How to Fix Required Dependencies Error in Valorant

Valorant has risen to become an industry-leading esport since its launch in 2020, and Riot Games frequently issues updates and patches to improve its performance. The game isn’t perfect, though, and there are pesky errors that pop up from time to time. That includes the “Required Dependencies” error, which typically occurs when Valorant fails to download specific files needed for its operation. If you’ve been hit by this one, here we’ll explain how to fix the Required Dependencies error code as best we know how.

First, to clarify, this error occurs If Riot Vanguard, the game’s anti-cheat system, is not functioning properly, it can also cause the required dependencies error. Players usually encounter this error when they try to launch Valorant from the Riot Launcher. An error message saying, “We couldn’t install a required dependency” pops up, preventing the game from starting. This error is also commonly referred to as the “Required Dependencies” error.

How to Fix the Required Dependencies Error in Valorant

There are a number of ways to fix the Required Dependencies error code, but we’ll start with the one that is most successful, and it’s concerned with Valorant’s anti-cheat system, Vanguard. In our experience (and what we’ve seen on Reddit), the following method is the most effective:

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Enter the command sc delete vgc.
3. Enter the command sc delete vgk.
4. Reboot your computer.
5. Navigate to C:/Program Files/ and remove the Vanguard folder.
6. Start Valorant again; it should prompt you to restart the game for installation purposes.

Upon restarting, Valorant should automatically proceed with the Vanguard installation.

If that doesn’t work, here are some other solutions:

Restarting Your System – OK, we know this is obvious. Still, one of the simplest and most effective solutions is to restart your system. This action can potentially clear any temporary issues that might be preventing the game from running smoothly. However, if a simple system restart doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to try the following methods.

Running Valorant as an Administrator – Another method is to run Valorant as an administrator. Doing so can help bypass any potential restrictions that might be preventing the game from accessing certain files or services. To run Valorant as an administrator, right-click on its desktop icon and select ‘Run as administrator’.

Updating Your System and Graphics Drivers – Keeping your system and graphics drivers updated is crucial for the smooth operation of any game. Developers optimize their games for the latest available software, so outdated systems or graphics drivers could cause issues.

Disabling Antivirus and including Valorant in Windows Firewall – Sometimes, antivirus software can block game files during the downloading process due to false positives. This could lead to the “Required Dependencies” error. To prevent this, you can disable your antivirus software before updating Valorant.

If you’ve tried all the above solutions and the Required Dependencies error still persists, the best course of action would be to contact Riot Games Support. They should be able to provide further guidance and assistance in resolving the issue.