Valorant is a very popular game with a lot of cheating problems, which is why Riot has put a lot of time and effort into their anti-cheat systems. Unfortunately, this causes a lot of issues for users, so you might get an issue where the game fails to open and instead shows a background process called BootstrapPackagedGame.exe in the Task Manager. This executable represents the initial phase of the game’s startup. During this phase, VALORANT loads essential data and prepares to activate Vanguard, Riot’s anti-cheat system.
Takeaways:
- Learn how to fix VALORANT “BootstrapPackagedGame.exe” Stuck Error on PC.
- What is causing “BootstrapPackagedGame.exe” error when launching Valorant on PC?
Table of Contents
What's Causing VALORANT “BootstrapPackagedGame.exe” to get Stuck
As always.... There are quite a few different things that might be causing this problem, so expect a bit of troubleshooting work ahead!
Outdated or malfunctioning Vanguard service: If Vanguard fails to start or becomes stuck after an update, the bootstrap process cannot continue. This often happens after Windows updates or improper Vanguard restarts.
Corrupted or missing game files: Incomplete or damaged files may prevent the bootstrap from finding required components, causing it to freeze midway.
Conflicting background software: Security tools, antivirus programs, or overlay applications can interfere with the bootstrap’s communication with Vanguard.
Insufficient system permissions: Both VALORANT and Vanguard need administrator privileges to run kernel-level components. Without those permissions, the bootstrap cannot complete its initialisation.
How to Fix VALORANT “BootstrapPackagedGame.exe” Stuck Error
We've tried to make this process as simple as possible, so start from the top of the list and work your way down until you find a fix that solves the problem for you. Again, you will probably need to try multiple solutions before you hit the one that works. This is pretty standard for fixing issues like this.
Run VALORANT as Administrator
After certain system or Vanguard updates, permission restrictions may block BootstrapPackagedGame.exe from starting Vanguard’s driver. This can cause the launch to hang indefinitely. Running the game with administrative rights restores the necessary access.
- Right-click your VALORANT shortcut and select Properties.
- Open the Compatibility tab and check Run this program as an administrator.
- Click Apply, then OK, and restart your computer before launching the game again.
End VALORANT and Vanguard Processes in Task Manager
A problematic VALORANT or Vanguard process can prevent a new session from starting. This happens sometimes, especially with Steam games that have crashed. You might even need to restart your computer.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Under the Processes tab, find any entries related to VALORANT, RiotClientServices.exe, or Vanguard.
- Right-click each one and choose End task.
- Close Task Manager and relaunch VALORANT.
If the game still fails to start, restart your computer and try again. While in Task Manager, also close any active VPN or proxy services.
Whitelist VALORANT and Vanguard in Your Antivirus
Because Vanguard operates at a deep system level, antivirus programs sometimes flag its activity as suspicious, blocking key files. Adding VALORANT and Vanguard to your antivirus exclusions prevents this interference.
If you are using Microsoft Defender:
- Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
- Go to Virus & threat protection settings, then Manage settings.
- Scroll down to Exclusions and click Add or remove exclusions.
- Add these folders:
C:\Riot Games\VALORANT
C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard
Click Apply and restart your PC before relaunching the game. The same general steps apply to most third-party antivirus programs.
Reinstall Valorant on your Computer
If none of the previous fixes work, a full reinstall may be required. Corrupted installation data or incomplete Riot updates can cause persistent bootstrap failures.
- Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
- Uninstall VALORANT and Riot Vanguard.
- Press Win + R again, type %localappdata%, and remove any remaining Riot Games or VALORANT folders.
- Restart your PC.
- Visit the official Riot Games website and download the latest VALORANT installer.
