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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →If you think your PC has been hardware-banned from an online game, stop testing other accounts on it and confirm what the publisher’s notice actually says. A hardware restriction is different from an account ban in some games, and the right next step depends on the specific game and enforcement policy. Use the publisher’s official support or appeal route; do not assume reinstalling the game, changing networks, or replacing parts will lift the restriction.
First, identify exactly what was restricted
Before troubleshooting, record the exact game, platform, error code or notice, date, and the account involved. Save a screenshot if possible. Then check the publisher’s official support page for that exact message: “hardware ban” and “HWID ban” are not universal labels, and publishers do not all use the same enforcement or appeal rules.
Look for whether the notice identifies an account penalty, a device restriction, or both. If the notice is unclear, ask the publisher through its official support channel rather than relying on a forum diagnosis or a third-party “ban check” service.
How hardware bans differ by publisher
These examples show why it matters to follow the policy for the affected game rather than treating every restriction as the same.
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| Publisher and example | What the policy says | Review or appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Riot Games, including VALORANT’s VAN 152 | Riot describes an HWID ban as a restriction associated with the computer’s physical components. Another account logging into a game on that PC may also be restricted on the device and may receive a separate ban for a set period. | A player may request re-evaluation, but Riot does not guarantee the ban will be lifted. Submit separate tickets if several accounts are affected. Riot’s HWID-ban guidance. |
| Activision, Call of Duty | Activision says hardware bans apply to a device, not an account; they can block online play across Call of Duty titles, vary in length, and may be cleared or imposed again. A prior ban may remain on a secondhand, shared, or public device. | Hardware bans are not eligible for appeal. Activision distinguishes them from account penalties, which have a separate appeal process. Activision’s Security and Enforcement Policy. |
| Bungie, Destiny | Bungie’s appeal guidance concerns bans and restrictions in its games; it asks players to provide supporting evidence and be honest about any policy violations. | Submissions are automatically sorted, not all receive an employee response, and an overturn is not guaranteed. Bungie’s appeal guidance. |
| Epic Games | Epic’s Terms prohibit cheat software, tools, or hardware, including having cheat tools present on or connected to a device, and prohibit tampering with or circumventing gameplay-integrity tools. The terms do not establish that every Epic game uses hardware bans. | Epic’s terms say an action can be appealed; use the official route for the specific action. Epic Games Terms of Service. |
If the message is Riot VAN 152
Riot’s support page defines VAN 152 as a restriction on the device because of an HWID ban: “VAN 152 means the device you’re using has been restricted from playing because of a hardware ID (HWID) ban.” This guidance is specific to that Riot error code, not a general explanation for every anti-cheat or connection problem. Riot’s Error VAN 152 page.
Riot says restarting the PC, changing the connection, or reinstalling the game or Vanguard will not remove this restriction. Its HWID guidance also warns that logging into games with other accounts on a suspected banned computer can result in restrictions for those accounts. Stop trying additional accounts, and use Riot’s support process if you want the decision re-evaluated.
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What to do next
- Document the notice. Capture the exact wording or code and note the game, platform, date, and account. Keep relevant receipts or ownership details if the PC is secondhand.
- Check the publisher’s current policy. Follow the official support page for the exact game and enforcement notice. Do not infer the policy from another publisher’s rules.
- Stop account testing on the suspected device. This is especially important where the publisher warns that other accounts used on banned hardware can receive sanctions.
- Use only the official review route. If review or appeal is available, provide a concise chronology and relevant evidence. If you believe a game bug caused the action, describe what happened clearly; Bungie, for example, asks for details that could help reproduce a claimed bug.
- Wait for the publisher’s response or stated period. Keep any case number and avoid flooding support with duplicate or abusive tickets.
What will not reliably clear a hardware ban
- Reinstalling the game or anti-cheat software: Riot explicitly says these steps will not remove VAN 152.
- Changing your internet connection or restarting the PC: Riot says neither clears its VAN 152 restriction.
- Replacing components or buying another PC: The sources do not establish that hardware replacement clears an enforcement decision. A secondhand device may itself have a prior restriction; Activision warns bans can remain on used or shared hardware.
- Using a spoofer or ban-evasion service: These are not established remedies and can conflict with game rules. Epic’s terms prohibit tampering with or circumventing gameplay-integrity tools. Use the publisher’s official process instead.
What to expect from an appeal or review
Appeal availability depends on the publisher and the type of penalty. Riot allows a request for re-evaluation but says a lift is not guaranteed. Bungie likewise offers an appeal process without promising a response or reversal. Activision expressly says its Call of Duty hardware bans are not eligible for appeal; its separate account appeal page should not be mistaken for a hardware-ban appeal. Activision’s account-penalty appeal information.
If the computer is used or shared, provide truthful ownership and purchase details if the publisher’s process allows it. That information may help explain the circumstances, but it does not guarantee that enforcement will be removed. Riot’s terms reserve the right to impose hardware bans and to require anti-cheat software for its games. Riot Games Terms of Service.
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There may be no remedy beyond waiting for the publisher’s stated restriction period, and some hardware enforcement cannot be appealed. Follow the current policy for the affected game and region, since the examples above are publisher-specific.
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