If a second-hand PC triggers a Riot hardware ID (HWID) ban, stop trying to sign in on that computer with any account. Contact Riot Player Support and ask for an HWID-ban re-evaluation. Riot says it will investigate and decide whether to lift or extend the ban; a reversal is possible, not guaranteed.
What an HWID ban means on a used PC
Riot distinguishes an HWID ban from a ban limited to one account. An HWID ban is associated with a computer’s physical components and is intended to prevent that device from accessing Riot games regardless of which account is used. Riot says login attempts during an active HWID ban produce VAN 152.
A warning on a used PC does not establish that its current owner caused the original restriction. Riot’s guidance describes the penalty and its consequences but does not explain how it attributes a particular login to a person or provide a specific exception for second-hand buyers.
How to contact Riot Player Support
- Go to the official VALORANT Player Support site and choose the ticket-submission route.
- Explain that you bought the computer second-hand and are requesting an HWID-ban re-evaluation. Riot’s HWID ban guidance directs affected players to submit a Player Support request for re-evaluation.
- Identify the affected Riot account and describe what happened, including the exact error shown, such as VAN 152 if that is the message. Keep the account-specific details accurate.
- You can include purchase documentation or other context about the sale, but Riot’s published guidance does not specify a required receipt, subject line, or buyer evidence checklist. Providing documentation does not guarantee a reversal.
- If more than one of your accounts is affected, submit a separate ticket for each account so Support can review them individually.
- Wait for Riot’s review. Riot says it investigates whether the penalty is valid and then decides whether to lift or extend the HWID ban.
Riot’s Community Pact also says players who believe a penalty was issued in error can appeal by contacting Player Support, where the case will be manually reviewed.
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What not to do while you wait
- Do not test the PC with alternate accounts. Riot advises against trying to log in with any account on a computer suspected of having an HWID ban. It warns that another account used on the device may also be restricted on that device and banned for a set period, because the system may treat the login as an attempt to circumvent the original ban.
- Do not rely on reinstalling the game or deleting an account. Riot says neither action removes an HWID ban; it directs affected players to Support for re-evaluation.
- Do not assume a Windows reinstall, component swap, seller statement, or clean account history will clear the restriction. Riot’s reviewed guidance does not promise that any of these will lift a ban or create a buyer-specific exception.
- Avoid third-party “ban removal” tools. Riot’s stated route for re-evaluation is Player Support, not a hardware purchase or utility.
What a lifted HWID ban does—and does not do
If Riot lifts the HWID ban, it says it will no longer ban accounts on sight on that device. Accounts that were already banned remain banned until their own HWID period ends. Riot also says it may reapply the HWID ban if the player returns to the negative behavior that led to it. Device-ban review and restoration of an existing account penalty are therefore separate outcomes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Riot’s published guidance does not promise
Riot’s HWID-ban article, published May 31, 2026, explains the general review process but does not describe a dedicated second-hand-buyer process, require particular proof of purchase, promise a turnaround time, or publish a success rate. Riot generally discusses HWID-ban status with affected players, consistent with its stated privacy limits. Submit a ticket for an individual determination rather than relying on assumptions about the former owner or the purchase paperwork.
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