VAN -102: Vanguard couldn't start or stay connected

Connection Error: VALORANT has encountered a connection error. Please relaunch the client to reconnect. Error Code: VAN -102

Don't confuse it with VAN -101

Riot's Vanguard hub puts the negative codes in one block, and -102 sits right beside -101. They have nothing in common apart from the minus sign. VAN -101 means Vanguard found a system that doesn't meet League's requirements, and Riot's answer there is a supported computer or operating system, with no repair list at all. VAN -102 is a repair job. Riot says Vanguard had trouble starting, staying connected or confirming the PC was ready, during launch or while you played, and gives it seven steps.

Read the number carefully before you give up on your PC (or before you spend an evening reinstalling on one that can't run the game).

Spend your first ten minutes on the top three

Riot orders the list quickest first and asks you to launch after each step. The first three steps (a restart, the clock and time zone, and the vgc service) don't download anything. The reinstalls and the network checklist come after them. VAN -102 shares that explanation and list word for word with six other negative codes, and Riot updated its article on July 9, 2026, the same day as -104's and a day before the rest of the family.

Riot's fix, in Riot's order

1. Restart your PC

   A full restart, not a sign-out. Vanguard's driver loads when Windows boots, so a restart is the only thing that gives it a clean start.

2. Check the date, time and time zone

   A clock that's off breaks the secure connections Vanguard makes on launch. In Settings, under Time & language, turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically, then hit Sync now.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Do a clean boot

   This switches off every non-Microsoft service for one boot, so you can tell whether something in the background is the problem.

   1. Press Win+R, type msconfig and press Enter.
   2. On the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services first (skip it and you'll switch off parts of Windows).
   3. Click Disable all, then tick vgc again so Vanguard still starts.
   4. Apply, OK, restart, and test.

   Some programs ignore a clean boot anyway, third-party antivirus and networking tools most of all. If the error goes away, turn services back on a few at a time until it returns, and you've found it.

   Riot's guide: Do a clean boot

6. Reinstall the game

   Uninstall from Windows' Installed apps list with the Riot Client closed. For a clean reinstall of League, Riot also has you delete the Riot Client folder under C:\Riot Games, the Riot Games folders under %localappdata% and %programdata%, and the League of Legends folder in Documents. That last one holds your replays, so copy them out first if you want them.

   Riot's guide: Reinstall the game

7. Work through Riot's connection checklist

   Last on Riot's list for a reason: only get here once the Vanguard steps above have failed. Riot's PC connection guide covers the usual suspects: a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, restarting the router, switching to a public DNS, firewall exceptions for the Riot Client and game, and turning off VPNs.

   Riot's guide: Work through Riot's connection checklist

Related errors

• VAN -101
• VAN -104
• VAN -81
• VAN -79
• VAN -92
• VAN -83
• VAN -72

Source: Riot Games Player Support, Error VAN -102, updated July 9, 2026. Riot's steps are paraphrased here, not copied; checked September 25, 2026.