VAN -1: Vanguard didn't start properly

Connection Error: VALORANT has encountered a connection error. Please relaunch the client to reconnect. Error Code: VAN -1

Two steps and a ticket

Two steps. Of the negative codes that come with a fix list at all, VAN -1's is the shortest. There are two steps, and Riot says those two usually sort it out. There's no clean boot on it (and no game reinstall or network checklist either). If both fail, Riot's next move is a ticket with your logs attached.

Riot's explanation (Vanguard couldn't start correctly, or one of the services it needs isn't available) puts VAN -1 in the family of start-up failures with VAN 57 and VAN Missing -117. The order is different, though. VAN 57 has you check the vgc service first and reinstall later; VAN -1 puts the reinstall first.

The restart in the middle matters

Riot's reinstall has three parts: uninstall Vanguard, restart the PC, then launch the game so the Riot Client puts Vanguard back. The restart in the middle is how you confirm the uninstall worked. Riot's guide says Vanguard is fully gone if its red tray icon doesn't come back after that reboot. If it does come back, the guide has a manual removal route from an admin Command Prompt.

The message mentions VALORANT because Riot uses one article for both games, and it can appear mid-match: Riot's own example is a player kicked out of a game with VAN -1.

Riot's fix, in Riot's order

1. Uninstall Vanguard, restart, and let the game reinstall it

   1. Close the game and exit the Riot Client from the system tray.
   2. Right-click the red Vanguard icon in the tray, choose Advanced, then Uninstall Vanguard. If the icon isn't there, search Windows for Add or remove programs and uninstall Riot Vanguard from the list.
   3. Restart the PC. Vanguard is gone if its tray icon doesn't come back.
   4. Open the Riot Client and launch the game. It reinstalls Vanguard and will ask for one more restart before Play unlocks.

   Riot's guide: Uninstall Vanguard, restart, and let the game reinstall it

2. Set the vgc service to Automatic

   Vanguard has two parts: a driver that loads at boot and a Windows service called vgc. If the service isn't running when you press Play, the game closes.

   1. Press Win+R, type services.msc and press Enter.
   2. Find vgc in the list and double-click it.
   3. Set Startup type to Automatic. If the status says Stopped, click Start.
   4. Apply, OK, then restart the PC.

   The exception is Vanguard Pre-Check, Riot's opt-in mode where Vanguard only runs while a game is open. It needs Windows 11 25H2 or newer plus Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, IOMMU, VBS and HVCI, and if you're on it you shouldn't force the service to Automatic.

   Riot's guide: Set the vgc service to Automatic

Related errors

• VAN 57
• VAN Missing -117
• VAN -104
• VAN -72

Source: Riot Games Player Support, Error VAN -1, updated July 8, 2026. Riot's steps are paraphrased here, not copied; checked September 25, 2026.