VAN 9002: Windows Exploit Protection is switched off
Riot VanguardLeague + VALORANTThe message
VAN9002: This build of Vanguard requires Control Flow Guard (CFG) to be enabled in system exploit protection settings.What it means
Vanguard needs Windows Exploit Protection on, and Riot says this code usually means it's been turned off. It stops VALORANT the same way.
What to try first
Open Exploit protection from the Start menu, set every system setting back to Use default, delete any Riot entries under Program settings, then restart.
Is it you or Riot? If lots of players are hitting this at once, it's probably the servers. Check League server status before you start reinstalling things.
The message names one setting, the fix covers more
The error only mentions Control Flow Guard (CFG), one line in Windows' Exploit Protection panel. Riot's article reads it more broadly: the code usually means Exploit Protection as a whole has been disabled, and Vanguard won't let League or VALORANT run without it. So Riot's instructions have you put seven system-wide settings back to default, CFG among them, rather than flipping CFG alone.
The second half is easy to miss. Exploit Protection also keeps a per-program list on its Program settings tab, and Riot has you remove every entry there that belongs to Riot Games, Riot Vanguard or any Riot game, however many there are.
Do both tabs before you restart
Riot is specific about the order here. Change the system settings first and hold off on restarting, clear the program entries, and only then reboot so Vanguard starts fresh with everything applied at once. The list on the System settings tab is longer than the window, so scroll to the bottom before you decide you've got them all.
If 9002 is still there after that restart, Riot's next step is a Player Support ticket with your logs attached.
Riot's fix, in Riot's order
Put Exploit Protection back to default
Search Windows for Exploit protection. On System settings, set Control flow guard (CFG), DEP, both ASLR options, High-entropy ASLR, SEHOP and heap integrity validation to Use default. Then on Program settings, remove every entry for Riot Games, Riot Vanguard or a Riot game. Restart.
Other wordings of the same error
VAN 9002Error VAN 9002VAN 9002 Control Flow GuardVAN9002 CFG
Related errors
Source: Riot Games Player Support, Error VAN 9002, updated February 3, 2026. Riot's steps are paraphrased here, not copied; checked September 25, 2026.