Graphics Issue Valorant

Blue Screen (BSOD) When Launching Valorant - Game Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 52 ⚡ Severity: 🔴 High

🎯 Quick Answer

The primary fix is to update your motherboard's chipset drivers and BIOS/UEFI firmware, as the BSOD is most commonly triggered by an incompatibility between Valorant's Vanguard anti-cheat and outdated system firmware.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

A Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) during Valorant launch is a critical system halt error. This error exclusively affects the Windows platform (Windows 10 and Windows 11). The condition manifests after game client version updates, with a notable increase in occurrences following patch 6.0 and subsequent updates. This is a common issue with a high severity impact, as it prevents the game executable from initializing and forces a full operating system restart. The error is directly correlated with the initialization of Riot Vanguard, the game's kernel-level anti-cheat system. Common associated BSOD stop codes include DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION, and KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED, often referencing the vgk.sys driver file.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The system experiences a fatal system error immediately upon the Valorant game client launch. The application terminates during the initial splash screen or at the point of Vanguard initialization, before reaching the main menu. The user observes a standard Windows blue screen error with a corresponding stop code. The operating system initiates an automatic crash dump and forces a full system reboot. Following the reboot, the system operates normally until the next attempt to launch the Valorant executable.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated or corrupted motherboard chipset drivers create a low-level incompatibility with the Riot Vanguard kernel driver (vgk.sys). This causes a memory access violation at the kernel level when Vanguard attempts to load. Why this causes the problem: The kernel driver requires specific, stable interfaces provided by the system chipset; outdated drivers provide unstable or incorrect interfaces. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Secure Boot or Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 is disabled in the system UEFI/BIOS. Vanguard requires these security features to be active for proper initialization in Windows 11 and later versions of Windows 10. Why this causes the problem: The anti-cheat system performs a hardware integrity check at boot; failure to verify these security states can cause a protective halt. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Conflicting kernel-mode software, such as outdated RGB control utilities (e.g., MSI Dragon Center, ASUS Armoury Crate), virtualization tools (VMware, VirtualBox), or certain antivirus suites, intercepts the same system calls as Vanguard. Why this causes the problem: Two kernel-mode drivers attempting to hook the same system service or memory space results in a conflict that triggers a stop error. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A corrupted or outdated Vanguard installation, where the vgk.sys driver file version does not match the expected version for the current game client patch. Why this causes the problem: The game client expects a specific driver API version; a mismatch leads to undefined behavior and system instability. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: System Memory (RAM) instability or overclocking, including enabled XMP/DOCP profiles, creates timing errors that are exposed under the low-level memory access patterns of a kernel driver. Why this causes the problem: Vanguard performs rigorous memory checks; unstable RAM fails these checks, leading to a critical fault. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Windows is not fully updated, missing critical security or kernel updates required for stable kernel-mode driver operation. Why this causes the problem: Kernel drivers depend on specific Windows system files and APIs; outdated OS builds lack necessary patches for driver compatibility.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Update System Firmware and Chipset Drivers

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15-20 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Admin access required, ability to restart into UEFI/BIOS. Steps:

Identify your motherboard manufacturer and model via System Information (run msinfo32).
Visit the manufacturer's support website (e.g., ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Dell) and navigate to the drivers section for your specific model.
Download the latest stable BIOS/UEFI firmware update and the latest chipset driver package for your Windows version.
Install the chipset drivers first. Run the installer as administrator and restart the system.
Follow the manufacturer's precise instructions to update the BIOS/UEFI firmware. This typically involves copying a file to a USB drive and using a built-in update utility.
After the BIOS update, enter UEFI/BIOS setup (usually by pressing Del/F2 during boot) and ensure Secure Boot is Enabled and TPM 2.0 (or fTPM/PTT) is Enabled. Save and exit.
Boot into Windows and launch Valorant.

Technical Explanation: This resolves the most common root cause by ensuring the system's foundational software (chipset drivers and firmware) provides a stable, modern, and secure interface for the Vanguard kernel driver to operate without conflict. Verification: The system boots normally, and the Valorant client launches without triggering a BSOD, proceeding to the main menu.

Solution 2: Perform a Clean Reinstallation of Riot Vanguard

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Admin access required. Steps:

Right-click the Vanguard system tray icon (near the clock) and select Exit Vanguard. If the icon is not present, proceed to step 2.
Open the Windows Start Menu, type Add or remove programs, and press Enter.
Locate Riot Vanguard in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. Confirm the action.
Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\. Delete the Riot Vanguard folder if it remains.
Restart your computer. This is mandatory.
After reboot, locate your Valorant shortcut. Right-click it and select Run as administrator. The client will detect the missing Vanguard and reinstall it automatically with the correct version.

Technical Explanation: This process removes all corrupted or version-mismatched Vanguard files and forces a fresh installation that is guaranteed to match the current game client's requirements. Verification: Observe the Vanguard system tray icon reappear after the game client launch. The game proceeds past the initial splash screen.

Solution 3: Disable Conflicting Kernel-Mode Software

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Admin access required. Steps:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Go to the Startup tab. Disable any entries for peripheral control software (e.g., Corsair iCUE, NZXT CAM, Logitech G Hub), overclocking utilities, or virtualization clients.
Open the Services application (run services.msc).
Locate services related to virtualization (e.g., "VMware Authorization Service", "VirtualBox system service") or intrusive anti-cheat from other games. Set their Startup type to Disabled and stop the service if it is running.
For antivirus software, add the following folders to its exclusion/allow list:

- C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\ - C:\Program Files\VALORANT\ - C:\Riot Games\

Restart the computer and attempt to launch Valorant.

Technical Explanation: This prevents other software from loading into kernel memory or hooking system calls that Vanguard requires exclusive access to, eliminating driver conflict. Verification: The system remains stable during the launch sequence, confirming no third-party driver is causing the fatal conflict.

Solution 4: Test System Memory and Restore Default Clock Speeds

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 30-45 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Willingness to enter UEFI/BIOS. Steps:

Restart the computer and enter the UEFI/BIOS setup.
Locate memory settings (often under "Ai Tweaker", "Overclocking", or "Advanced").
Disable any XMP, DOCP, or EXPO profile. Set memory speed to the default JEDEC standard (often 2133MHz or 2400MHz for DDR4, 4800MHz for DDR5). Save and boot to Windows.
Launch Valorant to test stability. If the BSOD stops, the overclock was unstable.
If the issue persists, conduct a memory test. Open Windows Start, type Windows Memory Diagnostic, and run the tool, selecting Restart now and check for problems.
The system will reboot, test memory, and reboot again. Check the Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) under Windows Logs > System for a source named MemoryDiagnostics-Results to view the test report.

Technical Explanation: Vanguard's low-level operations are highly sensitive to memory timing errors. Restoring stable, default clock speeds removes memory instability as a variable. Verification: Valorant launches without a BSOD with memory at default speeds. A clean memory diagnostic report confirms hardware integrity.

Solution 5: Perform a Clean Boot and Clean Graphics Driver Installation

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: Medium Steps:

Perform a Clean Boot to isolate software conflicts. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
In the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager. Disable all startup items.
Click OK and restart the computer.
Download the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) tool from guru3d.com.
Download the latest graphics driver from NVIDIA or AMD's official site, but do not install it yet.
Boot Windows in Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart in the Start Menu, then navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > press 4).
Run DDU in Safe Mode, selecting the option to clean and restart for your GPU brand.
After the restart into normal Windows, install the previously downloaded graphics driver package using the "Custom (Advanced)" option and check Perform a clean installation.
Attempt to launch Valorant.

Technical Explanation: A Clean Boot eliminates non-Microsoft service conflicts, while a clean GPU driver installation removes corrupted display driver components that can interfere with game initialization. Verification: Valorant launches in the Clean Boot state. If successful, you can re-enable services in msconfig one by one to identify the specific conflict.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain regular updates for motherboard chipset drivers and BIOS/UEFI firmware, checking manufacturer websites quarterly. Configure Windows Update to install updates automatically, including optional driver updates. Avoid using beta or unstable versions of system utility software, particularly those that install kernel-mode drivers. Before applying major Windows feature updates, create a system restore point. Periodically verify that Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 remain enabled in the system firmware. Monitor the integrity of game files through the Riot Client's repair function after each major game patch.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Riot Games Support if all solutions fail and the BSOD persists exclusively with Valorant. Provide the specific BSOD stop code and the memory dump file located at C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP or the minidump files in C:\Windows\Minidump\. Include your full system specifications and the exact sequence of troubleshooting steps already performed. Official support channels are accessed via the Riot Games support website. Escalate to hardware manufacturer support if memory diagnostics fail or if system instability occurs outside of Valorant.