How to Fix Valorant Update Stuck at 45% - A Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide

Have you tried updating Valorant only to have it freeze at 45%? This common issue can be incredibly frustrating when you just want to play.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through proven solutions to get your Valorant update unstuck, so you can get back in the game.

Why Does the Update Get Stuck?

Before we get to the fixes, let‘s quickly understand what causes this 45% frozen update in the first place.

According to Riot Games support forums and communities like Reddit, the most common culprits are:

Outdated Windows version – Valorant requires Windows 10 and doesn‘t support older versions that cause compatibility issues.
Antivirus conflicts – Programs like AVG and Avast clash with Valorant‘s Riot Vanguard anti-cheat system.
Background apps – MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner, Discord, etc running in the background interfere with updating.
Corrupted files – Sometimes Valorant‘s install files become damaged and need reinstalling.

This isn‘t an issue exclusive to Valorant. Games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, and others also routinely have major update snags across platforms.

According to research by Deloitte, the gaming market is projected to generate $200+ billion in 2025. With this huge surge in gaming, updating issues are inevitably more prevalent.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Get Valorant Updating Again

Now let‘s get into the fixes so you can get back to playing. I‘ll go through solutions from simplest to most involved. Try them one by one until your update succeeds.

1. Update Your Windows Version

One of the easiest things to try first is checking you have the latest supported Windows version installed.

Here‘s how:

Search for "Check for updates"
Click "Check for updates"
Install any available updates. You may need to restart your PC.

Search for Windows update

Once updated, attempt to update Valorant again and see if the new Windows version resolves the stuck 45%.

2. Disable Antivirus and Background Apps

If Windows updates didn‘t fix it, an antivirus or background app is likely the culprit.

First, disable your antivirus completely. You can always re-enable it after.

Next, use Task Manager to end tasks on any unnecessary background apps:

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to open Task Manager
Go to Processes tab
Select the app tasks
Click End task

With those out of the way, restart your update.

End background tasks in Task Manager

3. Perform Clean Reinstalls

If you‘re still stuck, more drastic clean reinstalls of Valorant and your antivirus may be in order.

Fresh Valorant Reinstall

Uninstall Valorant completely:

Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
Select Valorant
Click Uninstall
Restart your PC

Then grab the installer from playvalorant.com and do a fresh install. This gives you a clean slate.

Antivirus Reinstall

Also consider fully removing your antivirus with the same Programs and Features steps above. Then grab a fresh install file from the company.

Reinstalling the software can clear out any corrupted files or settings that were interfering with Valorant.

4. Delete Valorant‘s VGC and VGK Files

If you still have no luck, deleting Valorant‘s VGC and VGK files can force it to redownload required files.

In Command Prompt:

Type sc delete vgc and hit Enter
Type sc delete vgk and hit Enter
Restart your PC

This will trigger Valorant to reinstall the deleted VGC and VGK files next time you launch.

5. Contact Riot Games Support

If none of the above fixes work, you should reach out to Riot support directly:

Submit a ticket
Call support: 1-858-790-7529
Email: [email protected]

Riot‘s tech support can further troubleshoot and identify any underlying issues. For instance, a recent Valorant patch may inadvertently be causing the 45% bug for some users.

Speaking with support is always wise before taking more intensive measures like fully resetting Windows or reinstalling from scratch.

Avoiding Valorant Update Issues in the Future

While frustrating, update issues with Valorant and other games happen. But you can take steps to avoid them down the road:

Keep Windows 10 updated consistently
Pause/disable antivirus scans during updates
Close unnecessary background apps while updating
Defrag hard drives occasionally to prevent corrupted files

Further Troubleshooting Resources

For more help getting flawless game performance, check out these resources:

Riot‘s Valorant PC setup guide
My guide on optimizing gaming performance
Riot‘s Valorant troubleshooting forum
Ans.gg‘s Valorant FAQ

I hope this guide has gotten your Valorant update running smoothly again. No more stuck at 45%! Let me know in the comments if any other fixes worked for you. And stay tuned for more tips on optimizing your gaming experience.