Valorant Connection Error: 7 Fixes for VAN 1, VAN 68, High Ping & Login Issues

Last updated: December 18, 2025

By Sufyan Khan — Founder, FixThatApp  |  Editorial standards

Valorant connection errors are frustrating because they're often not straightforward network problems — many are caused by Riot Vanguard, the game's kernel-level anti-cheat software, which has very specific requirements. This guide explains what each error code means, what's actually causing it, and exactly how to fix it.

Fix 1: Restart Your PC to Resolve Vanguard Errors (VAN 1, VAN 84)

Vanguard is a kernel-level driver that loads at Windows boot — it does not start when you launch Valorant. This is why simply restarting Valorant or logging out of Windows won't fix Vanguard-related errors. You need a full restart.

1. Close Valorant and the Riot Client completely.
2. Right-click the Vanguard icon in your system tray (bottom-right, near the clock). If you see it, click Exit Vanguard.
3. Restart your PC — not just log out, a full restart.
4. After booting, launch Valorant from the Riot Client. Vanguard should load automatically.

If VAN 1 persists after a restart, Vanguard's installation may be corrupted. Go to Settings > Apps, find Riot Vanguard, uninstall it, restart your PC, then launch Valorant — it will reinstall Vanguard automatically.

Fix 2: Repair the Vanguard Installation (VAN 84 After Windows Update)

VAN 84 often appears after a major Windows update because the update can interfere with kernel drivers like Vanguard. The fix is to completely remove and reinstall Vanguard.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Apps & Features on Windows 10).
2. Search for Riot Vanguard and uninstall it.
3. Restart your PC. This step is mandatory — Vanguard's kernel driver needs to be fully unloaded.
4. After restarting, open the Riot Client and launch Valorant. The launcher will detect Vanguard is missing and reinstall it automatically.
5. You'll see a prompt asking to restart again after Vanguard installs. Complete that restart, then launch Valorant.

Fix 3: Fix Network Errors (VAN 68, VAN 81)

VAN 68 and related network errors mean Valorant can't reach Riot's servers. Before blaming your network, check if Riot's servers are actually down — this is one of the most commonly missed steps.

1. Visit status.riotgames.com and select Valorant + your region. If there's an active incident, all you can do is wait.
2. If servers are fine, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run: ipconfig /flushdns then ipconfig /renew. Restart after.
3. Change your DNS to Google's servers: go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), click your connection, and under DNS server assignment set it to 8.8.8.8 (preferred) and 8.8.4.4 (alternate).
4. If you use a VPN, disable it. Riot Vanguard detects some VPNs and blocks connections as a security measure.

Fix 4: Allow Valorant Through Your Firewall and Antivirus

Windows Firewall or third-party antivirus software (especially Bitdefender, Norton, or Avast) can block Valorant or Vanguard from making network connections, causing login failures and connection drops mid-match.

1. Search for "Windows Defender Firewall" in the Start menu and open it.
2. Click "Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall".
3. Look for VALORANT and Riot Vanguard in the list. Make sure both are checked for Private and Public networks.
4. If either isn't in the list, click "Allow another app", browse to the Valorant install folder (typically C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\live) and add VALORANT.exe.
5. If you have third-party antivirus: open its settings and add Valorant's entire install folder to the exceptions/exclusions list.

Fix 5: Reduce Ping — Switch to Ethernet and Check Server Region

High ping in Valorant is the most impactful on gameplay, especially in a game where milliseconds matter. Wi-Fi is the most common cause of elevated and unstable ping.

1. Switch to wired ethernet — this alone typically drops ping by 20-50ms and nearly eliminates packet loss spikes. A basic ethernet cable and adapter cost under $15 if you don't have one.
2. In Valorant, go to Settings > General and check your Server region. Make sure you're connecting to the closest region (e.g., NA, EU, APAC). Accidentally being on a distant server is a common cause of unexpectedly high ping.
3. Close any apps that use bandwidth while playing: game downloads (Steam, Xbox app), video streaming, file sync apps (Dropbox, OneDrive), and especially other devices on your network streaming video.
4. Enable "Show network problem icons" in Settings > Video — this displays a packet loss indicator during games so you can tell if issues are from your connection or the server.

Fix 6: Flush DNS and Reset Network Stack

If you're getting intermittent connection drops or "reconnecting" messages during matches, a corrupted local DNS cache or network stack can cause Valorant to lose its connection to game servers mid-match.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search "cmd," right-click, "Run as administrator").
2. Run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
3. netsh winsock reset
4. netsh int ip reset
5. ipconfig /flushdns
6. ipconfig /release
7. ipconfig /renew
8. Restart your PC after all commands complete.

Fix 7: Reinstall Valorant Completely

If you're experiencing persistent launch failures, crashes to desktop, or errors that nothing else fixes, a clean reinstall removes any corrupted game files.

1. Go to Settings > Apps and uninstall Riot Vanguard first, then uninstall Valorant.
2. Restart your PC.
3. Delete the C:\Riot Games folder if it still exists after uninstalling.
4. Download a fresh installer from the official Valorant site and install to a clean directory.
5. During installation, Vanguard will be reinstalled automatically. After the second restart it prompts, launch Valorant normally.

What NOT to Do

Frequently Asked Questions