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If you suspect a second-hand PC has an active VALORANT hardware ban (HWID ban), stop signing in to Riot accounts on it and ask Riot Player Support to re-evaluate the penalty. Explain that you bought the computer used and provide truthful purchase details or records if you have them. Riot does not publish a used-PC exception or guarantee that purchase evidence will reverse a ban; it says the review can result in the ban being lifted or extended.

First, confirm it is an HWID ban

Read the exact error or penalty notice and check the account’s penalty details before appealing. Riot describes an HWID ban as enforcement tied to a computer’s physical components, rather than only to one account. Its purpose is to prevent the device from accessing Riot games.

A VAN: RESTRICTION message may instead indicate a technical Vanguard restriction caused by system conditions, such as outdated Windows or security settings that need attention. That is not proof that you or the computer’s previous owner received an HWID ban. Follow the instructions for the exact restriction shown. Riot notes that BIOS settings vary by motherboard; if you are not comfortable changing them, contact the computer or motherboard manufacturer or a qualified professional. See Riot’s Vanguard Restrictions guidance.

Do not use Riot accounts on the suspected PC

Riot warns that signing in with another account on a device with an active HWID ban can cause that account to be restricted on Riot products on the device and may result in a set-period ban. Riot says, “If you suspect a computer has an HWID ban, it’s best not to try to log in with any account.” Reinstalling the game or deleting the account associated with the ban will not remove the hardware ban. Riot’s published route is a support review, not an attempt to bypass enforcement. Read Riot’s HWID-ban guidance.

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How to appeal through Riot Player Support

  1. Keep the PC out of use for Riot sign-ins. Do not test the restriction with a different Riot account while the ban is unresolved.
  2. Submit a Player Support request. Ask for an HWID-ban re-evaluation and describe the notice you received. Riot says it will investigate whether the penalty was valid and make a final decision to lift or extend the hardware ban. The Riot support request form collects account and issue details.
  3. Give a clear, factual timeline. Include when and where you acquired the PC, when you first saw the notice, which account was affected, and the notice’s exact wording. Attach purchase records if available, but do not imply that they prove who caused the original enforcement.
  4. Keep separate account cases separate. If more than one account has been affected, Riot recommends submitting a separate ticket for each account so Support can review each case individually.

Riot’s Community Pact says, “If you believe a penalty was issued in error, you can appeal it by contacting Player Support.” Riot says it manually reviews appeals and corrects a decision if it finds an error. This is a route to review, not a promise that the penalty will be removed. See the Riot Community Pact.

What the review can change

Riot says an HWID ban may be lifted, but a reversal is never guaranteed. The review can also result in the ban being extended. If Riot lifts the HWID ban, it says it will no longer ban the player’s accounts on sight; however, account bans already applied remain in place until the HWID-ban period ends. Riot may apply an HWID ban again if the player returns to the earlier negative behavior.

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Riot also states that valid penalties will not be removed or adjusted. Buying the computer second-hand is important context to explain, but Riot’s published guidance does not identify it as an automatic exemption or say that proof of purchase guarantees reversal.

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Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
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