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If a second-hand PC appears to have an active Riot hardware ID (HWID) ban, stop trying to sign in on it with any account and ask Riot Player Support to re-evaluate the ban. Riot will investigate and decide whether to lift or extend it; a reversal is possible, not guaranteed. A used-PC buyer should describe the purchase clearly, but Riot’s published guidance does not promise a buyer-specific exception.
What a Riot HWID ban means on a used PC
Riot describes an HWID ban as a restriction associated with a computer’s physical components, rather than only with one Riot account. While the restriction is active, attempts to log in to Riot games on that device can produce VAN 152. Riot says using another account on the same computer may also lead to that account being restricted on the device and banned for a set period, because the system may treat the login as an attempt to get around the original penalty. Riot’s HWID-ban guidance (published May 31, 2026) recommends not attempting to log in with any account on a computer suspected of having an HWID ban.
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Riot says HWID bans can follow extreme repeated disruptive behavior across accounts, verifiable threats of harm, or detection of third-party scripting or cheating tools. Seeing a restriction on a computer you bought used does not by itself establish that you caused the behavior. Riot’s published guidance explains the penalty and its effects, but does not describe a special process for second-hand buyers or explain how it attributes a particular login to a person.
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- Stop signing in on the suspected computer. Do not test it with another Riot account; additional logins could expose that account to a penalty.
- Open Riot Player Support. Use the official VALORANT Player Support ticket page, or choose “Submit A Ticket” from Riot’s support site. The support pages organize help by topics including accounts, bans or penalties, and technical issues.
- Request an HWID-ban re-evaluation. Explain plainly that you bought the computer second-hand and are asking Riot to re-evaluate the HWID ban. Identify the affected Riot account and describe what happened, including the exact message shown, such as VAN 152 if applicable.
- Include relevant context accurately. You may explain when and where you bought the PC and provide purchase documentation if you have it. Riot’s published guidance does not specify a required receipt, subject line, or buyer evidence checklist, and does not say that purchase proof guarantees reversal.
- Submit a separate ticket for each affected account. Riot asks players with more than one affected account to open a different ticket for each one so Support can review them separately.
- Wait for Riot’s decision. Riot says it investigates whether the penalty is valid and then decides whether to lift or extend the HWID ban. It generally discusses HWID-ban status with affected players, so a seller or another person may not receive details about the case.
Riot’s Community Pact also says that players who believe a penalty was issued in error can appeal by contacting Player Support; Riot says it manually reviews those cases.
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What not to do while you wait
- Do not keep trying accounts on the PC. Riot specifically advises against logging in with any account on a computer suspected of having an active HWID ban.
- Do not assume reinstalling will clear it. Riot says reinstalling a game or deleting the account responsible for the restriction does not remove an HWID ban. Its stated route for review is Player Support.
- Do not rely on a new account, seller statement, or clean account history as a guaranteed fix. Riot’s published guidance does not promise an exception or reversal based on those facts.
- Avoid third-party “ban removal” tools. Riot identifies Support—not a hardware purchase or utility—as the route for re-evaluation.
If Riot lifts the device ban, what happens to accounts?
Lifting an HWID ban means Riot will no longer ban accounts on sight on that device. It does not automatically restore accounts that were already banned: those remain banned until their own HWID-ban period ends. Riot also says it may reapply the HWID ban if the player returns to the negative behavior that led to it. A device-ban review and an existing account penalty are therefore related but separate outcomes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Riot’s published guidance does—and does not—promise
Riot provides no cited rate for how often HWID-ban re-evaluation requests succeed, no typical resolution time, and no guaranteed outcome for someone who bought a used computer. The practical next step is to submit an accurate support request and let Riot determine the status and appropriate action for the affected account and device.
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