7 min read
Few things are more frustrating for a gamer than being minutes away from a match, only to find the Riot Client stuck in a perpetual loop of checking size. This specific error usually manifests as the launcher hanging indefinitely while trying to determine how much space the game requires or verifying existing files. While it looks like a simple progress bar issue, it often signals a deeper conflict between the Riot Vanguard anti-cheat system, Windows folder permissions, or corrupted temporary cache files.
- Running as Administrator
- Clearing Riot Client Cache
- Verifying Storage and Disk Health
- Reinstalling Riot Vanguard
- Adjusting Firewall and Antivirus Rules
- Flushing DNS and Network Reset
- Windows Updates and System Integrity
Run the Riot Client as Administrator
The most common reason for the checking size loop is a lack of write permissions. When the Riot Client attempts to scan your drive to verify the installation size, Windows may block the process if the application does not have the necessary administrative privileges. This prevents the client from accessing the specific directory where the game files are stored.
To resolve this, completely close the Riot Client from the system tray (bottom right of your taskbar). Right-click the Riot Client shortcut on your desktop and select Run as administrator. If this fixes the issue, you can make it permanent by right-clicking the shortcut, going to Properties > Compatibility, and checking the box that says ‘Run this program as an administrator’.
Implementing these troubleshooting tips can save you from hours of waiting for a bar that will never move. Ensuring your gaming setup is optimized for permissions often resolves most launcher-related hangs.
Clear the Riot Games Cache and Temporary Files
Over time, the Riot Client accumulates temporary data and cache files that can become corrupted. When the client attempts to verify the game size, it may be referencing a corrupted manifest file, causing it to enter a loop. Clearing these files forces the launcher to perform a fresh scan of the game directory.
Step-by-Step Cache Removal:
- Close the Riot Client and Valorant entirely.
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
%localappdata%and hit Enter. - Locate the folder named Riot Games.
- Inside this folder, find and delete the Installers and Riot Client cache folders.
- Restart your computer and launch the client again.
By removing these temporary files, you eliminate the possibility that a stale configuration file is misleading the launcher about the current state of your installation.
Verify Available Storage and Disk Health
It sounds obvious, but the checking size error frequently occurs when the disk is nearly full or the file system is fragmented. Valorant requires a significant amount of contiguous space for its game assets. If your drive is running at 95% capacity, the client may struggle to allocate the temporary space needed to perform the size check.
Check your primary drive (usually C:) and ensure you have at least 10-20GB of buffer space beyond the game’s requirements. Additionally, if you are using an older HDD, run a Disk Check (chkdsk) to ensure there are no bad sectors preventing the client from reading the file headers. For those using SSDs, ensuring that TRIM is enabled can help maintain the read/write speeds necessary for fast verification.
Reinstall Riot Vanguard Anti-Cheat
Unlike most games, Valorant relies on a kernel-level driver called Riot Vanguard. If Vanguard is outdated or corrupted, it can interfere with the Riot Client’s ability to communicate with the game files. Since Vanguard starts at boot, a glitch in the driver can lead to the launcher getting stuck at the checking size phase because it cannot verify the integrity of the secure boot environment.
How to properly refresh Vanguard:
- Navigate to Add or Remove Programs in Windows Settings.
- Find Riot Vanguard and select Uninstall.
- Restart your computer (this step is critical as the driver must be fully unloaded from the kernel).
- Launch the Riot Client. It will notice Vanguard is missing and prompt you to reinstall it.
- Restart your computer one more time after the installation completes.
This process resets the security handshake between your OS and the game, often clearing the path for the launcher to proceed past the size check.
Adjust Firewall and Antivirus Rules
Strict security software can mistake the Riot Client’s disk-scanning behavior for a malicious process. When the client attempts to read thousands of small files to ‘check size’, some antivirus programs trigger a heuristic block, freezing the process without notifying the user.
To test this, temporarily disable your Windows Defender or third-party antivirus. If the game begins updating immediately, you need to add an exception. Navigate to your antivirus settings and add the entire Riot Games folder to the ‘Exclusions’ or ‘Whitelist’ section. This ensures that the real-time scanning does not interrupt the launcher’s verification process.
Flush DNS and Reset Network Configuration
While ‘checking size’ seems like a local disk issue, the Riot Client actually communicates with remote servers to compare your local file version with the latest patch version. If your DNS cache is outdated or your network connection is unstable, the client may fail to receive the ‘expected size’ data from the server, leading to an infinite loop.
Open the Command Prompt (CMD) as an administrator and run the following commands one by one:
ipconfig /flushdnsnetsh winsock resetnetsh int ip reset
Restarting your router and performing a DNS flush ensures that your PC is connecting to the most efficient Riot server, reducing the likelihood of communication timeouts during the verification phase.
Update Windows and System Integrity
Valorant is designed for modern versions of Windows 10 and 11. If your OS is missing critical cumulative updates, certain API calls used by the Riot Client for file management may fail. Ensure that your Windows Update is current and that no ‘Optional Quality Updates’ are pending.
Additionally, running the System File Checker (SFC) can fix corrupted OS files that might be hindering the launcher. Type sfc /scannow in an administrator Command Prompt. This will scan for any corrupted system files and automatically replace them, ensuring a stable environment for the Riot Client to operate.
Conclusion
Getting stuck on the checking size screen in Valorant is usually a symptom of permission conflicts or corrupted cache rather than a failure of the game files themselves. By prioritizing administrative rights and clearing the Riot cache, most users can resolve the issue in under ten minutes. If the problem persists, refreshing the Vanguard installation and adjusting firewall settings provides a comprehensive fix for the remaining edge cases. Once these steps are complete, your launcher should seamlessly transition from checking size to the actual update or ‘Play’ button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Valorant stay stuck at checking size for hours?
This usually happens because the Riot Client is being blocked by Windows User Account Control (UAC) or an antivirus program, preventing it from reading the game directory. It is not actually ‘checking’ but is instead waiting for a system permission that never arrives.
Will reinstalling the whole game fix the checking size loop?
While a full reinstall often works, it is the most time-consuming method. It is highly recommended to try running the client as an administrator and clearing the Riot cache first, as these fix the root cause without requiring a 30GB+ download.
Does updating my GPU driver help with Riot Client errors?
Generally, GPU drivers do not affect the launcher’s ability to check file sizes. However, keeping drivers updated ensures that once you bypass the loading screen, the game runs without crashing or experiencing frame drops.
How do I clear the Riot Games cache safely?
The safest way is to navigate to %localappdata%, locate the Riot Games folder, and delete the ‘Riot Client’ and ‘Installers’ subfolders. This does not delete your game installation or account settings; it only removes temporary session data.
Can a slow internet connection cause the ‘checking size’ error?
Yes. The client must fetch the latest version manifest from Riot’s servers. If your connection is dropping packets or the DNS is unstable, the client may hang while waiting for the server to respond with the correct file size data.