- Required since patch 14.9
- Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0
- VAN 152 = hardware ban
- On-Demand since Jun 2026
Riot Vanguard is the anti-cheat every League of Legends player on PC has to run. It arrived in League in May 2024, it's the reason ranked scripting dropped below 1% of games, and it's also behind most "VAN" error codes that stop people from logging in. In 2026 it changed again: an optional On-Demand mode, stricter checks on restricted PCs and a public anti-boosting system. This guide explains what Vanguard does, what your PC needs, how to fix every common error, and what it means for boosting. Checked 2026-10-25.
- Required since 1 May 2024 (patch 14.9) β no Vanguard, no League on PC.
- Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0; Windows 10 still works from build 19041.
- VAN 152 is a hardware ban, not a connection error β reinstalling won't fix it.
- On-Demand mode (June 2026) is optional and needs Windows 11 25H2, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, VBS and IOMMU.
- Anti-Boost: 296,416 accounts actioned for rank manipulation in League and VALORANT.
What Vanguard is and what it does
Vanguard has two parts: a kernel-mode driver and a client that runs while League is open. In Riot's own words, the driver loads when Windows starts, but nothing calls it until a Riot game runs. It blocks cheat software and vulnerable drivers from loading β Windows shows a notification when it does β and it has to be running whenever you play. You'll see its icon in the System Tray.
What it checks
- Programs trying to read or change League's memory
- Drivers known to be used by cheats
- Whether your PC's security features (TPM, Secure Boot) are on when Riot asks for them
What it doesn't do
- It has no network connection until a Riot game runs
- It isn't on Mac β in 2024 Riot said Mac wouldn't have Vanguard for now
- It doesn't decide bans for behaviour β that's a separate system
What your PC needs in 2026
| Requirement | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Version | Build 19041 or later, retail edition, 64-bit | Any supported build; recommended spec is Windows 11 only |
| TPM 2.0 | Not listed | Required (VAN 9001 if it's off) |
| Secure Boot | Asked for when an error or restriction names it (VAN 9003) | |
| Memory Integrity, IOMMU | Only when a restriction on your account names them | |
| Not supported | Enterprise and Server editions, ARM PCs | |
That's Riot's minimum spec page as of 22 September 2026. Accounts or PCs that Riot has restricted can be asked for more: firmware TPM (Intel PTT or AMD fTPM, not a separate TPM chip), Secure Boot, Memory Integrity or IOMMU β whichever the error message names. Riot has also warned that it may bring in "MFA restrictions or TPM 2.0 requirements on an expedited timeline" to fight boosting.
Every common VAN error and Riot's fix
| Error | What it means | Riot's fix |
|---|---|---|
| VAN 152 | A hardware ID (HWID) ban on the device | No fix β reinstalling or restarting won't lift it; only a support ticket can review it. |
| VAN -81 | Vanguard can't start, stay connected or confirm it's ready | Restart; check Windows date, time and time zone; set the vgc service to Automatic; reinstall Vanguard; clean boot. |
| VAN 68 | Vanguard lost its connection while the game launched or ran | The VAN -81 steps, plus disabling Killer Network Service if you have it. |
| VAN 185 | A session problem between the game, Riot Client and Vanguard | Unplug extra USB devices, restart the Riot Client, log out elsewhere, restart, reinstall Vanguard. |
| VAN 9001 | TPM 2.0 isn't enabled | Enable TPM 2.0 (Intel PTT or AMD fTPM) in the BIOS and update the BIOS β check with tpm.msc. |
| VAN 9002 | Control Flow Guard is off in Exploit Protection | Reset Windows Exploit Protection system settings to default and restart. |
| VAN 9003 | Secure Boot is off | msinfo32 must show UEFI and Secure Boot On β convert the disk to GPT if needed, then enable Secure Boot. |
| VAN 9005 | VBS needs TPM 2.0 and UEFI firmware | Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot and check Memory Integrity is running. |
How to check, close or uninstall Vanguard
- Check it's running.
Look for the Vanguard icon in the System Tray. If League says Vanguard isn't initialised, restart your PC β the driver starts with Windows.
- Close it.
Right-click the tray icon and choose Exit Vanguard. You can't play until you restart the PC.
- Uninstall it.
Tray icon β Moreβ¦ β Uninstall Vanguard. Uninstalling League doesn't remove it if VALORANT is installed too.
Vanguard On-Demand (June 2026)
On 24 June 2026 Riot added an optional mode: instead of starting with Windows, the driver starts with the game and stops when you close it. It's "100% optional" and only available on PCs that pass Riot's Pre-Check:
- Windows 11 25H2 or later
- UEFI with Secure Boot
- TPM 2.0
- VBS and Memory Integrity (HVCI)
- IOMMU
Riot said about 35% of players already qualify and about 3% have hardware that can't. A tray app called VGTray lists which settings are missing.
What Vanguard has done to cheating
- 175,000+accounts banned for cheating in the first months (Riot, 22 August 2024)
- <1%of ranked games with a scripter β the lowest in nearly four years
- under 10games before a cheater is actioned (was 45+ games)
- 0.7%of PC ranked matches with a cheater, League and VALORANT combined (24 June 2026)
Riot put false positives at under 0.01%. Since patch 25.06 (18 March 2025) you get your LP back for a ranked loss to a cheater once the cheater is suspended β after one patch Riot had refunded over 700,000 LP to over 30,000 players.
- 11 April 2024
Riot announces Vanguard for League, with a TPM 2.0 requirement on Windows 11.
- 1 May 2024
Patch 14.9: League can't be played without Vanguard running.
- 22 August 2024
Retrospective: 175,000+ cheating bans; ranked scripting below 1%.
- 18 March 2025
Patch 25.06: LP refunded to players who lost to a cheater once the cheater is suspended.
- September 2025
Anti-Boost detection launches privately in League.
- 24 June 2026
Vanguard On-Demand: optional, runs only while you play, on PCs that pass Riot's Pre-Check.
- 17 September 2026
Anti-Boost goes public: 296,416 accounts actioned for rank manipulation in League and VALORANT.
Vanguard and boosting: Anti-Boost
Riot's Anti-Boost system is a Vanguard classification layer that detects when a significant share of an account's ranked points come from a higher-rated player logged into it. It was first launched privately in League of Legends in September 2025 and went public on 17 September 2026, when Riot said it had actioned 296,416 accounts for rank manipulation across League of Legends and VALORANT since late 2025. What happens next, in Riot's words:
- The boosted account: ranked points and rewards gained by the booster are revoked, plus escalating suspensions per offence, from three days up to three centuries.
- Bought or ownerless smurfs: purchased or ownerless (smurf) accounts are banned permanently.
- Hitchhikers: players who repeatedly queued with smurfs or boosters lose the undeserved rank, even if unknowingly.
The honest takeaway: a piloted boost means someone else logs into your account, which is exactly what Anti-Boost looks for. A duo boost keeps your login private but isn't risk-free, and coaching carries no account risk at all. Read is LoL boosting safe? and Riot's smurfing rules before you decide.
Help with your account and your climb
- Zero account risk: 1-on-1 coaching β from $22.00 an hour on your own games.
- Play every game yourself: Solo/Duo boost in duo mode β from $3.25 a division, with a verified booster in your lobby.
- Read next: bans and penalties explained.
- Riot β /dev: Vanguard x LoL (11 April 2024) Β· Patch 14.9 notes Β· Vanguard retrospective (22 August 2024) Β· Patch 25.06 notes Β· Vanguard On-Demand (24 June 2026) Β· Vanguard: Anti-Boost (17 September 2026)
- Riot Support β Riot Vanguard FAQ (2 Jun 2026) Β· minimum system requirements (22 September 2026) Β· Vanguard error codes (22 May 2026) Β· VAN 152 Β· VAN -81 Β· VAN 9001 Β· VAN 9003 Β· TPM 2.0 guide Β· HWID bans. Checked 2026-10-25.
All free tools: calculators, percentiles & season countdowns β
Common questions
Do you need Vanguard to play League of Legends?
What does VAN 152 mean?
Does Vanguard need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?
Can Vanguard detect boosting?
Ready to climb the Rift?
More League of Legends guides
All League of Legends guides β
League of Legends and all related assets are Β© Riot Games; splash art via Data Dragon. BoostPirate isn't endorsed by Riot Games.
