Valorant VAN 46 Error: How to Fix It

Valorant’s VAN 46 error is a common connection issue that appears when the game client fails to establish a stable connection to Riot Games’ servers, often blocking you from logging in or entering a match. This guide walks you through the most effective fixes, from simple restarts to more advanced network and system tweaks, so you can get back to playing quickly.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access to your Windows PC
• Your router’s login credentials (usually printed on the router or in its manual)
• A stable internet connection (wired is preferred)
• Optional: a VPN client (for testing only)

Step-by-Step

1. Restart Your PC and Router – The simplest fix often works. Fully shut down your computer, unplug your router and modem for 30 seconds, plug them back in, and wait for the lights to stabilize. Then restart your PC and try launching Valorant again.
2. Run Valorant as Administrator – Right-click the Valorant shortcut and select “Run as administrator.” This ensures the game has the necessary permissions to access network resources. Also, do the same for the Riot Client if you use it.
3. Close Background Network-Heavy Applications – Programs like torrents, streaming services, or large downloads can saturate your bandwidth and cause VAN 46. Close them, then retry. You can also check Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to see what’s consuming network.
4. Flush DNS and Reset Network Stack – Open Command Prompt as administrator (search “cmd”, right-click, “Run as administrator”) and run these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
   ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
   Restart your PC afterward.
5. Change Your DNS Server – Sometimes your ISP’s DNS is slow or unreliable. Set your DNS to a public one like Google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). Go to Network Settings > Adapter Options > your connection > Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties > Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. Update Network Drivers – Outdated or corrupt network drivers can cause connection errors. Visit your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s website, find the latest LAN/Wi-Fi driver for your model, download and install it, then restart.
7. Temporarily Disable Firewall/Antivirus – Your firewall or antivirus might be blocking Valorant. Temporarily disable them (or add Valorant and the Riot Client to the exceptions list) and test. Remember to re-enable them afterward.
8. Check Router Settings – Log into your router (usually via 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and ensure UPnP is enabled. If you have QoS (Quality of Service) settings, set your PC as a high-priority device. If you have a VPN on the router, disable it.
9. Use a Wired Connection – If you’re on Wi-Fi, switch to an Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi can be unstable and more prone to the packet loss that triggers VAN 46.
10. Reset the Riot Client – Close Valorant and the Riot Client completely. Then navigate to %localappdata%\Riot Games\Riot Client and delete the Data folder. Relaunch the client – it will re-download necessary files. This does not delete your settings or account.
11. Check for Valorant Server Status – Sometimes the issue is on Riot’s side. Visit the official Riot Games service status page or check social media for any ongoing outages. If servers are down, you’ll just have to wait.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping the router restart – Many users only restart their PC, but the router often holds stale connection data.
• Not running as administrator – Without admin rights, Valorant may fail to modify network settings it needs.
• Forgetting to re-enable firewall/antivirus – Leaving them disabled is a security risk.
• Using an unstable VPN – A poorly configured VPN can cause more issues than it solves.
• Changing DNS incorrectly – Typing the wrong numbers or forgetting to apply the change can leave you with no internet at all.

Tips

• Keep your Windows OS and network drivers updated regularly to avoid compatibility issues.
• If you use a VPN, try connecting to a server close to your region, or try without it.
• Consider using a wired connection for competitive play – it’s more stable.
• If the error appears only during peak hours, it may be a temporary server load issue.
• Whitelist Valorant and Riot Client in your antivirus and firewall permanently to avoid future blocks.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve tried all the steps above and still get VAN 46, here are additional things to try:

• Check for Windows Updates – Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any pending updates. Restart and test.
• Try a different network – Connect to your phone’s mobile hotspot (if you have data) and see if the error persists. If it doesn’t, the problem is with your home network.
• Contact your ISP – If the error is consistent and other devices also have issues, your ISP might be throttling or blocking certain ports. Ask them to check for any restrictions on Riot’s servers.
• Reinstall Valorant – As a last resort, uninstall Valorant and the Riot Client completely, then reinstall from the official website. This fixes any corrupted game files.
• Create a new Windows user account – Sometimes a corrupted user profile can cause issues. Create a new local admin account and try running Valorant from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does VAN 46 error mean?

VAN 46 generally indicates a network connection failure between your computer and Riot’s servers. It’s not a ban or a hardware problem – it’s a communication issue.

Is VAN 46 caused by my internet speed?

Not necessarily. Even with fast internet, high latency, packet loss, or unstable connections can trigger the error. It’s about stability, not just speed.

Can a VPN fix VAN 46?

Sometimes yes. A VPN can change your routing path and bypass ISP throttling, but it can also cause the error if the VPN server is slow or blocked. It’s worth testing.

Will I lose my skins or rank if I reinstall Valorant?

No. Your account data, including skins, ranks, and settings, is stored on Riot’s servers. Reinstalling only removes local files, which will be re-downloaded.

Is VAN 46 a permanent ban?

No. It’s a temporary connection error, not a ban. You can fix it by following the steps above, and it should not affect your account status.

Does the error occur on both Windows and Mac?

Valorant is only available on Windows, so VAN 46 is Windows-specific. Mac users don’t encounter this error because the game isn’t supported on macOS.

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