Almost every Valorant player knows the feeling: you have 20 minutes for a quick match, launch the client – and instead of reaching the menu, you get stuck on an error message. The Valorant login is the door to the game, and when that door jams, the frustration is real. The good news: the vast majority of login problems have simple causes and can be fixed in a few minutes. In this comprehensive guide, we go through every step – from signing in normally, to fixing specific error codes, to securing your account with two-factor authentication.
How does the Valorant login work?
Valorant is developed by Riot Games, and your Valorant login is identical to your Riot login. There is no separate Valorant account: with the same credentials you also play League of Legends, Legends of Runeterra or Teamfight Tactics and sign in on the Riot website. It is important to distinguish between two terms that are often confused:
Username: This is what you log in with. It is private and is never shown to other players.
Riot ID: This is your public display name plus tag (for example Name#EUW1) that teammates see. You cannot log in with the Riot ID.
This mix-up is one of the most common causes of login problems: players try to sign in with their Riot ID instead of their username. So remember: to log in you need the username, not the display name.
Signing in to Valorant – step by step
- Open the Riot Client: Launch the Riot Client or the Valorant client on your PC. On first opening it may still download an update.
- Enter your credentials: Type your Riot username and password. Watch capitalization and make sure Caps Lock is not on.
- Choose “Stay signed in” (optional): On your private PC you can tick this box so you don't have to sign in every time. Never on someone else's device.
- Confirm the two-factor code: If you have 2FA enabled, now enter the code from your email or authenticator app – or approve the sign-in in the Riot Mobile app.
- Launch Valorant: your region is tied to your account, so there’s nothing to select at login – but an active VPN can cause connection errors.
If your credentials are correct and the Riot servers are online, you will be in the main menu within seconds. If it doesn’t work, go through the following solutions in order.
Fixing login problems – the key steps
Before you dig into specific error codes, in most cases this checklist – running from the quickest to the most thorough fix – already does the job:
1. Check the Riot server status
If nobody can log in, it is often due to maintenance or an outage at Riot. Check the Valorant server status for your region before you start tinkering with your PC. If maintenance is listed, the only fix is to wait.
2. Verify password and username
Type your password carefully and slowly. Check that you are really using the username and not the Riot ID. When in doubt, reset the password (see below).
3. Fully restart the Riot Client
A stuck client is the most common cause of login errors. Close the Riot Client completely – best via Task Manager (all processes with “Riot” in the name) – and restart it.
4. Restart the PC
Many Vanguard-related errors (Riot's anti-cheat) disappear after a simple computer restart, because Vanguard loads correctly during boot.
5. Internet connection & VPN
An active VPN can block the login or worsen your connection to Riot’s servers. Turn the VPN off. Also check that your connection is stable.
6. Run the client as administrator
Sometimes the client lacks permissions. Right-click the shortcut and choose “Run as administrator” to fix some startup problems.
Common Valorant login error codes
When there are problems, Valorant often shows an error code. Here are the most important ones and what to do – all codes in detail: VAN error codes explained.
| Error | Meaning | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| VAN 0 / VAN 84 | Vanguard couldn't verify that your PC is ready to run the game, or it ran into a problem while starting. | Update Windows, set the “vgc” service to “Automatic”, reinstall Vanguard, clean boot, reinstall the game – check your connection last. |
| VAN 1067 | Riot Vanguard ran into an unexpected issue while starting or checking in with your system. | Update Windows, unplug controllers, run the Riot Client as admin, set “vgc” to “Automatic”, clean boot, scan for malware, reinstall Vanguard – Riot mentions neither TPM nor Secure Boot here. |
| VAN 9001 | Vanguard requires TPM 2.0 but doesn't detect it as enabled on your PC. | Enable TPM 2.0 in the BIOS/UEFI (Intel PTT or AMD fTPM), then launch the game again. |
| VAN 9003 | Secure Boot isn't enabled on your system, but Vanguard requires it. | Turn on Secure Boot in the UEFI – your PC must boot in UEFI mode instead of Legacy/CSM – then launch the game again. |
| VAN 152 | The device you're using is restricted because of a hardware ID (HWID) ban. | Reinstalling, restarting or changing your connection won't remove it. A review is only possible via a support ticket – lifting the ban is possible but never guaranteed; Riot gives no fixed duration. |
| “Error connecting to platform” | Server overload, maintenance or a stuck client | Fully close the client and restart it; check the server status |
| VAL 29 | A network issue. | Make sure your firewall allows VALORANT through. |
| VAL 43 | A system has timed out. | Restart the Riot Client. |
| VAL 51 | Problem creating a party – an issue with the party system. | Restart the Riot Client. |
| VAL 59 | Failed to fetch the login queue token (LoginQueueFetchTokenFailure). | Restart the Riot Client and check the banners on Riot's support site. |
Important: Only change BIOS settings (e.g. Secure Boot, TPM) if you know what you are doing, or with a reliable guide for your motherboard. Wrong BIOS settings can prevent the system from booting.
Forgot password – how to reset it
If you no longer remember your password, there is no reason to panic:
- Open the sign-in page: Go to the official Riot sign-in page and click “Forgot password”.
- Enter your email: Type the email address your Riot account is registered with.
- Use the link in the email: Open the email from Riot and click the reset link. Check your spam folder too.
- Set a new password: Choose a strong, unique password that you use nowhere else.
If you no longer know your account's email address or have no access to it, only official Riot Support can help. Only ever enter your details on the genuine Riot pages for this.
Enabling two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the most important protection for your account. Even if someone knows your password, they cannot get in without the second factor. Here is how to enable it:
- Open your account page: Sign in at account.riotgames.com.
- Choose security: Open the “Account” or “Security” section.
- Turn on 2FA: Enable two-factor authentication – by email code, via the Riot Mobile app or with an authenticator app (Riot names Google and Microsoft Authenticator).
- Test it: Sign out once and back in to check that the code prompt works.
Recommendation: An authenticator app (e.g. with time-based codes) is safer than the email code, because it works independently of your email inbox. Riot doesn’t mention backup codes: if you lose access to your MFA email, Riot says only Player Support can help – so keep your account email up to date.
Account security & phishing protection
Valorant accounts with rare skins are a popular target for scammers. Most hacked accounts are not lost through technical tricks but through phishing – fake login pages that coax your password out of you. Here is how to protect your account effectively:
Only log in on the genuine Riot site: Enter your credentials only in the official Riot Client or on Riot domains. Check the address in the browser bar carefully.
Distrust “free skins” and “VP generators”: No legitimate service gives away skins or VP in exchange for your login. Such sites only want your account.
- Unique password: Use a password for Riot that you use nowhere else. A password manager helps.
- Enable 2FA: As described above – the single most effective protection.
- Don’t buy or sell accounts: Trading accounts violates the Terms of Service and is unsafe; bought accounts can be reclaimed or banned at any time.
Rule of thumb: a reputable tool – including a shop or locker checker like Valorant-Spind – never asks you for your password on an external website. If it does, close the page immediately.
Region & server at login
Your game region (e.g. Europe/EU) is assigned to your account and determines which servers you play on and which rankings you appear in. You don’t select it at login: according to Riot, the region (the “shard”) can’t be changed in the game – within your region you only pick the server. A VPN that places you in another region is a common cause of region-related errors – turn it off to play. A later region change is only possible in a limited way and via Riot Support.
Your region also determines who you are matched with and which leaderboard you are listed on. If you always play through a VPN in another region, you risk not only high latency but also login errors and, in the worst case, security warnings on your account, because your location keeps changing. For a stable experience, it’s best to play in your actual home region.
Valorant login on mobile
Valorant for PC cannot be played on a phone, but you can sign in with your Riot account on the Riot website on mobile to change account settings, set up 2FA or manage your Riot ID. To sign in on mobile, open account.riotgames.com in your browser and log in as you would on PC. Here too, make sure to use only the genuine Riot domain. Valorant Mobile is only available in China so far – there you sign in with QQ or WeChat, not with your Riot login.
Riot Client, browser or app – everywhere you sign in
Your Riot account is the key to several access points, and it helps to know which one is for what:
- Riot Client (PC): The central launcher that starts Valorant. This is where the actual game login happens. Without a successful login in the Riot Client you cannot get into the game.
- Riot website (browser): At account.riotgames.com you manage your account – password, email, 2FA, Riot ID and linked games. You need this login for all security settings and it also works on mobile.
- Linked Riot games: With the same credentials you sign in to League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics and Legends of Runeterra. A password change automatically applies to all of them.
If login fails in one place but works in another, that narrows down the cause: if the website login works but the game login does not, it is almost certainly the Riot Client or Vanguard – not your credentials.
“Stay signed in” – when it makes sense
The stay-signed-in option saves you constant retyping. Use it only on your private, password-protected PC. On shared computers, in an internet café or on a friend's machine, the rule is: never stay signed in and actively log out after playing. This prevents someone else from getting uninvited access to your account and your skins.
What is Riot Vanguard – and why does it block the login?
A large share of all Valorant login problems is connected to Riot Vanguard, the game's anti-cheat system. Vanguard starts together with your Windows and runs in the background to prevent cheats. That is good for fair play, but it occasionally causes login hurdles, because Valorant simply refuses to start if Vanguard has not loaded correctly.
Typical situations: after a Valorant or Windows update, Vanguard is out of sync and asks for a restart. Or Vanguard needs enabled security features like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot – especially on Windows 11 – that are turned off in your BIOS. In both cases, Valorant shows a VAN error code. The first step is often the same: restart the PC so Vanguard boots cleanly. If Vanguard reports VAN 9001 (TPM 2.0) or VAN 9003 (Secure Boot), enable those features in the BIOS; for other codes like VAN 1067, Riot’s steps for that code help. Vanguard can be uninstalled, but then Valorant will not start – it is reinstalled on the next game launch anyway and again requires a restart.
Good to know: Vanguard never asks for your login details and has nothing to do with your password. Anyone who tells you that you have to enter your credentials somewhere because of a “Vanguard error” is trying to scam you.
Login takes forever or the client won't load
Sometimes no error message appears at all – the client simply hangs on the loading screen or the sign-in window. These steps help, in order:
Fully close Riot Client processes
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find all processes with “Riot” or “Valorant” in the name and end them. Then start the client fresh. Often just one old process is stuck in the background, blocking the new login.
Restart or repair the client
A corrupted cache can break the login. A full restart of the client usually fixes it; if that does not help, a repair via the client settings (if available) or a reinstall may be necessary.
Check firewall & antivirus
Occasionally a firewall or antivirus program blocks the Riot Client's connection. Make sure the Riot Client and Valorant are allowed as exceptions.
Check date & time
Sounds trivial, but it happens: a wrongly set system clock can disrupt secure connections and prevent the login. Set date, time and time zone to “automatic”. Further steps are in the tech fix guide.
Account hacked? Immediate help
If you suddenly can no longer log in, skins are missing or you receive an email about an unknown password change, your account may be compromised. Act quickly:
- Reset the password immediately: Use “Forgot password” on the genuine Riot page while you still have access to your email.
- Secure your email account: Also change your email inbox password and enable 2FA there – it is the master key to your Riot account.
- Enable 2FA at Riot: This locks the attacker out even if they know the password.
- Contact Riot Support: If you no longer have access, reach out to Riot via the official support page. Have account information ready (former names, purchase receipts) to prove your identity.
Don't forget: check whether a forwarding rule has been set up in your email inbox – attackers use this to intercept recovery emails.
Managing & switching multiple Riot accounts
Many players have more than one account – for example a second account (smurf) or an account in another region. The Riot Client remembers the last used account if you chose “Stay signed in”. To switch, sign out in the client and back in with the other credentials. An important security note: use a separate, strong password for each account and enable 2FA everywhere. And if you play on a shared or public PC, never tick “Stay signed in” and explicitly log out after playing. Everything about creating your account, regions and account security is in the Valorant account guide.
You don’t change your display name in the game but in your Riot account. How to do it for free is explained in our guide how to change your Valorant name.
After login: check shop & locker
As soon as you are in, you usually want to know two things: what is in the shop today, and what is my collection worth? Valorant-Spind shows you both at a glance – your daily Valorant shop, your locker value in VP (plus a money value in supported regions) and your rarest skins, read straight from your own logged-in client.
🎮 New: Playing with your Riot account on PS5 or Xbox? The console guide explains what carries over from PC. Want to play without showing up online for friends? How to appear offline in Valorant with Deceive and what Riot says about it is in our guide.
Frequently asked questions about the Valorant login
Why can't I log in to Valorant?
Is the Valorant login the same as the Riot login?
What does “There was an error connecting to the platform” mean?
How do I enable 2FA in Valorant?
I forgot my password – what do I do?
Why does a website ask for my Riot password?
Can I log in to Valorant on my phone?
What does error VAN 9003 mean?
Why won't Valorant start after an update?
Do I have to enter my password for a shop checker?
Login checklist at a glance
When login fails, work through these points from top to bottom – in this order, you’ll solve most cases in a few minutes:
- Check the server status. Is there maintenance or an outage at Riot? Then all you can do is wait.
- Username instead of Riot ID. Make sure you use the login username, not your public display name.
- Enter your password carefully. Caps Lock off, watch capitalization. When in doubt, reset it.
- Fully restart the Riot Client. End all “Riot” and “Valorant” processes in Task Manager, then reopen.
- Restart the PC. Fixes many Vanguard hiccups; for a VAN code, follow Riot’s steps for that exact code afterward.
- VPN off. A VPN frequently causes region and connection errors.
- Check date/time & firewall. System clock to automatic, allow the Riot Client in the firewall.
- Look up the error code. If Valorant shows a VAN code, the table above helps specifically.
If the problem persists even though you have gone through everything, it is usually your account itself (e.g. a ban) or a larger outage – then official Riot Support is the right place to turn. For everything else: stay calm, go step by step, and in the vast majority of cases you are back in the game after a clean restart.
Conclusion
The Valorant login is normally a matter of seconds – and when it stalls, it is almost always one of the causes described here: wrong username, stuck client, Vanguard after an update or server maintenance at Riot. With the checklist and the error-code table, you can get most problems under control yourself. Just as important: secure your account with 2FA and a unique password, and only enter your details on the genuine Riot pages. Once you are in, Valorant-Spind instantly shows you your shop and your locker value – all without entering your password on third-party sites. That way an annoying login problem quickly turns back into a relaxed round of Valorant, and you have all the important info about your account and your collection in one place.
More Valorant guides