How To Download And Install Valorant [Get Started]

Valorant is the hottest free-to-play title in the world right now.

Seriously, Riot Games hit the nail on the head with this one. The game combines team strategies, sharp gunplay, and tactical abilities into an addictive competitive experience.

It's no wonder how Valorant was able to quickly match and surpass the player count of Counter Strike on the competitive stage. If you're also interested in CS2, check out our CS2 server hosting guide.

In this guide, I'll show you exactly how to download Valorant and properly install it on your PC so you can start playing and enjoy some clutch moments.

How To Download Valorant And Install

1. Visit the Valorant website

Go to the Valorant main website and click on "Play Free"

2. Create your Riot account

Select if you have a Riot Games Account or not. If you have played games such as League of legends then you will already have an account. This can be any name you want as you can change your Valo name later if needed. If you're having issues with the game's language settings, see our guide on how to change Valorant language.

3. Download the Valorant installer

After you have created your Riot Games account, then click the "Download" button to save the installer to your computer.

4. Run the installer

Double-click the file "Install VALORANT.exe" and Install the game. Valorant is a 26GB install so if you don't have enough disk space, then click "Advanced Options" and change your installation location.

5. Let the game download

Wait for the game client to finish downloading the game. This will take quite a while depending on your internet speed.

6. Click Play

Once the Riot Games Client is finished downloading, the button will change to Play. Simply click that and you can let your gunplay shine and show everyone your spectacular plays!

System Requirements

OS: Windows 10 (Build 19041+) or 11 64-bit with SSE 4.2 or AVX Support
RAM: 4GB minimum
VRAM: 1GB minimum

Minimum Specs (30 FPS)

CPU: Intel i3-540, AMD Athlon 200GE
GPU: Intel HD 4000, AMD Radeon R5 220

Recommended Specs (60 FPS)

CPU: Intel i3-4150, AMD Ryzen 3 1200
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GT 730, AMD Radeon R7 240

High-End Specs (144+ FPS)

CPU: Intel i5-9400F 2.90GHz, AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti, AMD Radeon R7 370, Intel Arc A310

Is Valorant Free To Play?

Yes, Valorant is 100% free to play and Riot Games only makes money from in-game purchases. All you need to play Valorant is a PC and a Riot Account.

Can You Download Valorant On Mac OS/Steamdeck/Xbox/PS5 Etc?

Not natively, no. The reason for this is that Valorant's anti-cheat is highly invasive to your system and requires kernel access. This is simply not possible right now on operating systems other than Windows.

Right now Riot Games Valorant is only supported on PC with no current plans to bring the game to other platforms.

With that said, you can run Valorant on a Mac, but only if you use Bootcamp. However, the performance won't be great on newer M1 variants.

Is It Possible To Install Valorant Without A Riot Account?

You're able to download and install Valorant without a Riot account by simply going to the bottom of the Valo home page and clicking "Download Game Client".

However, it's worth noting, that you must have a Riot Games account to launch and play the game.

This is handy if you're installing Valorant on a family or friend's PC and you don't have their account details yet.

Common Installation Issues and Fixes

Riot Client Not Launching

Run as administrator, disable antivirus temporarily, and update Windows and graphics drivers. If issues persist, use the Riot Repair Tool.

Download Stuck or Slow

Check firewall settings, restart your router, and try changing DNS to 8.8.8.8. Also close any background applications that might be using bandwidth.

Error Code 5 or 7

These usually indicate connection issues. Restart the Riot Client and check if Valorant servers are down.

Getting Started Tips

Once you have Valorant installed, check out our Valorant tips guide to improve your gameplay. You might also want to learn about Valorant ranks to understand the competitive system.

If you're switching from CS2, our CS2 to Valorant sensitivity converter will help you maintain your muscle memory.