Valorant Ban Types Explained: Account Bans, HWID Bans and What to Do Next
A straightforward look at the kinds of Valorant bans, how they differ and what players usually do next.
Getting banned in Valorant is frustrating, and it is made worse when you cannot tell what kind of ban it is. The type decides what you can do next, so it is worth understanding.
Account bans
An account ban ties the penalty to your Riot account. You cannot log in or play on it. Penalties can be temporary or permanent depending on the reason. If this is the only restriction, a different account can often get you back in a match.
Hardware ID bans
A hardware ID ban, usually called an HWID ban, goes further. Instead of only blocking an account, it flags identifiers from your computer. Players in this situation often find that a brand new account is blocked as well, even though it has never broken a rule. This is why many people discover they are in a hardware ban only after making a second account and seeing the same result.
Other penalties
Valorant also issues chat restrictions, queue bans and competitive suspensions. These are not the same as a ban for cheating, and they usually clear with time or good behavior.
How to tell what you have
Read the message in the client or the email Riot sent. If a new account on the same machine hits the same wall right away, that points toward a hardware level restriction. Riot’s own support pages describe the notices, so check those before assuming anything.
What players do next
Appeal. If you believe a mistake happened, you can contact Riot support. Results vary.
Wait. Some penalties expire.
Change the environment. Some players use a HWID Spoofer to change the hardware identifiers their system reports, and others buy a ready to use account instead. These are separate options with their own trade offs, and neither is guaranteed.
Think before you restart
If you return to the game after a ban, the same behavior can lead to the same result. Take time to decide how you want to play. Our article on when a spoofer matters covers that side in more detail, and the buying guide lists what to verify on any listing.