How to Fix “A Critical Error Has Occurred” in Valorant
Live service games like Valorant or Apex Legends can often run into irritating issues, causing critical errors or launch errors in the game. One such common issue in Valorant is the “A Critical Error Has Occurred” message, which is caused due to outdated drivers, third-party apps, or permission issues. In this guide, we have explained what is the “A Critical Error Has Occurred” issue in Valorant and how to fix the same. That said, let’s look at the solutions to this critical error in Valorant.
What is Critical Error in Valorant? Explained
Popular FPS game Valorant is just another software on your Windows PC. This means you can encounter software, permissions, or driver issues for the same. The main reasons why a critical error happens in Valorant are:
Go through the fixes mentioned below step-by-step and get your game working again. Remember tocreate a restore pointbefore tinkering with your PC’s settings.
1. Run Valorant as Administrator
User permissions is an issue that many software encounter in Windows. This error occurs when Windows does not let your software run as a normal user. The same happens with Valorant sometimes. To fix this, run Valorant as an administrator by following these steps:
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First, locate Valorant on your desktop screen and right-click on it.
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Then, go toProperties.
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Once you are in the properties, go to theCompatibilitytab.
4 Now, enable the “Run this program as an administrator” option. Click Apply and OK for the change to take effect.
- After that, restart your system and open Valorant. This should fix the “A Critical Error Has Occurred” issue in Valorant.
2. Update Windows
A lot of times Valorant fails to open even when it has not received any new updates. A common reason behind that can be regular Windows security updates. Make sure to update your Windows if it has any new updates or installations pending.
3. Vanguard Service Fix “vgc”
Sometimes the error occurs due to Vanguard, Valorant’s anti-cheat engine, which needs to be running in the background at all times. But, it sometimes stops after random updates or unexpected Windows shutdowns. To fix this issue, follow the steps below:
4. Update Display Driver
Valorant requires up-to-date drivers to run smoothly and deliver the best performance. So, if your display drivers are outdated, it can cause your Valorant game to crash. Follow the steps below to fix this issue:
5. Enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (Windows 11)
The VAN 9003 error occurs when the game fails to launch in Windows 11 due to security restrictions and a conflict with the Valorant client. To fix it, follow the steps below:
Note:Do not select the discreet fTPM option if it is available. Also, check out our guide on how tofix Valorant TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot errorin our dedicated guide.
6. Full-Screen Optimization Fix for Valorant
Another simple way to fix the “A Critical Error Has Occurred” issue is by changing the compatibility for the Valorant client. Here’s how you can go about it:
7. Update BIOS
Another common problem that might cause the “A Critical Error Has Occurred” issue in Valorant is when your motherboard’s BIOS has become outdated. It is always important to check if your motherboard BIOS is up-to-date. An outdated BIOS can cause multiple software-related errors on your Windows machine. You can follow your motherboard manual to learn how to update the BIOS. You can also check out our guidefor the motherboard BIOS update.
8. Reinstall Valorant or Change Launcher
If the above fixes don’t work, try uninstalling Valorant and reinstalling it again. Reinstalling the game or the Riot Games client could also resolve the critical error. To uninstall Valorant or the Riot client, follow these steps:
If you want to play Valorant from a different launcher, then you can also install the Epic launcher and download Valorant from there. This will solve any critical error causing due to your Riot client. For that, you can getValorant on Epic Games Storehere.
9. Uninstall Third-Party Apps
Third-party apps like antivirus or MSI Afterburner can also cause errors in games like Valorant. Even GPU apps such as Nvidia GeForce Experience can conflict with Valorant and cause visual glitches or errors. To minimize such issues, simply use Windows Defender antivirus. Stop using Rivatuner, Nvidia GeForce Experience, and MSI afterburner while playing Valorant, or uninstall them completely.
If your device cannot run Valorant at all it might be an issue of minimum system requirements. Make sure your device meets the minimum requirements before installing the game.
In a system, a critical error occurs mainly due to conflicting files or infringement. But sometimes the game client itself downloads the wrong file or any other app can also cause issues conflicting with it.
If your game is not launching then you might have one of the errors from above. Make sure you restart your device first. If it still doesn’t open then try one of the methods we have mentioned.
Beebom Staff
Bringing the latest in technology, gaming, and entertainment is our superhero team of staff writers. They have a keen eye for latest stories, happenings, and even memes for tech enthusiasts.
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