Valorant, Riot Games’ tactical first-person shooter, has rapidly risen in popularity among competitive gamers. However, like many complex games that regularly receive updates and patches, players may occasionally face technical issues stopping them from enjoying the action. One particularly frustrating problem is the “Invalid Access to Memory Location” error, which commonly appears during startup, crashing the game before it even begins.
This error can be disturbing—especially since it prevents the game from launching altogether. In this article, we’ll explore the likely causes of this issue and provide step-by-step solutions that can help you restore Valorant’s functionality and get back into the game.
Understanding the Error
The “Invalid Access to Memory Location” error typically points to a corrupted program attempting to interact with a portion of the system’s memory that it isn’t authorized to access. This could stem from a variety of underlying causes, including conflicting software, faulty drivers, or corrupted system files.
Most often, the problem relates to a breakdown in communication between the game’s anti-cheat program—Riot Vanguard—and the Windows operating system. If Vanguard encounters conflicts upon startup, it can cause Valorant to crash before it fully loads.
Common Causes of This Valorant Error
- Conflicts with other software: Third-party applications running in the background can interfere with Valorant’s operations.
- Corrupted Vanguard installation: As Valorant relies heavily on its built-in anti-cheat, a faulty installation of Vanguard will directly impact the game startup.
- Outdated or incompatible drivers: Graphics drivers and system components may be outdated or not functioning correctly.
- System integrity issues: Errors in Windows system files can trigger the crash and result in the memory access error.
Steps to Fix Valorant “Invalid Access to Memory Location” Error
To resolve this issue, follow these proven methods in order. Each step incrementally eliminates possible causes and has helped many users successfully launch the game.
1. Restart Your Computer and Game Client
Before delving into more intricate solutions, the first step is always to restart your computer. This simple action clears memory and ends background processes that might be interfering with Valorant.
2. Reinstall Riot Vanguard
Corrupted or improperly functioning Vanguard files are the most frequent culprit:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type services.msc and press Enter.
- Locate vgc service, right-click it, and select Stop.
- Navigate to the Riot Games installation folder and delete the Vanguard folder (usually found at C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard).
- Now, open Valorant. It will prompt a reinstallation of Vanguard. Allow the installation to complete and then restart your system.
This process ensures you have the latest and cleanest version of the anti-cheat software.
3. Update Your Graphics and System Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause significant stability issues with both Vanguard and the game engine. Update your GPU drivers directly from the manufacturer websites:
Also, make sure your Windows OS is fully updated through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
4. Run System File Checker and DISM
To verify and repair the integrity of your system files:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type
sfc /scannowand press Enter. Let the scan complete. - Then run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This will fix corrupted system files that might be interfering with Vanguard’s access to memory on startup.
5. Perform a Clean Boot
A clean boot can help you identify any conflicting third-party software:
- Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
- Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all.
- Move to the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager, and disable startup apps.
- Restart your PC and launch Valorant.
If Valorant works properly in this mode, you can slowly re-enable services to pinpoint the conflicting software.
Final Words
The “Invalid Access to Memory Location” crash in Valorant can be infuriating, but it is usually solvable with systematic troubleshooting. It’s essential to take these steps seriously, especially when dealing with Vanguard, which operates at a low system level and is sensitive to both faulty configurations and external interferences.
If after trying all the recommended solutions the issue persists, it may be wise to contact Riot Games support directly. Provide them with system logs and details of the steps you’ve already taken to expedite problem diagnosis.
Valorant is a powerful, dynamic game—and sometimes that complexity can lead to frustrating errors. But with patience and the right tools, you can restore stability and get back to the competitive edge that makes the game so compelling.
