If the error is VAN 152, stop trying to play or sign in with other accounts on that PC and ask Riot Player Support to reevaluate the hardware ID (HWID) restriction. Riot identifies VAN 152 as a device restriction—not a game-installation or internet problem—and does not identify which component caused it. If the message is VAN:Restriction, follow the security or firmware instructions in that message instead; it is a different issue.
First, confirm which error you received
Read the complete code and message before changing anything. If useful, save a screenshot or note when it appeared so you can describe the issue accurately to Support.
| Error | What Riot says it means | Riot’s stated next step | Risk of continued sign-ins |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAN 152 | The device is restricted because of an HWID ban. Riot says this is not an installation or connection issue. Riot’s VAN 152 guidance | Request reevaluation through Player Support. Riot’s HWID ban guidance | Riot warns that accounts used on hardware suspected of an HWID ban can be restricted on that device and may receive a time-based account ban for suspected circumvention. Riot’s HWID ban guidance |
| VAN:Restriction | The system configuration does not meet the security baseline described by Vanguard. A warning is not necessarily an accusation of cheating. Riot’s Vanguard security update | Use the exact instructions in the Vanguard prompt and the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s official firmware guidance. | The cited VAN:Restriction guidance describes a configuration issue, not an HWID ban or the same account risk described for VAN 152. |
I bought a used PC and got VAN 152—what should I do?
- Stop launching VALORANT and signing in on that computer. Riot advises against trying any account on hardware suspected of an HWID ban. That includes another account belonging to a friend or family member.
- Contact Riot Player Support and request an HWID-ban reevaluation. Explain that you acquired the computer or component second-hand and provide the details you have. Riot’s public guidance does not specify a used-purchase evidence checklist or say that proof of purchase changes the decision.
- Open separate tickets for separate affected accounts. Riot instructs players to submit a separate ticket for each affected account.
- Wait for Riot’s decision before testing the PC again. Riot investigates and decides whether to lift or extend the restriction; a reversal is not guaranteed.
Riot’s HWID ban article says: “If you suspect a computer has an HWID ban, it’s best not to try to log in with any account.”
Can a used motherboard or other PC part already be hardware banned?
A used computer may be subject to an HWID restriction, but VAN 152 alone does not establish that the current owner cheated or reveal which part is responsible. Riot describes the restriction as device-level and does not identify an individual component as its cause. Its public guidance also does not confirm that a specific used motherboard, graphics card, or other part carries a transferable ban.
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Will reinstalling the game, changing the network, or restarting fix VAN 152?
No. Riot says reinstalling Vanguard or VALORANT, changing the network connection, and restarting the PC will not remove a VAN 152 restriction. Those steps address ordinary software or connection problems, not the device restriction described by this code.
Will replacing the part remove a VALORANT HWID ban?
Riot does not name a replaceable component or recommend hardware replacement to clear an HWID restriction. Because the code does not identify a particular part, buying a motherboard, PC, or purported ban-removal tool is not a verified remedy. Use Riot’s reevaluation process rather than spending money on a hardware fix the official guidance does not support.
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Is VAN:Restriction the same as VAN 152?
No. Riot treats VAN:Restriction as a configuration and security-feature issue. Depending on the prompt and system, the fix may involve enabling a specified security feature or updating motherboard firmware. Follow the precise requirement shown by Vanguard and the manufacturer’s instructions for your model; firmware procedures vary, and Riot cautions that the warning does not necessarily mean it suspects cheating. See Riot’s Vanguard security update for its explanation.
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