8 Best Ways to Fix Valorant Taking So Long to Load
Last Update: 05/31/2024

Riot Games' tactical first-person shooter, Valorant, combines fast-paced gunplay with unique agent abilities. Players form two teams and engage in intense 5v5 battles, with one team attacking and the other defending. The game's strategic depth, diverse agents, and precise shooting mechanics have made it a favorite in the competitive gaming scene.

However, like many games, Valorant has its share of problems. Players often experience long loading times or errors preventing the game from opening, leading to frustration and disrupted gameplay.

This article offers detailed solutions to address the issue of why does Valorant take so long to load.

Part 1: Why Is Valorant Not Opening on Your PC?

Part 2: 8 Best Ways to Fix Not Openning or Launching Issues

Part 3: Best Solution to Ensure Valorant Gaming Experience

Why Is Valorant Not Opening on Your PC?

Valorant, a popular tactical shooter, often sees players reporting startup issues on Reddit and help forums. One Reddit user mentioned, "When I click 'play' in Riot Client, the button turns gray as if it's launching, but after a few seconds, it lights up again, and Valorant doesn't start. There's no error message or anything." This issue prevents players from running Valorant on Windows PCs. 

Here are some common reasons for Valorant not launching on Windows 11/10 PCs:

1. Outdated Graphics Drivers:

Incompatible or outdated graphics drivers can prevent the game from launching.

2. Corrupted Game Files:

Corrupted or missing game files can cause startup issues.

3. Conflicting Background Programs:

Other software running in the background, especially those with overlays or security features, can interfere with Valorant.

4. Permissions Issues:

Lack of administrative privileges might block Valorant from running properly.

5. Outdated Windows Version:

An outdated operating system can cause compatibility problems.

6. Vanguard Anti-Cheat Problems:

Issues with Riot's anti-cheat software, Vanguard, can prevent the game from launching.

7. Firewall or Antivirus Block:

Security software might mistakenly identify Valorant as a threat and block it.

8 Best Ways to Fix Not Openning or Launching Issues

To resolve the issue of not opening in Valorant, let's delve into the detailed solutions to fix it.

1. Set New Valorant Compatibility Settings

Some players have resolved Valorant not launching by changing compatibility settings to disable fullscreen optimization and running the game as an administrator. This can be a good starting point for troubleshooting. Follow these steps to adjust those settings.

  • Right-click the Valorant shortcut on your desktop and select Properties.
  • Go to the Compatibility tab to access configuration settings.
  • Check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
  • Also, check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
  • Click Apply to save the changes.
  • Press OK to close the properties window.

2. Restart or Start the VGC Service

  • To activate the Run command, hold the Windows key and press R.
  • Type services.msc into the Run box and click OK.
  • In the Services app, double-click the VGC service.
  • If the VGC service is running, click Stop.
  • Set the Startup type to Automatic if it isn't already.

  • Click Start in the General tab to restart the VGC service.
  • Click Apply and then OK to exit the VGC Properties window.
  • If VGC isn’t running, start the service by selecting Automatic for startup and clicking the Start button.
  • Reboot Windows after starting or restarting the VGC service.

3. Add the VGC Service to the Windows Startup

The VGC service required for Valorant won’t start automatically if it’s not included in Windows startup. Ensure the service is enabled in the Services tab of the MSConfig utility. Here’s how to add the VGC service to startup:

  • Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows key + R.
  • Type msconfig in the Open box and click OK to access the System Configuration utility.
  • Go to the Services tab in MSConfig.
  • Check the box for the VGC service.
  • Click Apply to save the new service settings.
  • Click OK to exit the System Configuration window.
  • When prompted, select Restart to reboot your computer.

4. Rename the Riot Games Private Settings File

  • Open the Run app by pressing the Windows key + R.
  • Type %localappdata% into the Open box and click OK.
  • Navigate to the Riot Games > Riot Client > Data folders.
  • Right-click the RiotGamesPrivateSettings.yaml file and select Rename.

  • Add .1 to the end of the file name, changing it to RiotGamesPrivateSettings.yaml.1.
  • Press Enter and click Yes to confirm the rename.

5. Change Your PC’s Display Resolution

Display resolution settings can sometimes cause Valorant startup issues, especially if your PC’s graphics card is old. Try reducing the Windows display resolution as follows:

  • Press the Windows key + S to open the file finder tool.
  • Type display resolution in the search box.
  • Click Change the resolution of the display to open graphic options.
  • Choose a slightly lower resolution from the Display resolution drop-down menu.

  • Click Keep changes to confirm the new resolution.

6. Install the Latest Graphics Card Driver

  • Identify Your Graphics Card

Press Win + X, select Device Manager, expand Display adapters, and note the graphics card model.

  • Visit Manufacturer's Website
  • Download the Correct Driver:Select your graphics card model and operating system, then download the latest driver.
  • Install the New Driver: Run the downloaded installer, follow the instructions to complete the installation, and restart your computer if prompted.

7. Configure VALORANT to Use a High Performance GPU

Windows allows you to configure graphics performance settings for applications. Follow these steps to ensure VALORANT is set to use the best graphics performance:

  • Open Graphics Settings

Activate the Windows search box and type "graphics settings."

Select `Graphics settings` from the search results.

  • Choose Desktop App

In the `Choose an app to set preference` drop-down menu, select `Desktop app`.

Click `Browse` and navigate to the `VALORANT-Win64-Shipping.exe` file located in the `Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64` folder.

  • Set High Performance

Press the `Add` button to add VALORANT.

Click the `Options` button for VALORANT.

Select `High Performance` and click `Save`.

By following these steps, VALORANT will be configured to run with the high performance GPU.

8. Disable Antivirus Shields

Some Valorant players have reported that turning off their antivirus shields can resolve the issue of the game not starting. Try disabling real-time protection and then run Valorant again to see if it launches successfully.

Best Solution to Ensure Valorant Gaming Experience

Now that we've covered various troubleshooting steps to address Valorant startup issues, let's explore another tool that can enhance your gaming experience: Valorant Game Booster. 

LagoFast, a gaming enhancer designed to tackle issues such as low FPS and lag, is recommended for optimizing Valorant gaming performance.

With a single click, LagoFast boosts FPS performance by reducing CPU strain, optimizing GPU performance, and freeing up RAM resources. This ensures players a consistent experience of high FPS and seamless gameplay. Additionally, LagoFast offers real-time optimization for stable connections by identifying reliable routes.

Compared to other FPS boosters, LagoFast provides more affordable pricing and a variety of subscription options.

For an enhanced gaming experience, adhere to these four steps:

Step 1: Download and install Lagofast, sign in

Free Trial

Step 2: Search “Valorant” and click the result.

search Valorant in LagoFast

Step 3: Choose the server node you prefer to play

choose a server for Valorant

Step 4: After that, you'll be ready for the match. The boosted page will display your packet loss rate, network status, and ping rate.

start Valorant to enjoy gaming

Summary

In summary, addressing Valorant startup issues involves troubleshooting steps such as adjusting compatibility settings, ensuring the VGC service is enabled, modifying display resolution, and utilizing tools like LagoFast to optimize gaming performance. These measures aim to provide players with a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience while tackling common technical challenges.

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