VAN -92: Vanguard lost its footing mid-launch or mid-game

Connection Error: VALORANT has encountered a connection error. Please relaunch the client to reconnect. Error Code: VAN -92

"Connection Error" doesn't mean your internet

The popup opens with "Connection Error" and tells you to relaunch to reconnect, so the natural reaction is to blame your Wi-Fi. Riot's own article reads it differently. VAN -92 is filed under Vanguard trouble: the anti-cheat couldn't start cleanly, keep its connection, or confirm the game was ready. Riot's network checklist exists, but it's the seventh and final step, the one you reach only after everything Vanguard-related has failed.

If other games and sites work fine and nobody else in your lobby dropped, start with the restart and the Vanguard steps rather than the router.

Where -92 sits

It's one of seven negative codes (-104, -102, -92, -83, -81, -79 and -72) that Riot answers with one explanation and one fix list, all rewritten within two days of each other in July 2026. The message names VALORANT because the article is shared between both of Riot's Vanguard games. If you land on a different code from this group next time, you're still working the same list.

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 -104
• VAN -83
• VAN -81
• VAN -72
• VAN -1

Source: Riot Games Player Support, Error VAN -92, updated July 10, 2026. Riot's steps are paraphrased here, not copied; checked September 25, 2026.