Vanguard Error VAN 57 | Check Service Status

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The VAN 57 error in Valorant is usually a communication failure between your PC and Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat system. It often crops up after a game update or a change in your network settings.

Is my RAM the issue?

In some cases, yes. If your PC has 4GB of RAM or less, Vanguard may fail to initialize during high system load. Closing heavy background apps (like Chrome or Discord) before launching the Riot Client can sometimes resolve a “stubborn” VAN 57.
If a basic reinstall didn’t work, there might be lingering service files causing a conflict.

Here are the most effective ways to get back into the game:

1. Restart the Riot Client and VGC Service

The most common fix is ensuring the Vanguard service (vgc) is actually running.

Close Valorant and the Riot Client completely.
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
Find vgc in the list.
Right-click it, select Properties, and set “Startup type” to Automatic.
Click Start, then Apply.
Restart your computer and try launching the game again.

2. Allow Vanguard Through Your Firewall

Sometimes Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus blocks Vanguard’s communication.

Go to Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall.
Ensure both Riot Vanguard and Valorant are checked for both Private and Public networks.
The path for Vanguard is typically: C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\vgc.exe.

3. Flush Your DNS

Network congestion or stale DNS cache can trigger communication errors with Riot’s servers.

Open the Command Prompt as an Administrator.
Type the following commands one by one, hitting Enter after each:
- ipconfig /flushdns
- ipconfig /registerdns
- ipconfig /release
- ipconfig /renew
- netsh winsock reset
Restart your PC.

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4. Clean Reinstall of Vanguard

If the files are corrupted, a fresh install is the best path.

Close the Riot Client.
Search for Add or remove programs in Windows.
Find Riot Vanguard and click Uninstall.
Once removed, open the Riot Client and try to launch Valorant. It will prompt you to reinstall Vanguard.
Restart your PC immediately after the installation finishes.

5. Check Server Status

If none of the above work, it might not be on your end. Check the Riot Games Service Status page to see if Valorant is currently undergoing maintenance or experiencing server issues in your region.

FAQs

Does VAN 57 mean I’m banned?

No. VAN 57 is a communication/initialization error, not a disciplinary action.
If you were banned for cheating, you would typically see VAN 61 or VAN 152 (Hardware ID Ban).
VAN 57 simply means your computer and Riot’s anti-cheat system aren’t “talking” to each other properly.

What is “PlayerAffinityInitFailure”?

This is the technical name for the VAL 57 error. It occurs when the game client cannot correctly identify your account’s “affinity” or regional server assignment because Vanguard isn’t providing the necessary secure handshake.

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