Valorant is a popular online tactical first-person shooter game that has captivated the attention of many gamers around the world. However, the experience can be marred by the game freezing or getting stuck, especially on Windows 11. This issue can cause frustration and interfere with gameplay, which is why it's essential to know how to fix it. This article will explore some troubleshooting techniques to help you fix Valorant's stuck and freeze on Windows 11.

Change Valorant Graphics Preference

First of all, make sure to close Valorant and the Riot launcher. When this is done, open up your Windows settings. Navigate to Display under System.

Scroll down and select Graphics, or simply search for Graphics Settings to get here.

You can change the default GPU settings for applications installed on your Windows PC. Click on Browse, and your file explorer will open up.

Browse for Valorant in Graphics Settings

Navigate to the drive on which you install Riot Games. In this case, this will be the default C: drive > Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64. Select the Valorant-Win64-Shipping application and click on Add.

C: drive > Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64

This will add the Valorant game process to this list of applications. If you cannot find your install location, search for Riot Games in your start menu. Click on Open File Location, which will open the file location for the Riot shortcut. Right-click the shortcut and click on Open File Location again to get to your Valorant game process.

Click on Options for Valorant and set the Graphics preference to High performance. This will ensure that your graphics card gets utilized as soon as you launch the game, which will, for most users, fix issues when the game gets stuck while on start-up, and it can also reduce freeze frames while in-game.

Start Valorant as Administrator

Next, return back to the game process in your file explorer under Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64. Right-click the VALORANT application and select Properties.

Riot Games > VALORANT > live > ShooterGame > Binaries > Win64 > VALORANT > Properties

In the Compatibility tab, check the Disable full-screen optimizations and Run this program as an administrator option before applying your changes. This will ensure that the game has all the necessary permissions to start properly without having Windows services make a change. You can then try to launch Valorant to see if this fixes your problem.

Valorant Properties > Compatibility > Settings

Troubleshoot Network Connection & Disable VPN

If the issue persists, especially while launching the game, then make sure you’re using a reliable network connection. It would be best if you also considered disabling your VPN service, which could prevent you from logging into your game account properly.

Windows Settings > Network & Internet > VPN

Update & Restart Windows

Next, head back to your Windows settings. From here, navigate to the Windows Update tab. Make sure to download and install the latest update before restarting your PC. This will ensure that your OS is not the culprit to your Valorant startup issues.

Update Valorant Graphics Settings

Lastly, you should consider reducing some of your Valorant in-game graphics settings. Follow the short guide below to apply the best settings for your system performance.

There are several reasons why Valorant might freeze or get stuck on Windows 11. These can include outdated drivers, insufficient system resources, corrupted game files, or issues with the game's servers.
If Valorant continues to freeze or get stuck, you may need to check your system for malware, perform a clean boot, or update your operating system
You can prevent Valorant from freezing or getting stuck in the future by ensuring that your system meets the game's requirements, updating your drivers regularly, and clearing temporary files and caches from your system. It's also a good idea to avoid running other programs while playing the game and to keep your computer free from malware.
Valorant is optimized for low-end hardware, so you should be able to play it on Windows 11 with a system that meets the minimum requirements. However, if you experience lag or poor performance, you may need to upgrade your hardware or reduce the game's graphics settings to improve your gameplay experience.