If you want to uninstall the Riot Client and remove riotclientservices.exe from your Windows PC, the fastest way is through the Windows Control Panel or Settings app. But there is more to it than just clicking “Uninstall.” This guide walks you through every method, explains what riotclientservices.exe actually is, and helps you clean up everything properly so nothing is left behind.
What Is riotclientservices.exe?
Before removing it, you should know what it is.
riotclientservices.exe is a background process that belongs to the Riot Client, the central launcher Riot Games uses for all its titles, including League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra.
This process starts automatically with Windows and runs in the background even when you are not playing. It handles:
- Game updates
- Login and account management
- Communication between games and Riot servers
- The Riot Vanguard anti-cheat system (used by Valorant)
If you see it in Task Manager and wonder why it is running, that is normal behavior. But if you no longer play any Riot Games titles, removing it completely makes sense.
Before You Uninstall: Things to Know
There are a few things worth checking before you start.
Riot Client is shared. If you have multiple Riot Games installed (like both Valorant and League of Legends), uninstalling the Riot Client will remove all of them. You cannot keep one game and uninstall just the launcher.
Riot Vanguard runs deep. Valorant uses a kernel-level anti-cheat called Vanguard. It installs its own driver (vgk.sys) that runs at system startup. The Riot Client uninstaller handles Vanguard removal, but if something goes wrong, you may need to remove it manually.
Back up your settings. If you plan to reinstall later, your in-game settings are stored on Riot servers, not locally, so you will not lose them.
Method 1: Uninstall Using Windows Settings (Recommended)
This is the cleanest and most reliable method for most users.
Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Go to Apps then Installed Apps (on Windows 11) or Apps and Features (on Windows 10).
Step 3: In the search box, type Riot.
Step 4: You will see entries like:
- Riot Client
- League of Legends
- Valorant
- Riot Vanguard
Step 5: Click on Riot Client first and select Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts.
Step 6: Repeat for any other Riot Games titles you want to remove.
Step 7: Uninstall Riot Vanguard separately. It will appear in the same list.
Important: Always uninstall Vanguard through the official uninstaller. Do not just delete its files manually. Removing the driver incorrectly can cause Windows boot issues.
Method 2: Uninstall Through Control Panel
If Windows Settings is not working or you prefer the classic approach:
Step 1: Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
Step 2: The Programs and Features window opens. Scroll down or search for Riot.
Step 3: Right-click on Riot Client and choose Uninstall.
Step 4: Go through the uninstall wizard.
Step 5: Do the same for Valorant, League of Legends, and Riot Vanguard.
Method 3: Use the Game’s Own Uninstaller
Each Riot game ships with its own uninstall executable. You can use this if the previous methods do not work.
For League of Legends, navigate to:
C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\
Look for a file called uninstall.exe or Uninstall League of Legends.exe and double-click it.
For Valorant, navigate to:
C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\
Look for uninstall.exe and run it.
For the Riot Client itself:
C:\Riot Games\Riot Client\
Run the uninstaller there.
Method 4: Stop riotclientservices.exe First, Then Uninstall
Sometimes the uninstaller fails because the process is still running. If that happens:
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Step 2: Under the Processes tab, look for:
- RiotClientServices.exe
- RiotClientCrashHandler.exe
- vgtray.exe (Vanguard tray icon)
- vgc (Vanguard service)
Step 3: Right-click each one and select End Task.
Step 4: Now go back and run the uninstaller using Method 1 or Method 2.
How to Fully Clean Up Leftover Files After Uninstalling
The standard uninstaller does not always remove everything. Here is how to clean up manually.
Delete Remaining Game Folders
Open File Explorer and check these locations. Delete any Riot-related folders you find:
| Location | What to Delete |
|---|---|
C:\Riot Games\ | Entire folder |
C:\ProgramData\Riot Games\ | Entire folder |
C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\Riot Games\ | Entire folder |
C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Riot Games\ | Entire folder |
To access AppData, press Windows + R, type %appdata%, and press Enter. Then go up one level to reach the Local and Roaming folders.
Remove Registry Entries (Advanced)
This step is optional. Only do this if you are comfortable with the registry editor. Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues.
Step 1: Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games
Step 3: Right-click the Riot Games folder and click Delete.
Step 4: Also check:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games
Delete that key as well if present.
Step 5: Close the registry editor.
Disable or Remove Riot Startup Entries
Even after uninstalling, you may still see Riot-related entries in Task Manager under the Startup tab.
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and go to the Startup tab.
Step 2: Look for any Riot Client or Vanguard entries.
Step 3: Right-click and choose Disable or verify they are gone after uninstalling.
How to Remove Riot Vanguard Completely
Riot Vanguard (used for Valorant) is a kernel-level anti-cheat that installs a system driver. Here is how to confirm it is fully removed.
Check if it was removed by the uninstaller:
After uninstalling Valorant and Riot Vanguard through Settings or Control Panel, open a Command Prompt as Administrator and type:
sc query vgc
If you see “The specified service does not exist,” Vanguard is fully removed.
If it is still there, run:
sc delete vgc
Then restart your PC.
You can also delete the Vanguard folder manually:
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\
For a deeper understanding of what Vanguard does at the kernel level, Riot Games published a technical blog post about its design: Riot Games Anti-Cheat Engineering
What to Do If the Uninstall Fails
Sometimes the uninstaller crashes or shows an error. Here are fixes.
Fix 1: Use Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter
Microsoft offers a free tool specifically for fixing stubborn uninstall problems. Download it from the official Microsoft support page at support.microsoft.com.
Run it, select “Uninstalling,” choose the Riot product from the list, and let it fix the problem.
Fix 2: Delete Files Manually and Clean the Registry
If no uninstaller works at all:
- End all Riot processes in Task Manager
- Delete
C:\Riot Games\manually - Delete remaining AppData folders listed in the cleanup table above
- Remove registry entries for Riot Games
- Restart your PC
After restarting, Windows will no longer see Riot Client as installed.
Fix 3: Use a Third-Party Uninstaller
Tools like Revo Uninstaller or Geek Uninstaller can force-remove programs and scan for leftover files and registry entries. These are useful when the built-in uninstaller is broken or missing.
Comparison of Uninstall Methods
| Method | Ease | Completeness | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Settings / Control Panel | Easy | Moderate | Most users |
| Game’s own uninstall.exe | Easy | Moderate | When Settings fails |
| Manual file + registry cleanup | Medium | High | Full removal |
| Microsoft Fix It Tool | Easy | High | Broken uninstallers |
| Third-party uninstaller tool | Easy | High | Stubborn leftovers |
Will Uninstalling Riot Client Delete My Account?
No. Uninstalling software from your PC does not affect your Riot Games account. Your account, skins, rank, and progress are stored on Riot’s servers. You can reinstall at any time and log back in with no data loss.
Can You Uninstall Just One Game and Keep the Others?
This is a common question. Technically, yes. You can uninstall Valorant without removing League of Legends. Each game has its own uninstaller.
However, the Riot Client itself is shared. If you uninstall the Riot Client (the launcher), you break the ability to launch any remaining Riot games. In that case, you would need to reinstall the Riot Client to play them again.
The safest approach: uninstall only the individual games you no longer want, and leave the Riot Client in place if you still play any Riot title.
How to Prevent Riot Client From Running at Startup (Without Uninstalling)
If you want to keep the game but stop the Riot Client from launching at boot, here is how:
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Step 2: Click the Startup tab.
Step 3: Find Riot Client in the list.
Step 4: Right-click it and choose Disable.
The game will still work. You just have to launch it manually instead of it starting with Windows.
Conclusion
Uninstalling the Riot Client and removing riotclientservices.exe from Windows in 2026 is straightforward when you follow the right steps. Start with Windows Settings or Control Panel, then clean up leftover files in the AppData and Riot Games folders, and make sure Riot Vanguard is fully removed if you had Valorant installed.
The key points to remember:
- Uninstall Riot Vanguard as a separate step, do not skip it
- Delete leftover folders in AppData and ProgramData for a clean system
- Your Riot account and game progress are safe, they live on Riot servers
- If the uninstaller fails, use Microsoft’s troubleshooter or a third-party tool
Follow this guide and your system will be completely clean of all Riot Games software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is riotclientservices.exe safe, or is it malware?
riotclientservices.exe is a legitimate process from Riot Games. It is not malware. However, if you see it and have never installed any Riot Games titles, that would be unusual. In that case, scan your system with Windows Defender to rule out a fake process using the same name.
Why does riotclientservices.exe start automatically with Windows?
Riot Client sets itself to run at startup during installation. This allows it to check for updates in the background. You can disable this in Task Manager under the Startup tab without uninstalling the game.
Can I just delete riotclientservices.exe without going through the uninstaller?
You can delete the file, but it will cause errors and may not fully remove the software. Games that depend on the Riot Client will stop working. Always use the proper uninstaller to avoid leaving broken registry entries and background services behind.
After uninstalling, riotclientservices.exe is still showing in Task Manager. What do I do?
Restart your PC first. If it still appears after a restart, the process may have been left behind. Go to Task Manager, end the process, then delete any remaining Riot Games folders in C:\Riot Games and AppData. Check for leftover startup entries in Task Manager as well.
How do I reinstall Riot Client after uninstalling it?
Visit https://www.riotgames.com and download the installer for the game you want to play. The Riot Client will be reinstalled automatically as part of that process.
