discussion Guide Battlefield 6 Won’t Launch While Valorant Is Running? (Vanguard Conflict Fix)

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Battlefield 6 Won’t Launch While Valorant Is Running? (Vanguard Conflict Fix)​

If Battlefield 6 instantly drops you back to desktop or shows a “can’t start due to another software” warning, you’re likely hitting an anti-cheat driver clash. Both games use kernel-level anti-cheat (Battlefield uses its own stack; Valorant uses Riot Vanguard). When Vanguard is active in the background, Battlefield 6 may treat it as a security risk and refuse to start and vice-versa.

You can’t run both at the same time. Fully exit Valorant/Vanguard (and stop its services), then launch Battlefield 6. No need to uninstall Valorant; just make sure Vanguard isn’t active when starting Battlefield.

Quick Fix​

1. Exit Valorant completely
   Right-click the Riot/Vanguard icon in the Windows system tray → Exit.
   Open Task Manager and end any leftover RiotClient, Valorant, or Vanguard processes.
2. Stop Vanguard services
   Press Win + R → type services.msc → Enter.
   Find vgc (and vgk if listed) → Stop.
   Double-click each → set Startup type to Manual.
3. Reboot your PC.
4. Launch Battlefield 6 before opening Valorant or Riot Client.

Why This Happens​

Kernel-level anti-cheat runs at the lowest layer of Windows to guard game memory. If two different drivers both try to “own” that layer, one will treat the other as tampering and block the game from starting. That’s why you might see harsh prompts like “uninstall Valorant” but in most cases, stopping the services is enough.

System Requirements & Health Checks​

• Secure Boot & TPM 2.0 Some modern FPS titles expect these to be enabled. Check your BIOS/UEFI and turn on Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (labels vary by motherboard).
• Windows updates Install the latest cumulative updates.
• GPU drivers Update via GeForce Experience/AMD Software/Intel Arc Control.

Extra Troubleshooting (PC)​

1. Add AV exclusions / Game Mode
   In third-party antivirus, add Battlefield 6’s game folder and the launcher folder as exclusions, or enable Game Mode.
2. Clean Boot test
   Press Win + R → msconfig → Services tab → check Hide all Microsoft services → Disable all.
   Open Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable non-essentials. Reboot, then try Battlefield 6.
   If it launches, re-enable items gradually to find the conflicting app/service.
3. Repair game files from your game launcher (Steam/EA App) if the issue persists after disabling Vanguard.

Console Players​

This conflict is a PC-only situation tied to Windows kernel-level drivers. Consoles don’t run Vanguard or PC anti-cheat drivers in the OS, so you shouldn’t see this problem there.

Safe Usage Tips​

• Don’t use registry hacks or third-party “driver disablers.” Stick to exiting Riot Client and stopping vgc/vgk through Windows Services.
• Avoid launching Valorant after Battlefield 6 is already running. If you switch games, close one fully before starting the other.

FAQ​

• Do I have to uninstall Valorant?
  No. Exiting Riot Client and stopping Vanguard services is typically sufficient.
• Will stopping Vanguard services cause issues?
  Only for Valorant. When you want to play Valorant again, launch the Riot Client; it will prompt to re-enable Vanguard and may require a reboot.
• I disabled Vanguard but Battlefield 6 still won’t start.
  Confirm vgc/vgk are Stopped and Manual in services.msc, then reboot. Also verify Secure Boot/TPM, Windows updates, GPU drivers, and try a Clean Boot to rule out other overlays or security apps.

Summary​

You can’t safely run Battlefield 6 and Valorant together because their kernel-level anti-cheat drivers conflict. Fully close Valorant, stop Vanguard (vgc/vgk), reboot, and then start Battlefield 6. Keep Windows/GPU updated, ensure Secure Boot & TPM 2.0 are enabled, and use Clean Boot or AV exclusions if needed. 🎯

 

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