Valorant Error Code VAN 152: Fix HWID Suspension & Anti-Cheat Error (2025/2026 Guide)
Tested & peer-reviewed by the GameFixDB Systems & Anti-Cheat Lab for Valorant (VAN 152).
Error Code VAN 152 indicates Riot Vanguard has flagged your hardware signature (HWID ban) or encountered a severe kernel-level communication failure during client launch.
- ▸Check if your account or PC was recently flagged for 90-120 day HWID cooldown
- ▸Set Vanguard 'vgc' service startup type to Automatic and restart
- ▸Run Windows System File Checker (SFC) to eliminate corrupted OS dependencies
Step-by-Step Resolution Steps
Click steps to track progressEnable and Start the Riot Vanguard 'vgc' Service
If the Vanguard kernel driver is delayed or disabled during Windows boot, Valorant triggers VAN 152. Force the service to start automatically with elevated permissions.
sc config vgc start= demand && net start vgcFlush DNS and Reset Windows Network Winsock Catalog
Vanguard validates hardware telemetry through encrypted Riot endpoints. Corrupted DNS records cause authentication timeouts that masquerade as hardware errors.
ipconfig /flushdns && netsh winsock reset && netsh int ip resetDisable Conflicting Test Signing & Driver Enforcement
If Windows Test Signing Mode is active, Vanguard refuses to communicate with the kernel to prevent memory injectors.
bcdedit /set testsigning off && bcdedit /set nointegritychecks offClean Reinstall of Riot Vanguard
Navigate to 'Add or Remove Programs' in Windows Settings. Uninstall 'Riot Vanguard' (NOT Valorant itself). Restart your PC. Launch the Riot Client, which will automatically download a clean Vanguard build.
sc delete vgc && sc delete vgkDid these steps resolve your error?
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Fix High Packet Loss & Vanguard Routing Drops
Reduce routing hops to Riot's direct AWS and cloud servers with low-latency gaming route optimization.
Pro Esports Advisory: Preventing Recurrence in Valorant
Professional tournament players tune their Windows environment to prevent sudden runtime crashes, memory leaks, and 1% low frame stuttering:
Never immediately jump into a ranked queue after a driver or game update. Wait 2-3 minutes at the main menu until the shader compilation pipeline reaches 100% to avoid mid-round micro-freezes.
Turn off "Hardware Acceleration" in Discord, Chrome, and Spotify. Background apps using your GPU video decoder compete with the game engine for DirectX video memory (VRAM) handles.
Why Does This Error Happen?
Understanding the root cause prevents recurrence during competitive matches:
- 1Hardware ID (HWID) suspension triggered by flagged background software or third-party modifications
- 2Riot Vanguard (vgc) service failing to switch to Automatic startup mode in Windows
- 3Conflicting virtualization software (Hyper-V, VirtualBox) interfering with Riot's ring-0 driver
- 4Corrupted Vanguard installation after a major Windows update
Recommended Diagnostics for Valorant Players
Windows Event Viewer Crash Log Decoder
Decode vgk.sys, EasyAntiCheat_EOS, and BEService kernel driver crash dumps with verified repair scripts.
GPU Driver Clean Install & DDU Companion
Cleanly reinstall graphics drivers to eliminate false-positive unsigned DLL driver blocks.
Frequently Asked Questions (VAN 152)
Is VAN 152 always a permanent ban?
Not always. First-time HWID restrictions from Riot Games typically last 90 to 120 days. If you haven't cheated or bought a used PC, it is often a Vanguard driver startup conflict that can be fixed via the steps above.
Does reinstalling Windows remove a VAN 152 HWID ban?
No. Riot Vanguard profiles the motherboard UUID, NIC MAC addresses, and drive serial numbers. Standard Windows formatting does not alter hardware IDs.
How can I verify if my ban is temporary?
Log in to the official Riot Games Support portal and submit a 'Discuss Game Suspension' ticket to obtain your exact ban expiration timestamp.