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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIf a used PC appears to be hardware-banned in VALORANT, stop signing in to Riot accounts on that computer and contact Riot Player Support to request a review. Do not test the machine with a new account or a friend’s account: Riot says an account used on hardware with an HWID ban can also be restricted on that device and receive a ban for a set period. A reinstall or account deletion will not remove the hardware restriction.
First, identify what the notice actually says
An HWID ban is associated with a computer’s physical components, rather than only with one Riot account. But not every VALORANT or Vanguard restriction means a previous owner’s ban has followed the PC. Vanguard can also block play until the system meets a stated configuration requirement.
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Read and save the exact error or penalty notice. If it identifies an HWID ban, treat it as a device restriction and stop trying accounts on the machine. If it gives a configuration requirement instead, follow the instructions in that notice rather than assuming the PC is banned.
Riot’s Understanding Hardware ID (HWID) Bans explains the hardware-ban issue. Its separate Vanguard Restrictions guidance covers configuration restrictions.
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What to do if it is an HWID ban
- Stop signing in on the PC. Do not create or borrow an account to see whether it works. Riot warns that accounts used on hardware with an HWID ban may face a restriction on that device and a set-period ban.
- Save the details. Keep a screenshot or copy of the exact notice and note when it appeared. Preserve your purchase receipt, listing, and messages with the seller as well.
- Ask Riot Player Support to re-evaluate the HWID ban. Open a support request, explain that you bought the PC used, and include the notice and relevant details. Riot says a review may lift or extend the ban; neither outcome is guaranteed. Its Community Pact says players who believe a penalty was issued in error can appeal through Player Support for manual review.
- Contact the seller separately. Ask about a return or other remedy if the PC was sold as usable for VALORANT or the restriction was not disclosed. Whether you have a remedy depends on the seller’s terms and applicable local rules; Riot does not decide that transaction.
What will not resolve an HWID ban
- Reinstalling VALORANT: Riot says reinstalling the game does not remove an HWID ban.
- Deleting the account linked to the ban: Riot says account deletion does not remove the hardware restriction.
- Trying a different account: This can put the other account at risk on the same device; it is not a safe diagnostic.
- Assuming a clean Windows install or a replacement part will clear it: Riot’s public guidance does not establish either as a way to confirm or remove a specific device restriction. Ask Support rather than attempting workarounds.
The reviewed Riot guidance does not provide a public self-service checker for whether a particular second-hand PC was banned by its previous owner. Do not rely on a third-party checker or a supposed ban-evasion tool as proof or a fix.
If Vanguard is asking for a configuration change
Use the exact requirement shown in the restriction notice. Riot cautions that BIOS settings vary by system and that incorrect changes can cause problems, including stopping the computer from booting. Consult the PC or motherboard maker’s instructions; if you are not comfortable navigating BIOS settings, get help from a qualified technician. Do not make unrelated changes in the hope of clearing a ban.
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Keep the Riot appeal and seller dispute separate
Riot Support can assess the game restriction, but the reviewed Riot sources do not determine your return rights or require a seller to refund you. Keep the listing, receipt, seller correspondence, and Riot notice together, and check the seller’s stated terms and the rules that apply where you bought the PC.
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