnerable to threats isn’t ideal, but you can add VALORANT’s files as an exception.

1. Click the Start button on your PC
2. Search for and open the app called “Windows Security”
3. Click on the section labeled “Virus & Threat Protection”
4. Scroll down and click on “Manage Settings”
5. Scroll down again and click on the “Add or remove exclusions” option
6. You’ll then want to “Add an exclusion” and choose to do so by selecting the “Folder” option
7. Find and select the folders where you have VALORANT and the Riot Client installed
8. Attempt to open VALORANT

You can also try disabling your antivirus software entirely, but potentially compromising your computer’s security isn’t ideal.

Reinstall VALORANT

If everything else fails, reinstalling VALORANT is the perfect way to troubleshoot your in-game files since damaged files will be replaced.

1. Click the Start button on your PC
2. Find the VALORANT and Riot Client applications
3. Right-click on them, and select “Uninstall”
4. After they’re gone, head back to Riot’s website and redownload VALORANT

If this doesn’t get the VALORANT to open, you’ll have to submit a ticket to Riot Games Support.

Why is VALORANT not opening on your PC?

Failing to open or launch VALORANT can happen due to various reasons. Your computer might not meet the minimum requirements for running the tac shooter some of the game’s files may be corrupted, your computer’s security settings could be preventing it from opening, your drivers could be out of date, or plenty of other issues. In some cases, you find the Play button to be disabled for no apparent reason.

Diagnosing the exact problem can be tricky, but our workarounds above include every possibility and should be able to help you get back into the race for Radiant in no time.