Vanguard Errors in LoL: VAN Codes Explained and Fixed

A VAN error means Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat that League of Legends needs to run, has stopped the game from starting or dropped you from a match. Most VAN codes fall into a few groups: a missing Windows security feature, Vanguard not running, or a broken connection between Vanguard and the Riot Client. Find your code below, then work through the matching fix.

Last checked: November 9, 2026.

What Riot Vanguard is

Vanguard is Riot's own anti-cheat. It has two parts: a client that runs while you play, and a kernel-mode driver. League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics on PC both require it, and it must be running whenever the League client is open.

Two details explain a lot of errors:

Vanguard normally starts with Windows. If you exit or disable it, you have to restart your PC before you can play again.
Vanguard Pre-Check is an optional mode that lets Vanguard start with the game and close afterward. It's only available on PCs running Windows 11 version 25H2 or newer with Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, IOMMU, Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and HVCI turned on.

Vanguard's tray icon (VGTray) shows its status and which requirements still need attention, so check it first when something goes wrong.

Make sure your code starts with VAN. Codes that start with VAL, such as VAL 59, are VALORANT errors and have different fixes.

Common VAN errors and what they mean

Error	What it means	Main fix
VAN 9001	TPM 2.0 isn't enabled	Turn on TPM 2.0 in your BIOS/UEFI
VAN 9003	Secure Boot isn't enabled	Turn on Secure Boot
VAN 9005	TPM 2.0, UEFI firmware or Virtualization-based Security is missing	Check TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and Memory Integrity
VAN 9006	Windows is older than Windows 10 20H1	Install all Windows updates
VAN: RESTRICTION	A Windows update or security feature is required	Follow the requirement named in the message
VAN: RESTRICTION: 1	Secure Boot can't be verified	Enable Secure Boot, then update your BIOS
VAN 57	Vanguard isn't running or couldn't start	Set the vgc service to Automatic, restart
VAN -1	Vanguard couldn't start or a required service is missing	Reinstall Vanguard, set vgc to Automatic
VAN 0, VAN 6, VAN 84	Vanguard couldn't verify your PC while starting up	Update Windows, then the standard fixes below
VAN 68, VAN -81	Vanguard lost its connection or session	Restart, check Windows time settings
VAN 128	A startup or system trust check failed	Restore normal Windows security, turn off debug memory dumps
VAN 185	Session or connection problem between game, Riot Client and Vanguard	Close the client, sign out on other PCs, restart
VAN 59, VAN 193	Vanguard can't talk to the Riot Client properly	Restart the Riot Client, close extra instances
VAN 1067	Unexpected error while Vanguard starts	Update Windows, run the Riot Client as administrator
VAN: Incompatible Software	A driver or program conflicts with Vanguard	Uninstall or remove the file named in the error
VAN: STATUS_VMD_9001	Problem with the Intel VMD/RST storage driver	Reinstall or update the Intel RST driver
VAN 152	The device has a hardware ID (HWID) ban	No technical fix; see below

Riot keeps a full list of VAN codes on its support site. If yours isn't covered here, check there or submit a ticket with your logs attached.

Fixing security requirement errors

VAN 9001, 9003, 9005, 9006 and the VAN: RESTRICTION family mean Vanguard wants a Windows security feature or a newer Windows version. Depending on your system, Vanguard can require:

TPM 2.0, a hardware security chip, usually turned on in your BIOS/UEFI settings.
Secure Boot, which also needs your PC to boot in UEFI mode rather than legacy mode.
Memory Integrity (HVCI/VBS), found in Windows Security under Device security > Core isolation.
IOMMU, a hardware memory protection option in your BIOS/UEFI.

VAN: RESTRICTION messages say which requirement is missing. Two Windows build numbers appear in them:

Build 19045 or newer: keep installing Windows updates until you reach it.
Build 26100 or newer: only Windows 11 offers this build, so Windows 10 users need to upgrade to Windows 11.

A VAN: RESTRICTION isn't a ban. It can even show on one account while another account plays fine on the same PC. It clears once the requirement is met.

After changing any of these settings, restart your PC before launching League again.

The standard fix sequence

For VAN 0, 6, 57, 59, 68, 84, 128, 185, 193, 1067, -1 and -81, Riot's fixes overlap a lot. Try them in this order and launch the game after each step. Riot suggests testing in the Practice Tool or a custom game, so a repeat error doesn't cost you a ranked game or a leaver penalty.

Restart your PC. Vanguard starts with Windows, so a full restart fixes many one-off errors.
Update Windows. Install every available update, then restart.
Check the date and time. Wrong date, time or time zone settings can break secure connections. This matters most for VAN 68 and VAN -81.
Set the vgc service to Automatic. Unless you use Pre-Check, Vanguard's service must start automatically. Open the Services app (search for "services" in the Start menu), find vgc, open it, set Startup type to Automatic, then restart.
Unplug controllers and extra USB devices. Riot lists this for VAN 185 and VAN 1067.
Close extra Riot Client windows and sign out of the Riot Client on any other PC.
Reinstall Vanguard (steps below).
Do a clean boot to rule out background programs that interfere with Vanguard.
Reinstall League of Legends to replace damaged game files.

VAN 128: two extra steps

VAN 128 is tied to Windows trust checks, so Riot adds two fixes before the usual list:

Restore Windows security settings to their defaults.
Turn off debug memory dumps: press the Windows key, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter, then go to Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings, set Write debugging information to (none), click OK and restart.

How to reinstall Vanguard

Close League and the Riot Client completely, including from the system tray.
Right-click the Vanguard icon in the system tray and choose Advanced > Uninstall Vanguard. You can also uninstall Riot Vanguard from Windows' Add or remove programs.
Restart your PC.
Open the Riot Client or League. Vanguard reinstalls itself automatically. Restart your PC if you're prompted to.

If Vanguard refuses to uninstall, Riot's manual method is to open Command Prompt as administrator, run sc delete vgc and sc delete vgk, restart, and delete any leftover Riot Vanguard folder in Program Files.

Uninstalling League alone doesn't remove Vanguard if VALORANT is also installed, since both games use it.

VAN 152 is a ban, not a bug

VAN 152 means the PC itself has been restricted with a hardware ID (HWID) ban after an account on that device broke Riot's rules. Reinstalling Vanguard or the game, changing your connection or restarting won't remove it. Riot has a separate article on HWID bans that explains when they can be reviewed.

When to contact Riot Support

If you've worked through the steps for your code and still get the error, submit a ticket to Riot Player Support and attach your logs. Include the exact error text, since Vanguard messages often name the missing feature or the conflicting file.

Frequently asked questions

What does VAN 9003 mean in League of Legends?

VAN 9003 means Secure Boot isn't enabled, and Vanguard requires it. Turn on Secure Boot in your BIOS/UEFI settings, which usually also means booting in UEFI mode, then restart your PC.

How do I fix VAN 9001?

VAN 9001 means Vanguard can't detect TPM 2.0. Enable TPM 2.0 in your BIOS/UEFI, often listed as fTPM on AMD boards or PTT on Intel boards, then restart and launch the game again.

Can I play League of Legends without Vanguard?

No. Vanguard must be running whenever the League client is open, for both League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics on PC. If you exit it, you need to restart your PC before playing.

Does VAN 152 mean I'm banned?

Yes, for that device. VAN 152 is a hardware ID ban, so troubleshooting won't fix it. Riot's support article on HWID bans explains how they work and when they can be reviewed.

Is VAN: RESTRICTION a ban?

No. It means Vanguard needs a Windows update or a security feature such as TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Memory Integrity or IOMMU before the game can launch. Fix the requirement named in the message and the restriction clears.

Why does Vanguard need Windows 11?

Only some VAN: RESTRICTION messages require it. If yours asks for Windows build 26100 or newer, that build only exists on Windows 11, so you need to upgrade. Other messages only ask for build 19045, which Windows 10 can reach through updates.