Valorant has had a rocky start since its release few days back, it’s has to pull its servers down for maintenance and a bunch of old Valorant error codes from the beta are reoccurring. But, not all fault can be bestowed on the developers, especially when the cause of the error is local. The Valorant error code 44: Vanguard not initialized is one such error.
Vanguard the anti-cheat developed by Riot has been the center of a lot of incompatibility and problems with the game. A fault in Vanguard installation alone can result in a range of error codes in the game. In this guide, we will tell you all about the issue and how to resolve it quickly.
What is Vanguard Not Initialized Error 44 in Valorant
Vanguard is an independent software that the game Valorant requires to run smoothly. An error in installation or having an outdated Vanguard will cause a lot of issues with the game including the Valorant error code 44. A recent update can also cause problems when the files were not properly installed. Not to worry though, if beta has taught us anything, it’s how to resolve errors such as this.
Here are some fixes you can try. But, as a gamer’s modus operandi ensure that all the software on your system is up-to-date including the OS, graphics drivers, and Valorant. Restart the system and try playing the game. Does the problem still occur? Yes, now try the fixes.
Fix 1: Reboot the System if Vanguard Tray Icon is Present
If the Vanguard Tray icon is present and you can see it, the problem could simply be fixed by a reboot of the system. Often times when the system is running for too long certain programs may not initialize properly. A reboot usually fixes the issue. So, perform the restart and check if the Valorant error code 44 Vanguard not initialized still persists.
Fix 2: Reinstall Vanguard
If a reboot does not fix the issue, we have to take more drastic measures and uninstall Vanguard. Don’t worry though, you do not have to perform any additional steps to reinstall it. Vanguard installation is automatic and will occur when you open the game next time. In case, you are unable to locate Vanguard, then you have to uninstall the game and reinstall everything from scratch. The process is fairly quick, especially relative to the recent COD Warzone game.
To perform the uninstall, open the Run dialogue box by pressing Windows key + R and type appwiz.cpl. Locate Vanguard from the list of programs, right-click and select Uninstall/Change.
Once you have uninstalled Vanguard, restart the system and open the game as an administrator. Vanguard will automatically download and the game will start. For most users, the Vanguard not initialized error will be resolved by this step.
Fix 3: Check Vanguard Services
If the above fixes have failed, we need to check if the Vanguard services are present on the system and working as intended. To perform the steps you need to open Command Prompt as Administrator. Here are the steps you can follow.
- Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter (When prompted select Yes)
- Now, enter the command sc query vgc
- If the result is an error that basically says the service is not available, you need to uninstall Valorant and Vanguard, and reinstall everything again. However, if it returns a service with the name vgc, you need to start Valorant manually. Enter the following command net start vgc.
- Launch the game and hopefully the Valorant error code 44 Vanguard not initialized is gone.
Fix 4: Set Exception for Vanguard
The Windows Firewall and Virus & Threat Protection could be blocking some essential functions of the game. Hence, you need to set exception and exclusion on the respective programs. Here are the steps you need to follow.
Allow App Through Firewall
- Press Windows Key + I and select Update & Security
- Click on Windows Security and select Firewall & network protection
- Click on Allow an app through firewall
- Locate Vanguard and tick both Private and Public
- Save the changes.
Windows Virus & Threat Protection
- Press Windows Key + I and select Update & Security
- Click on Windows Security, select Virus & Threat Protection
- Under Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings
- Locate Exclusions by scrolling down, click on Add or remove exclusions
- Click on Add an exclusion and select Folder
- And set exclusion for Vanguard.
Fix 5: Reinstall Valorant and Vanguard
If all else has failed to resolve the error, it’s finally time to take the most drastic step and reinstall everything from scratch. First, uninstall Valorant and Vanguard and download everything again. After download, launch the game with admin permissions and it will resolve the Valorant error code 44.
Valorant Error Code 44 – Vanguard Not Initialized occurs when there is a problem with the Vanguard anti-cheat program. You can fix the issue by reinstalling Vanguard which occurs automatically if you have uninstalled the program and the next time you launch Valorant. Other fixes include excluding the program from your antivirus or Windows Firewall and Virus & Threat Protection. You could also force Vanguard to run via CMD. If nothing works, reinstall Valorant and Vanguard and the error 44 will resolve.