How to Fix Valorant Critical Error

Valorant, a competitive shooter released by Riot Games in 2020, continues to captivate players worldwide despite persistent technical issues. One recurring problem is the „critical error has occurred“ message, which abruptly disrupts gameplay by booting players out, often at crucial moments in a match, leading to considerable frustration among the gaming community.

Fortunately, this error is not insurmountable. Players experiencing this issue can explore several troubleshooting steps to resolve it, allowing them to return to their matches without further interruptions. Knowing the available solutions can be particularly beneficial for maintaining a seamless gaming experience.

Resolving Critical System Errors in Valorant

Experiencing frequent critical system errors while playing Valorant can be incredibly frustrating, particularly when it causes crashes and disrupts gameplay. Several common causes and straightforward solutions can help players tackle this issue efficiently. Here’s a guide to troubleshoot and resolve these errors.

When a critical system error occurs in Valorant, the game crashes to the desktop, displaying a message prompting you to create a crash dump for developer assistance. Although sending a crash report helps the developers, it doesn’t solve the problem for the player in real-time. The following steps can help:

1. Restart the Computer: Often, simply restarting the PC can resolve many Valorant error codes. A reboot can clear temporary glitches causing the problem.
2. Update Windows Drivers: Ensure all Windows updates are current. Use the Windows search bar to look up ‘Check for Updates.’ Click through to install any pending updates and restart your PC afterward.
3. Update Graphics Drivers: Keeping your graphics drivers current is vital. Access your NVIDIA or AMD control panel to download the latest drivers for your graphics card.
4. Disable Overclocking Software: Software like MSI Afterburner can interfere with Valorant’s operations. Close such applications and relaunch Valorant to see if it resolves the issue.
5. Restart the VGC Service: This system service is key to running Valorant smoothly. Follow these steps to restart it:
   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
   • Type services.msc and press Enter.
   • In the list, locate the „vgc“ service.
   • Double-click it to access the Properties.
   • Under the ‚General‘ tab, set the Startup type to ‘Automatic (Delayed start).’
   • Click ‘Start’ to restart the service.
   • Confirm with ‘OK’ and close the window.

After trying these solutions, the game should ideally launch without issues. In cases where the error persists despite these steps, reaching out to Riot Support is advisable. They can offer more detailed guidance and assistance with the ongoing problem.

Avoiding frequent errors requires keeping software up-to-date and minimizing unnecessary background processes, which might conflict with the game. Staying vigilant with system maintenance can reduce the occurrence of such disruptive issues during gameplay sessions. Following this guide can help players return to an optimal gaming experience quickly and effectively.