I’ve been there – you’ve tried out 2XKO, Riot’s new fighting game set in the League of Legends universe, and now you want it off your PC. Maybe it’s not your cup of tea, maybe you need the space, or maybe you’re just tired of Vanguard running in the background. Whatever your reason, I’m here to help you completely uninstall 2XKO from your computer.
Let me tell you, when I first tried to uninstall 2XKO, I ran into all sorts of problems. The game wouldn’t uninstall, Windows kept giving me errors, and I could still see Vanguard running in my system tray. After hours of frustration and research, I finally figured out all the steps to completely remove 2XKO and all its components.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to uninstall 2XKO properly, including how to deal with that stubborn Vanguard anti-cheat that seems to stick around like an unwanted guest.
Why Is Uninstalling 2XKO So Difficult?
Before we dive into the steps, let me explain why uninstalling 2XKO isn’t as simple as other games. The main culprit is Riot Games’ Vanguard anti-cheat system. Unlike regular game files, Vanguard operates at the kernel level of your Windows system, which means it has deep access to your computer’s core functions.
This kernel-level access is what makes Vanguard so effective at catching cheaters, but it’s also what makes it so difficult to remove. Vanguard starts up before Windows even finishes booting, and it actively prevents any modifications to game files – including uninstallation.
When I tried to uninstall 2XKO the first time, I kept getting error messages saying the game was still running or that Riot Client was preventing the uninstallation. That’s because I hadn’t properly shut down all the background processes first.
What You’ll Need Before Starting?
Before we begin the uninstallation process, make sure you have:
- Administrator access to your Windows PC
- About 15-30 minutes of time
- Patience (trust me, you’ll need it!)
Also, decide whether you want to:
- Just uninstall 2XKO but keep Vanguard (if you play other Riot games)
- Completely remove both 2XKO and Vanguard from your system
This decision will affect which steps you need to follow, so keep it in mind as we go through the process.
Method 1: Standard Uninstall (When Everything Works Perfectly?)
If you’re lucky, the standard uninstall method will work for you. This is what Riot Games officially recommends, and it’s the simplest approach.
Step 1: Close 2XKO Completely
First things first – make sure 2XKO isn’t running at all. I know this sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people (including me the first time) forget to check this.
- Close the game if it’s open
- Check your taskbar for any 2XKO icons
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Look for any 2XKO processes and end them
Step 2: Exit Vanguard from System Tray
This is the step most people miss! Vanguard runs in the background even after you close the game.
- Look at the bottom-right corner of your screen (system tray)
- Click the upward arrow to show hidden icons
- Find the Vanguard icon (it looks like a red eye)
- Right-click on it and select “Exit”
When I did this, I was surprised to find Vanguard running even though I hadn’t played 2XKO in days. That’s how persistent this anti-cheat is!
Step 3: Close Riot Client
The Riot Client is another background process that can prevent uninstallation.
- Look for the Riot Client icon in your system tray
- Right-click on it and select “Exit”
If you don’t see it in the system tray, check Task Manager again and end any Riot Client processes you find.
Step 4: Uninstall 2XKO Through Windows Settings
Now that everything is closed, you can finally uninstall the game.
- Press the Windows Key or click the Start button
- Type “Installed apps” and open it
- Scroll down until you find 2XKO in the list
- Click the three dots next to it and select “Uninstall”
- Confirm the uninstallation when prompted
If this works, congratulations! You’ve successfully uninstalled 2XKO. But if you’re like me and ran into problems, keep reading for more advanced methods.
Method 2: Complete Removal (Including Vanguard)
If you want to completely remove everything related to 2XKO, including Vanguard, follow these steps. This is what I recommend if you don’t play any other Riot games.
Step 1: Follow All Steps from Method 1
First, complete all the steps from Method 1 to close the game, exit Vanguard, and close Riot Client.
Step 2: Uninstall Vanguard Separately
Even after uninstalling 2XKO, Vanguard often remains on your system. Here’s how to remove it:
- Press the Windows Key or click the Start button
- Type “Add or remove programs” and open it
- Scroll down until you find “Riot Vanguard” in the list
- Click on it and select “Uninstall”
- Confirm the uninstallation when prompted
- Allow the application to make changes to your device when asked
When I did this, I was shocked to see that Vanguard was taking up system resources even though I had already uninstalled 2XKO. No wonder my computer was running slower!
Step 3: Uninstall Riot Client (Optional)
If you don’t plan on playing any other Riot games, you can remove the Riot Client as well:
- Go back to “Add or remove programs”
- Find “Riot Client” in the list
- Click on it and select “Uninstall”
Method 3: Manual Uninstall (For When Nothing Else Works)
Sometimes, even the standard methods fail. When I was trying to uninstall 2XKO on my secondary PC, nothing seemed to work. That’s when I discovered the manual uninstall method.
Step 1: Use Command Prompt to Remove Vanguard Services
This is a bit more technical, but don’t worry – I’ll guide you through it.
- Press the Windows Key
- Type “cmd” but don’t press Enter yet
- Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”
- Click “Yes” when Windows asks for permission
- Type the following command and press Enter:Line WrappingCollapseCopy1sc delete vgc
- Then type this command and press Enter:Line WrappingCollapseCopy1sc delete vgk
These commands remove the Vanguard services from your system. When I ran these, I finally felt like I was making progress!
Step 2: Delete Remaining Files
Now we need to delete any leftover files:
- Press Windows Key + R
- Type
%localappdata%and press Enter - Look for a folder called “Lion” (this is 2XKO’s internal name)
- Right-click on it and select “Delete”
- Go to your C: drive
- Open the “Riot Games” folder (if it exists)
- Delete any 2XKO-related folders you find
- Navigate to C:\Program Files\
- Look for a “Riot Vanguard” folder
- Right-click on it and select “Delete”
Step 3: Clean the Registry (Advanced)
This step is optional but recommended for a complete cleanup. Be very careful here – messing with the registry can cause problems if you’re not careful.
- Press Windows Key + R
- Type “regedit” and press Enter
- Click “Yes” when Windows asks for permission
- In the registry editor, press Ctrl + F
- Search for “2XKO”
- Delete any entries you find
- Search for “Riot Vanguard”
- Delete any entries you find
- Search for “Lion” (2XKO’s internal name)
- Delete any entries you find
When I did this, I found several leftover registry entries that were still trying to load Vanguard on startup. No wonder my computer was acting weird!
Step 4: Restart Your Computer
After all these steps, restart your computer to ensure everything is properly cleared from memory.
Method 4: Clean Uninstall for Troubleshooting
If you’re having issues with 2XKO and want to do a completely clean reinstall, follow these steps. This is what I did when I was experiencing crashes and performance issues.
Step 1: Complete All Previous Methods
First, follow all the steps from Methods 1, 2, and 3 to completely remove 2XKO and all its components.
Step 2: Clear Additional Cache Files
- Press Windows Key + R
- Type
%programdata%and press Enter - Look for a “Riot Games” folder
- Right-click on it and select “Delete”
- Go to your Documents folder
- Look for any 2XKO-related folders and delete them
Step 3: Use Third-Party Uninstallers (Optional)
For a truly thorough cleanup, you can use third-party uninstaller tools like Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner. These tools can find and remove leftover files and registry entries that Windows might miss.
When I used Revo Uninstaller after following all the manual steps, it still found over 100 leftover registry entries and files related to 2XKO and Vanguard!
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Based on my experience and what I’ve seen from other users, here are some common problems you might encounter and how to solve them.
“Riot Client is Still Running” Error
This is the most common error I encountered. Here’s how to fix it:
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
- Look for “Riot Client” under Processes
- Right-click on it and select “End task”
- Check your system tray for the Riot Client icon
- Right-click on it and select “Exit”
- Try uninstalling again
If that doesn’t work, try this trick I discovered:
- Open the Riot Client
- Don’t close the window
- Go to your system tray
- Right-click on the Riot Client icon
- Select “Exit”
- Now try uninstalling 2XKO
For some reason, opening the client first and then exiting it from the system tray works better than just trying to close it from the background.
“Access Denied” or “Permission Required” Errors
If you’re getting permission errors:
- Make sure you’re running as an administrator
- Right-click on Command Prompt or other tools and select “Run as administrator”
- Check if the files are set to “Read-only”
- Right-click on the file or folder > Properties > Uncheck “Read-only”
Vanguard Won’t Uninstall
If Vanguard refuses to uninstall:
- Try the manual method using Command Prompt (Method 3)
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode
- Try uninstalling from Safe Mode
- Use third-party uninstaller tools
Comparison of Uninstall Methods
Here’s a quick comparison of the different methods to help you choose the right one for your situation:
| Method | Difficulty | Thoroughness | Time Required | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Method 1: Standard | Easy | Basic | 5-10 minutes | Quick removal when everything works |
| Method 2: Complete | Medium | High | 10-15 minutes | Removing all Riot components |
| Method 3: Manual | Hard | Very High | 20-30 minutes | When standard methods fail |
| Method 4: Clean | Hard | Complete | 30-45 minutes | Troubleshooting and fresh installs |
What Happens If I Just Delete the Files?
I know what you might be thinking – can’t I just delete the 2XKO folders and be done with it? Well, I tried that too, and here’s what happened:
The game files were gone, but:
- Vanguard was still running in the background
- My computer was slower than before
- Windows kept trying to find missing files
- I couldn’t reinstall 2XKO properly later
Trust me, it’s not worth the headache. Follow the proper uninstall methods to avoid these issues.
Reinstalling 2XKO (If You Change Your Mind)
Maybe you’re uninstalling 2XKO to fix a problem, or maybe you’ll want to come back to it later. Here’s how to reinstall it cleanly:
- Go to the official 2XKO website
- Click “Play For Free”
- Sign in to your Riot account
- Download and run the installer
- Let it install 2XKO, Vanguard, and the Riot Client
- Restart your computer when prompted
When I reinstalled 2XKO after doing a complete uninstall, it ran much better than before. Sometimes a fresh install is all you need to fix performance issues.
FAQ: Common Questions About Uninstalling 2XKO
Will uninstalling 2XKO remove Vanguard?
No, uninstalling 2XKO will not automatically remove Vanguard. You need to uninstall Vanguard separately through “Add or remove programs” or use the manual method I described.
Do I need to restart my computer after uninstalling?
Yes, I recommend restarting your computer after uninstalling 2XKO and especially after uninstalling Vanguard. This ensures all services are properly stopped and removed from memory.
Can I play other Riot games without Vanguard?
No, all current Riot games (League of Legends, VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, and 2XKO) require Vanguard to run. If you uninstall Vanguard, you won’t be able to play any of these games until you reinstall them.
Why does Vanguard need kernel-level access?
Vanguard uses kernel-level access to detect cheating software that tries to hide from normal anti-cheat systems. While this makes it very effective at catching cheaters, it’s also why it’s so difficult to remove.
Is Vanguard safe for my computer?
Yes, Vanguard is developed by Riot Games and is generally considered safe. However, because it has kernel-level access, some users prefer not to have it on their systems when not playing Riot games.
Will uninstalling 2XKO delete my save data?
No, your save data and progress are stored on Riot’s servers, not locally. When you reinstall 2XKO, you’ll be able to pick up right where you left off.
Can I disable Vanguard instead of uninstalling it?
Yes, you can disable Vanguard from the system tray without uninstalling it. Just right-click the Vanguard icon and select “Exit.” However, you’ll need to restart your computer to re-enable it when you want to play again.
What if I can’t find Vanguard in “Add or remove programs”?
If you can’t find Vanguard in the list, it might already be uninstalled. Check your system tray to see if it’s running, and use Task Manager to look for Vanguard processes.
Will uninstalling 2XKO improve my computer’s performance?
It might, especially if you were having issues with Vanguard or if your system has limited resources. I noticed a slight improvement in startup time after removing Vanguard from my older laptop.
Can I move 2XKO to another drive instead of uninstalling?
Unfortunately, 2XKO doesn’t have an official way to move it to another drive. You would need to uninstall it from the current location and reinstall it on the new drive.
Final Thoughts
Uninstalling 2XKO might seem like a simple task, but as I’ve learned from personal experience, it can be quite frustrating if you don’t know all the steps. The key is to make sure you close all background processes, especially Vanguard and the Riot Client, before attempting to uninstall.
I hope this guide has helped you successfully remove 2XKO from your system. Whether you’re freeing up space, troubleshooting issues, or just moving on from the game, following these steps will ensure a clean and complete uninstallation.
Remember, if you ever want to come back to 2XKO, you can always reinstall it from the official website. And who knows? Maybe by then, Riot will have made the uninstallation process a bit more user-friendly.
If you found this guide helpful, be sure to bookmark it for future reference. And if you’re having any issues that I didn’t cover here, feel free to reach out – I’m always happy to help fellow gamers navigate these technical challenges.
Happy gaming, and I hope your next gaming experience is smoother than your 2XKO uninstallation was!