You can download Valorant on PC and laptop for free from directly from the Valorant website. Once on the website you will need to select the Play For Free option which will then give you the options for downloading Valorant. This is due to Valorant now being available on console. Whether you’re on a desktop PC or laptop you will need to select the PC option.
1. Go to the Valorant website and click the Play For Free button.
2. Select PC.
3. Click the Download Button.
4. Wait for the Valorant installer to download, then open the file location.
5. Open the Install VALORANT file.
6. Click Yes if asked to allow this app to make changes to your device.
7. Click the Install button, then wait for the Riot Client to install.
8. Select Install.
9. Customize the installation options if you wish, then click the Install button.
10. Sign in to your Riot Games account or click the Create Account text to make one.
11. Wait for Valorant and Riot Vanguard to install.
12. Restart your PC or laptop once the installation has finished.
What is Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard is the anti-cheat software that is installed alongside Valorant. Typically, Vanguard is actually installed before Valorant. Vanguard checks your computer for any suspicious activity or programs to ensure you’re not using cheats or mods when playing Valorant. Riot Vanguard will almost always be open and running on your PC, and can be seen in the hidden icons menu.
Can You Play Valorant without Riot Vanguard?
You are unable to play Valorant without having Riot Vanguard installed and running on your PC. Additionally, Riot Vanguard will need to have been running from startup. This means it must have the permission to run on startup for it to work. If you try to play without Vanguard running then Valorant won’t open. Depending on the situation you might not be able to launch the game at all, or may receive an error message when you try to play Valorant.
Why Do I Have to Restart to Play Valorant?
When you install Valorant on PC or laptop you will need to restart your computer. This is to allow the Riot Vanguard software to work correctly and be open from the moment your computer starts. Doing so will ensure that Vanguard isn’t being bypassed and can detect if cheating software is being used.
Is Valorant Free?
Yes, Valorant is completley free on PC, PS5, and Xbox. This means you can install Valorant on your PC or laptop without needing to spend any money. However, Valorant does have weapon skins which are cosmetic upgrades for the weapons used in game. These cosmetics can be purchased using Valorant points which are purchased using real money.
Additionally, you can also use Valorant points to unlock tiers on Agent contracts. Essentially speeding up the time it takes to unlock a character, or allowing you to unlock it instantly if you purchase enough tiers.
Can You Install Valorant From Epic Games?
Valorant is available on the Epic Games Store which means you can install it using the Epic Games launcher. However, you will still need to install the Riot Games client as part of process. Additionally, you will need a Riot Games account and can’t use your existing Epic Games account to play.
How to Download Valorant from Epic Games Launcher
Alternatively, you can also download Valorant from the Epic Games Launcher. This method may be easier if you already have the Epic Games Launcher installed for other games, such as Fortnite. Even if you use the Epic Games launcher to install Valorant you will still need to make a Riot Games account to play Valorant.
1. Search for Valorant then select it.
2. Click the Get button.
3. Click the In Library button.
4. Select Valorant from your library.
5. Adjust the installation settings, then click the Install button.
6. Click Yes if asked to allow this app to make changes to your device, then Launch Valorant.
7. Click the Install button.
8. Adjust the installation setttings, then click the Install button again.
9. Sign in and wait for Valorant to install.
10. Restart your computer after Valorant has finished installing.
Can’t Open Valorant or Stuck on Loading Screen
There are a few reasons why you might be unable to open Valorant even though you have just installed it. One reason is that Riot Vanguard may have been closed or not running. Typicalically, restarting your computer will fix this issue and allow you to play Valorant. However, this doesn’t always work. In some cases you may need to uninstall and resinstall Vanguard or ensure Vanguard is set to open on startup.
Another somewhat common issue is that Valorant will get stuck on the loading screen when opened. Typically, this can be fixed by moving Valorant to an SSD or the main drive on your PC. However, sometimes the issue can be fixed by disabling fullscreen optimizations, or by running Valorant as an administrator. You can check out our guide here for more solutions.
Does Valorant Have Voice Chat?
Yes, Valorant does have voice chat as well as text chat. However, you can only talk to your own team using voice chat. Instead, communicating with the other team must be done using the in-game text chat. To be able to use voice chat in Valorant you will need to set your input device to your microphone, and your output device to your headset or listening device. Doing so should allow you to use voice chat in Valorant. If you have any issues with Valorant voice chat then you can use our guide here to try fix the issue.
Can You Change Valorant Name?
A somewhat common mistake is choosing a name you’re unhappy with when making a Valorant account. Fortunately, you can change your name in Valorant at any point. However, it is important to note that your Valorant name and Riot Games name are one in the same. This means if you play other games made by Riot then your name will be changed as well.
Additionally, you can only change your name in Valorant every 90 days. This means that if you have only just created your Riot Games account while downloading Valorant then you may be unable to change your name yet.
Can I Play Valorant as a Beginner?
Valorant is a very beginner friendly game, mainly due to the skill based matchmaking or rank system. As a new player you can expect to be placed into games with other new players, or players with similar skill levels as you. This can be a great as it allows you to learn at your own pace and test out different agents.
All Valorant agents have their own set of abilities which can be very helpful in a round. Learning what each ability does and how to utilize them correctly is an important aspect of Valorant. Fortunately, many abilities overlap with other agents, with each agent helping you learn the maps and gameplay more.
Additionally, to play Valorant you will need to complete the tutorial. The tutorial will run you through the basics of the game, showing you how to play and the overall gameplay loop. This provides great insight for new players and will help you get into a game with more of an idea of what to do.
