This is how to uninstall, install, or download Valorant

Fariha Bhatti Last updated 30/04/2026

Riot Games’ first-person shooter Valorant may be a hefty install, but the great news is that it can run on mid-range computers even if you haven’t upgraded your build in a minute. Here’s how to download, and uninstall Valorant in 2026.

The FPS category was packed with realistic shooters when Riot Games introduced Valorant back in 2020. The animated title rolled in with its entertaining agents and deadly abilities that offered a fresh break from shooters that can be too realistic. FPS fans instantly hopped onto the Valorant hype bandwagon, hoping to emulate the best Valorant players, and now you can too. Or if you’re tired of the game, you can remove it from your computer to make room for other newer titles.

Downloading Valorant (image credit: Riot Games)

How to download and install Valorant on PC?

Valorant can be downloaded from Riot Games’ website or from the Epic Games store. Here’s how to get it on PC.

Go to the official Valorant client here
Click on the red “Play now” icon on the top right corner
Select “PC” from the options
If you don’t already have a Riot account, click on “Create one”
Enter your email address and then add the code
The game will then ask for your details like birthday, username, etc.
Finally, you’ll be redirected to the Valorant download page

If you already have a Riot account, you may skip those steps, and continue with the following method:

Login with your Riot ID and then click on the red “Download now” button
Run the file and pick a suitable path for installing Valorant
Sign in to Valorant with your Riot ID
Restart your system before starting play.

If needed, you can change your Riot ID and the time for installation depends on your internet speed. Valorant takes up around 50 GB after the Season 2026 updates. If you have a fast internet connection, the game shouldn’t take too long to download. Otherwise, just leave it on overnight and it should be ready for play in the morning.

Once you have the game on your PC, you may wish to explore the Valorant maps that are based on real world locations.

Note: There is also a Riot Mobile companion app available for download.

How to uninstall Valorant?

If you’re looking to uninstall Valorant on PC, here’s how to do it:

Open the control panel and navigate to programs.
Click on uninstall a program.
Find Valorant in the program list and right-click on it.
Select uninstall to delete Valorant from your computer.

The game will be removed instantly, freeing up space on your computer. If the standard uninstall fails, try removing Vanguard first, which Riot’s anti-cheat software can sometimes block the process. Head back to your installed programs list, find Vanguard, and remove it. Then return to Valorant and try again.

Valorant system requirements in 2026

Valorant is a comparatively lighter FPS game, so you don’t need the optimal build to be able to enjoy the game. These are the minimum system requirements to install Valorant in 2026.

RAM: 4GB
VRAM: 1GB
CPU: Intel i3-540, AMD Athlon 200GE
GPU: Intel HD 4000, AMD Radeon R5 220

If you’re looking to build a “beast” gaming piece to achieve FPS greater than 144, then opt for AMD Ryzen 5 2600X. The GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon R7 370 are the best GPUs recommended by Riot Games for maximum FPS and performance in Valorant.

It’s worth noting, though, that Valorant will work just fine on a mid-range setup as well. Players can tone down most of the settings in-game to achieve around 100 FPS on an Intel i3-4150 build with NVIDIA Geforce GT 730.

Material Quality is the single biggest FPS lever in the game, so set that to Low first. You can also turn off Bloom, Vignette, and Distortion to get some extra FPS boost. These are purely cosmetic and do nothing for competitive play. If you’re on an NVIDIA GPU, enabling NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency reduces system latency and gives you a snappier feel in-game.

Should the system requirements not be to your liking, then alternatively the world’s leading players can be enjoyed at Valorant betting sites where all major tournaments are covered.

Feature image credit: Riot Games

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

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