What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
VALORANT’s VAN 57 error usually means Riot Vanguard is not running or could not start correctly. Check that Vanguard’s vgc service is configured to start automatically, restart your PC, then follow Riot’s troubleshooting sequence if the error remains. First confirm the code begins with VAN: Riot distinguishes VAN errors from VAL errors, and the two prefixes are not interchangeable.
What does VAN 57 mean?
Riot Games Support says VAN 57 usually means Riot Vanguard is not running or could not start correctly. Vanguard is VALORANT’s anti-cheat software, so the immediate troubleshooting focus is whether its service starts properly.
Riot’s dedicated Error VAN 57 article, dated July 8, 2026, directly addresses this code. Follow its steps in order, testing the game after each applicable change. Riot does not promise that one particular step will resolve every PC’s error.
Fix VAN 57 in Riot’s recommended order
1. Check the Vanguard service startup setting
Riot says the Vanguard service, vgc, should be set to Automatic if you are not using Vanguard Pre-Check to enable on-demand startup. If you change the setting, restart your PC before trying VALORANT again.
#1 Best Overall
- Fearless ROG Design – The G700’s dual-glass chassis showcases iconic ROG design with the ROG Slash and Aura Sync RGB lighting. Its 58L capacity supports triple-slot GPUs.
- Unstoppable Power – Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0 storage for seamless gaming and multitasking.
- Optimized Thermals – Stay cool with a quad-fan system, while dust filters and efficient airflow ensure long-term reliability.
- Advanced Connectivity – Game without lag with 2.5Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and versatile ports. Dolby Atmos audio and AI noise cancellation enhance sound and communication.
- Ready for Upgrades – Designed with tool-less access, easily swap out components, ensuring future-proof performance for years to come.
2. Restart your PC
If vgc was already set to Automatic, restart the PC anyway. Riot recommends a fresh startup so Vanguard can try to initialize again.
3. Reinstall Riot Vanguard
- Manually uninstall Riot Vanguard.
- Restart your PC.
- Launch VALORANT. Vanguard should reinstall; follow any prompts and allow the installation to finish.
- Try launching the game again.
Riot places this step after the startup check and restart, rather than recommending that players begin by reinstalling software.
Rank #2
- System: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6GHz 6 Cores | AMD B550 Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Windows 11 Home
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB Graphics | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
- Connectivity: 4 x USB-A 3.2 | 4 x USB-A 2.0 | 1 x LAN | WiFi 5 | Bluetooth 5.0 | 7.1 Channel Audio
- Tempered Side Case Panel | Custom RGB Lighting | Keyboard and Mouse
- 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Free Lifetime Tech Support
4. Try a clean boot
If VAN 57 persists, perform a clean boot to help identify whether a background application or service is interfering with Vanguard. Riot recommends this as a diagnostic step; it does not identify a particular conflicting program in the VAN 57 guidance.
5. Reinstall VALORANT
If the preceding steps do not resolve the error, reinstall VALORANT. Riot says corrupted or missing game files may prevent Vanguard or the game from launching.
Rank #3
- 8-Core 16-Thread Processing Power – Powered by the Ryzen 7 4700LE processor with Zen 2 architecture, delivering 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock up to 4.2GHz. Effortlessly handle multitasking, streaming, content creation, and demanding applications simultaneously without slowdowns.
- GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Graphics – Equipped with 8GB GDDR6 dedicated VRAM and real-time ray tracing support. Experience smooth 1080p gaming at 55-60 FPS in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, 70+ FPS in Fortnite, and 90-100 FPS in Apex Legends with DLSS enabled. The 8GB buffer handles modern game textures comfortably – a step above 6GB variants
- High-Speed Memory & Storage – Paired with 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz dual-channel RAM (16GB), the PC ensures responsive multitasking—whether streaming while gaming or editing videos. It also includes a 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD for lightning-fast boot times, quick game loads, and ample storage for your game library, creative projects, and files.
- Next-Gen WiFi 6 Connectivity – Stay connected with the latest WiFi 6 technology for faster speeds, lower latency, and improved network efficiency. Whether you're gaming online, streaming 4K content, or joining video conferences, enjoy stable, high-speed wireless connectivity.
- Ready-to-Use Value Desktop – Pre-built and ready to go right out of the box. Perfect for gamers, students, content creators, and home office users seeking reliable performance without the hassle of building a PC themselves. The mature AM4 platform with DDR4 memory offers excellent value and proven stability.
6. Contact Riot Player Support with logs
If the error remains after the applicable troubleshooting steps, submit a ticket to Riot Player Support and attach logs. Riot’s Vanguard error-code guidance also directs players to submit a ticket with logs when their exact VAN error is not listed.
Check whether the error is VAN 57 or VAL 57
Read the prefix shown with the number. VAN 57 is covered by Riot’s dedicated Vanguard troubleshooting article. Riot’s Vanguard error-code index says it covers VAN errors and directs players with VAL errors to the VALORANT error-code article.
Rank #4
- POWERHOUSE 8-CORE GAMING PERFORMANCE — Driven by the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F with 8 cores and 16 threads, boosting up to 5.0 GHz for smooth, responsive gameplay and the ability to handle AAA titles, streaming, and background tasks all at once
- NEXT-GEN BLACKWELL ARCHITECTURE — The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is powered by NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture, delivering a massive generational leap in rasterization and ray tracing performance so you can experience your games the way they were meant to be played.
- Simplistic Design: Enjoy the latest generation of Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. *MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
- Cool While Gaming: In conjunction with an ARGB fan Air Cooler, the Codex R2 features four system cooling fans; three in the front and one in the rear to pull in cool air and push heat out of the PC.
- Turn on the Bright Lights: With the built-in RGB lighting, take your gaming experience to the next level by pressing the MSI LED button to cycle through lighting options. Customize lighting even further with MSI Center software.
There is a reason to be cautious with that general VALORANT list: Riot’s Error Codes and Solutions in VALORANT page warns that it is currently out of date and that an issue is causing errors to display incorrectly. Its table labels code 44 “Vanguard not initialized” and code 57 “PlayerAffinityInitFailure.” Do not use those entries to assume that VAL 57 and VAN 57 are the same error; for VAN 57, use Riot’s dedicated VAN 57 instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When the standard fixes do not work
Riot’s published steps move from checking startup and restarting to reinstalling Vanguard, testing for background interference, and reinstalling the game. If you have reached the end of that sequence without a fix, send Riot Player Support your logs rather than trying undocumented system changes. Riot’s materials provide no VAN 57 frequency or fix-success figures, so there is no reliable basis for promising a particular result.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- POWERED BY RTX 5070 12GB + RYZEN 7 9700X - The GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 graphics card pairs with an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor to drive smooth 1440p and 4K gameplay, giving this gaming PC the headroom for modern titles, streaming, and creative work.
- 32GB DDR5 6000MHz MEMORY & 1TB NVMe SSD - 32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive deliver quick load times, smooth multitasking, and generous storage, keeping this prebuilt gaming desktop responsive under heavy workloads.
- BUILT-IN 11.3-INCH Smart DISPLAY - An integrated smart screen shows real-time CPU and GPU temperatures, usage, and weather while you play, adding a distinctive and functional touch to your battlestation.
- 850W 80+ GOLD POWER SUPPLY, 360MM LIQUID COOLING & WiFi 7 - An 850W 80 Plus Gold certified power supply provides stable, efficient power with headroom for future upgrades, while a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, WiFi 7, and an ARGB mid-tower case keep the Ryzen 7 CPU cool and connected in a clean build.
- READY TO PLAY OUT OF THE BOX - Arrives fully assembled and tested with Windows 11 Home pre-installed, so your prebuilt gaming computer is ready to set up in minutes. Assembled in the USA, and backed by a one-year limited warranty and lifetime free technical support.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
