If VALORANT freezes during a match, first note whether it happens only after you Alt+Tab or during ordinary play. A freeze after switching windows points you toward Windows multitasking and display settings; freezes without Alt+Tab call for broader checks such as background software, drivers and system requirements. Neither symptom alone identifies the cause.
Does VALORANT freeze only after you Alt+Tab?
If the problem starts when you switch away from VALORANT and return, try Riot’s Windows-specific suggestions before changing unrelated settings. Riot’s Alt+Tab troubleshooting guide addresses freezing or stuttering associated with switching between the game and other windows.
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- Set Alt+Tab to show open windows only. Open Windows Settings and go to System > Multitasking. Under the Alt+Tab setting, choose Open windows only.
- Turn off Windows animations. Open Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects and switch off Animation effects.
- Test fullscreen optimizations. Find VALORANT’s executable, open its Properties, select the Compatibility tab, and change the fullscreen optimization setting. Test the game, then reverse the change if it makes no difference or worsens the issue.
Change one setting at a time and test whether the same Alt+Tab-triggered freeze returns. These steps target that particular symptom; they are not a general fix for every mid-match freeze.
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Does the freeze happen during ordinary play?
Riot’s guidance for system or critical errors recommends investigating software conflicts and drivers. That guidance is broader than a confirmed diagnosis of mid-match freezing, so treat these as troubleshooting checks rather than guaranteed fixes.
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Close background applications or isolate conflicts
Close applications you do not need while playing, then test again. If the freeze persists, use a Windows clean boot to reduce the number of programs and services running in the background. If VALORANT behaves differently in a clean boot, re-enable items methodically to help identify a conflict. Riot explains its clean-boot approach in its system and critical-error troubleshooting guidance.
Check security software and firewall interference
Check whether your firewall is allowing VALORANT and Vanguard, and whether third-party antivirus software is interfering. Follow Riot’s instructions for the security software you use rather than disabling protection indiscriminately. If you test with a security feature changed, restore it afterward unless you have confirmed and safely configured an exception.
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Update the graphics driver
Check for a current graphics driver through the official support channel for your GPU maker. Driver updates can address software compatibility problems, but the available guidance does not establish that an outdated driver is the cause of any particular player’s freeze.
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If the conflict, security-software and driver checks do not help, Riot lists reinstalling VALORANT and Vanguard among further troubleshooting options. Reinstallation is more disruptive than the checks above, so reserve it for when simpler steps have not resolved the issue.
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Check whether your PC meets VALORANT’s requirements
Compare your system with Riot’s PC hardware requirements, especially if the computer is older or low-spec. Riot lists 4 GB of RAM as the minimum, alongside CPU, GPU, operating-system and DirectX requirements. That minimum is a baseline for checking compatibility, not a promise of smooth play or evidence that a memory upgrade will fix a freeze. If your PC already meets the listed requirements, do not assume that adding RAM is the solution.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Work out what kind of freeze you are seeing
The details around a freeze can help you choose which checks to try, but they do not prove its cause. Before making more changes, record:
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- Whether the freeze follows Alt+Tab or happens during ordinary play.
- Whether game audio continues while the image is frozen.
- Whether only VALORANT stops responding or the entire PC locks up.
- Whether the issue began after a game, Windows or driver update.
If the entire computer locks up, that is different from a game-only freeze and is useful context when seeking help. Likewise, audio continuing or stopping is a symptom to report, not a diagnosis by itself.
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If the freezes continue after relevant checks, contact Riot Support. Include your system details, what happens immediately before the freeze, whether audio continues, whether Windows remains responsive, and any recent updates or troubleshooting changes. Use Riot’s support tools to provide relevant logs if requested; the published guidance here does not establish a freeze-specific diagnostic workflow.
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