If you’ve ever tried launching Battlefield 6 while Valorant is installed, only to be met with cryptic anti-cheat errors or forced shutdowns—you’re not alone.
These two competitive giants use kernel-level anti-cheat systems (EA’s Javelin and Riot’s Vanguard) that dig deep into Windows, often clashing over protected memory access.
The result? You’re stuck choosing between games unless you know how to manage their security layers.
In this guide, we’ll discuss exactly why this conflict happens, what it means for your system, and how to safely switch between Battlefield 6 and Valorant without uninstalling either. Let’s fix this once and for all.
Battlefield 6 vs Valorant- Why You Can’t Play Both!
Modern competitive shooters like Battlefield 6 and Valorant use powerful “kernel-level” anti-cheat drivers—EA’s Javelin, Battlefield 6’s anti-cheat software, and Riot’s Vanguard—which run deep inside Windows to block cheats from reading or altering game memory.
When Battlefield 6’s beta launched, some players saw an error implying they had to uninstall Valorant, but Riot later clarified that the two can coexist on the same PC; you just can’t have both running at once because their drivers try to control the same protected memory areas.
Beyond that, the author warns these deep-privilege drivers pose privacy and stability risks—citing the July 19 2024 CrowdStrike incident, where a buggy security driver crashed millions of computers worldwide—and notes Microsoft is now looking for ways to move more security functions out of the kernel to reduce such dangers.
As of today, Riot says Vanguard is compatible with Javelin, you just can’t run Valorant or leave its client or Vanguard active while Battlefield 6 is running. The scary Battlefield message is misleading—uninstalling Valorant isn’t required.
Play Battlefield 6 When Valorant Is On Your PC
Follow the step-by-step guide to play Battlefield 6 while Valorant is still on on your PC.
1. Quit Valorant & Riot Client
To play Battlefield 6 when Valorant is on, on your device, you need to quit Valorant & Riot Client completely.
To do that, check the system tray.
If you see the Riot Vanguard shield, right-click on it, then Exit Vanguard.
2. Make Sure The Vanguard Service Isn’t Running
The next thing you should do is check that Vangurad is not running in the background. Here’s what to do:
- Press Win + R then type services.msc. Press Enter.
- Find VGC or related Valorant service. Then select Stop. You can also open its properties by double clicking on the service.
- Then set Startup type to Manual so it doesn’t auto-start. Reboot Windows. This guarantees Vanguard’s kernel driver is gone for this session. Valorant requires a reboot to re-enable Vanguard anyway.
3. Check From Task Manager
The next thing you should do is close all the VGC, Valorant or, Riot Client Processes using the Task Manager. Here’s how to do so:
- Right-click on the Windows Menu and select Task Manager.
- Then navigate to the Processes tab.
- Find VGC or related Valorant or Riot Client related processes. Right click on it and select the End Task option.
- You do not need to uninstall Valorant for Battlefield 6 to work—just make sure Vanguard isn’t active while you play BF6.
Switch back to Valorant after Battlefield
1. Close Battlefield 6
While you want to switch back to Valorant after playing Battlefields, make sure you close all the running processes related to Battlefiled 6.
To do that, open Task Manager. Then navigate to the Processes tab. Find Battlefield 6 related processes. Right click on it and select the End Task option.
Then re-enable Vanguard by simply launching the Riot or Valorant client—it will ask for a reboot to load Vanguard’s driver. Reboot, then play.
2. Enable Secure Boot
Follow this step-by-step guide to enable secure Boot on windows 11.
- Open start and look for system information.
- Open the app and head to System Summary. Now check the Secure Boot State and find its status.
- Each PC has a different BIOS key. The general BIOS keys are F1, F2, F9, F10, or Del., But they will differ as per the motherboard.
- If you don’t know the BIOS key, check the manufacturer’s manual and keep it handy.
- Now follow the process given below to enable secure Boot in Windows 11.
- Keep pressing the BIOS key to enter BIOS. You can also enter BIOS from Windows Settings.
- Press Win + I to enter Settings. Then select System then Recovery.
- Next, click on the Restart Now button beside the Advanced Startup option.
- From the advanced options, select
- Troubleshoot.· Next select Advanced Options then select UEFI Firmware Settings then Restart.This should help you to enter BIOS or the UEFI Settings.
- Then select Boot, System Configuration, or Security tab. Now look for the Secure Boot option. Now here you will have to select the Enable option.
3. Repair the game in EA App
Next, repair the game in EA App to reinstall BF6’s anti-cheat if it was corrupted.
- To do that open Riot Client. Then click on your profile picture.
- Select Settings. Then select the Repair option.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process.
Wrapping Up
Now you’ve got the full playbook for navigating the Battlefield 6 vs Valorant anti-cheat conflict. Whether you’re disabling
Vanguard to jump into Battlefield or re-enabling it for a Valorant session, these steps ensure smooth transitions without compromising your system’s stability.
You don’t need to uninstall anything—just manage your services and processes wisely.
If this guide helped you out, share it with fellow gamers and share your thoughts in the comments. For more practical fixes and tech walkthroughs, stay tuned to Silicophilic. Game on!
