6 days ago

VAN 152 VALORANT Error: How to fix the HWID Ban

For those of you in a rush, today we are talking about how to fix a Valorant HWID ban (VAN 152) using 👉 Sync Spoofer: https://sync.top/

I still remember the exact moment I got hit with the VAN 152 error. I'd just queued up for a ranked match, the Riot Client loaded, and then — nothing. Just a cold, unhelpful error code staring back at me. No explanation. No obvious fix. Just that number: 152.

VAN 152 VALORANT Error, what is it, what can you do, and step by step how to fix it.

If you're here, you've probably had the same gut-drop moment. And I want to be upfront with you right now: VAN 152 is not a typical bug. It's not a server hiccup you can fix by restarting your PC or reinstalling VALORANT. This one is different — and the sooner you understand what it actually means, the sooner you can figure out your real options.

Let me walk you through everything I know about this error, what actually works, and what's a complete waste of your time.

What Is the VAN 152 Error in VALORANT?

VAN 152 is VALORANT's error code for a hardware ID (HWID) ban. It's triggered by Riot Vanguard — Riot Games' kernel-level anti-cheat system — and it means your specific device has been flagged and blocked from running VALORANT.

Not your account. Your machine.

That's the part that catches most people off guard. A regular account ban means you create a new account and you're (technically) back in. An HWID ban targets the hardware itself — your CPU, motherboard, and other system identifiers. Vanguard reads these unique hardware signatures and, when it sees a flagged ID, throws VAN 152 and blocks access entirely.

So reinstalling VALORANT? Won't fix it. Creating a new account? Also won't fix it — at least not for long. The ban follows the device, not the login.

Why Did You Get an HWID Ban?

Honestly? There are a few reasons Riot issues HWID bans, and they're not all equal in severity.

The most common causes:

Using cheats or hacks — This is the big one. Vanguard is super aggressive about detecting third-party software that manipulates the game. If it catches you, or even catches software that looks like cheating tools, you're getting flagged hard.
Ban evasion — If your account was previously banned and you tried to keep playing on the same device, Riot escalates to an HWID ban specifically to stop that.
Repeated severe violations — Multiple bans for things like extreme toxicity, threats, or misconduct can eventually trigger a hardware-level response.
Account sharing or boosting — Less common, but it happens.

Here's the catch: false positives exist. Some legitimate software — certain VPNs, game boosters, aggressive antivirus programs, or even some streaming overlays — can trigger Vanguard's detection systems. It's rare, but if you genuinely haven't cheated and you're seeing VAN 152, this is the angle worth pursuing with Riot Support.

How Long Does a VAN 152 Ban Last?

Most HWID bans last approximately 4 months, though Riot can extend this to up to a year for more serious violations. In extreme cases — persistent cheating, repeated ban evasion — bans can be permanent.

Here's something no other guide seems to answer clearly: the ban does not automatically lift when the timer expires. You won't get an email. Nothing will pop up in the Riot Client saying "you're free." What happens is that after the ban period ends, the VAN 152 error should stop appearing when you try to launch VALORANT — but many players report needing to do a clean reinstall of Vanguard at that point to get things running properly.

If you hit the 4-month mark and you're still seeing the error, that's your cue to contact Riot Support and ask them to verify the ban status.

Can You Actually Fix the VAN 152 Error?

Short answer: not if the HWID ban is legitimate and still active. No amount of technical tinkering will override Vanguard's hardware-level block while the ban is live.

But — and this matters — there are two scenarios where troubleshooting steps do make sense:

You genuinely haven't cheated and think this might be a false positive
You believe the ban period has expired and the error is persisting due to a software glitch

For everyone else, the path forward is Riot Support. Let's cover both.

Troubleshooting Steps (For False Positives or Expired Bans)

If you fall into one of those two categories above, here's what I'd try before going straight to a support ticket.

Step 1: Restart your PC and relaunch the Riot Client

I know this sounds obvious — but Vanguard runs as a system service, and a clean reboot forces it to reinitialize. Sometimes a corrupted session causes error codes that don't reflect your actual ban status. Takes 2 minutes. Always worth it first.

Step 2: Check if the VGC service is running correctly

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Scroll down to find VGC (the Vanguard service). Right-click it, go to Properties, and make sure the Startup Type is set to Automatic. If it's disabled or set to Manual, change it, then restart your PC.

Step 3: Reinstall Riot Vanguard

This is the most commonly recommended fix for Vanguard-related errors, and it's worth doing properly.

Open Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a Program
Find Riot Vanguard and uninstall it completely
Restart your PC
Open the Riot Client and launch VALORANT — it will automatically reinstall Vanguard

Don't just uninstall VALORANT. Uninstall Vanguard specifically. The game and the anti-cheat are separate installations, and people mix this up constantly.

Step 4: Check for conflicting software

Disable any VPNs, game boosters (like Razer Cortex or similar), or aggressive third-party antivirus programs before launching. Some of these interfere with how Vanguard reads system processes. If VALORANT launches after disabling one of them — you've found your culprit.

Step 5: Verify TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are enabled

Vanguard requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot to be active, especially on Windows 11. If either is disabled in your BIOS, Vanguard will refuse to run. This is super relevant if you're trying to relaunch after a ban expiry and hitting errors — your system settings may have changed during the downtime.

To check: go to Settings → System → About → Windows Security → Device Security. If TPM or Secure Boot shows as unavailable, you'll need to enable them in your BIOS/UEFI settings.

What NOT To Do After Getting VAN 152

This section is genuinely missing from most guides, so I want to be direct here.

Don't create a new account and try to keep playing. I get it — the impulse is real. But Vanguard will flag the new account to the same HWID, and now you've added ban evasion to your record, which makes appealing significantly harder.

Don't buy or use an "HWID spoofer." These tools are sold in shady corners of the internet with promises to mask your hardware ID. Using one violates Riot's Terms of Service at an even deeper level, and Vanguard's detection has gotten super sophisticated about catching them. You'll make things worse.

Don't assume reinstalling Windows will fix it. Your hardware identifiers are tied to physical components — primarily your motherboard and CPU. A fresh OS install doesn't change those.

How To Contact Riot Support About VAN 152

If you believe your ban is a false positive, or if you want to appeal after the ban period, here's exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Go to support-valorant.riotgames.com and log in with your Riot account.

Step 2: Click Submit a Request and select VALORANT as the game.

Step 3: Under the issue category, select Bans & Restrictions or the closest equivalent.

Step 4: Include your Hardware ID (HWID) in the ticket. Here's how to find it — open Command Prompt (search "cmd" in the Start menu) and type:

wmic csproduct get UUID

Hit Enter. The string of characters that appears is your system's UUID — include this in your ticket so Riot's team can cross-reference it quickly.

Step 5: Write your appeal message. Here's what I'd include — and what I'd leave out.

Include:
- A clear, calm explanation of your situation
- When the error first appeared
- Whether you've made any recent software changes (new programs, VPN, antivirus updates)
- Your HWID (from the command above)
- Any evidence that you haven't violated the ToS

Don't include:
- Anger or accusations — support agents are humans and they respond to tone
- Demands or ultimatums
- Claims that "everyone cheats" or comparisons to other players
- Anything that sounds like you're admitting to ban evasion

Riot Support typically responds within 3–7 business days for ban appeals. If you don't hear back, a single follow-up after 7 days is fine.

What Happens to Other Accounts on the Same Device?

This is critical if you share a computer — with a roommate, a sibling, anyone.

If another person logs into VALORANT on your HWID-banned device, their account will also be flagged. The hardware ban applies to the machine, not the user. So if your younger brother fires up VALORANT on your PC while you're waiting out a ban, his account is now in jeopardy too. Tell anyone who shares your device to stay off VALORANT until the situation is resolved.

VAN 152 vs. Other VAN Error Codes — Why This One Is Different

You might've seen other VAN errors — VAN 44, VAN 84, VAN 1067. Those are generally Vanguard service or compatibility errors. Annoying, but fixable with the reinstall steps above.

VAN 152 is in a different category entirely. It's not a software glitch — it's an intentional block. That's why the standard "restart and reinstall" advice that works for most Vanguard errors doesn't apply here. Treating VAN 152 like a technical error is the reason so many players spin their wheels for hours before realizing what they're actually dealing with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does reinstalling VALORANT fix VAN 152?

No. Reinstalling the game doesn't affect the HWID ban. The ban is tied to your hardware, not your game installation. The only thing that resolves an active HWID ban is waiting for it to expire or successfully appealing through Riot Support.

Can a VPN cause the VAN 152 error?

A VPN alone is unlikely to trigger an HWID ban — but certain VPN software can interfere with how Vanguard runs, potentially causing other VAN errors. If you're seeing VAN 152 specifically, a VPN isn't the cause. That said, disable it anyway before troubleshooting, because it can complicate the reinstall process.

Is VAN 152 always permanent?

No. Most HWID bans last around 4 months. Bans for severe or repeated violations can extend to a year or longer. Permanent bans are reserved for the most egregious cases — typically persistent cheating combined with ban evasion. If you're unsure of your ban duration, contact Riot Support directly and ask.

What if I genuinely didn't cheat and got VAN 152?

This happens. Submit a support ticket, stay calm, include your HWID, and explain exactly what software you had running. Riot does review false positive cases, and legitimate players have had bans reversed. Don't panic — just document everything clearly and be patient.

Does VAN 152 apply to VALORANT Mobile?

As of 2026, the HWID ban system is specific to the PC version of VALORANT. Mobile uses a different anti-cheat architecture. So if you're banned on PC, your mobile account shouldn't be affected — though Riot's policies do evolve, so keep an eye on their official communications.

How will I know when my ban has been lifted?

You won't get a notification. Once the ban period ends, try launching VALORANT normally. If VAN 152 still appears, do a clean reinstall of Vanguard (steps above) and try again. If it persists past your expected ban end date, contact Riot Support to confirm the ban status.

My Final Take on the VAN 152 Error Fix

Look — if you're reading this and you know you cheated, I'm not here to lecture you. The path forward is clear: wait out the ban, don't evade it, and come back clean. Trying to fight it with spoofers or new accounts will only make things worse.

If you genuinely didn't cheat and you're seeing VAN 152? That's frustrating in a completely different way — and your best move is a well-written, evidence-backed support ticket to Riot. Be specific, be calm, include your HWID, and give them something to work with.

The van 152 error fix situation is one where patience beats panic every single time. I've seen players spiral for weeks trying every technical workaround under the sun, when a single honest support ticket resolved it in 5 days.

If I can navigate this, so can you. Submit that ticket, check your Vanguard service settings, and stop creating new accounts in the meantime. That's genuinely the best advice I can give you.

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