VAN 140 in VALORANT: the game, client and Vanguard didn't start together

Connection Error: VALORANT has encountered a connection error. Please relaunch the client to reconnect. Error Code: VAN 140

A three-way startup problem

Riot's article for VAN 140 names VALORANT outright. It describes a startup or connection problem between three programs at once: the game, the Riot Client and Vanguard. When those don't come up together cleanly, VALORANT shows the reconnect popup with 140 at the end.

The compatibility step

The step that's specific to 140 is the second one. On the VALORANT shortcut's Properties, Riot has you disable fullscreen optimizations, run it as an administrator and override high DPI scaling so the application controls it. Then you do the same on RiotClientServices.exe, which lives in the Riot Client folder under C:\Riot Games by default. Riot's thinking is that Windows can apply launch behavior that gets in between the three programs, and these settings switch it off.

Notice what's missing from this list. There's no clean boot and no network checklist. After compatibility settings come the vgc service, a Vanguard reinstall and a VALORANT reinstall.

Riot's fix, in Riot's order

1. Install every pending Windows update

   Open Settings, then Windows Update, and keep installing and restarting until it says you're up to date. Vanguard's checks lean on security components that ship in those updates, and optional driver updates are worth a look while you're there.

2. Change the compatibility settings on the game and the Riot Client

   Right-click the game's desktop shortcut, open Properties, then the Compatibility tab. Tick Disable fullscreen optimizations and Run this program as an administrator. Under Change high DPI settings, tick the override and set scaling to Application. Apply, then do the same to RiotClientServices.exe.

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. Reinstall the game

   Close the Riot Client first, then uninstall VALORANT from Windows' Installed apps list. For a clean reinstall, Riot's guide has you remove the VALORANT and Riot Client folders inside C:\Riot Games, empty the Recycle Bin, then delete the Riot Games and VALORANT folders under %localappdata%. Restart, then download the installer again from Riot's site.

   Riot's guide: Reinstall the game

Related VALORANT errors

• VAN 185
• VAN 1067
• VAN 0
• VAN 293

Source: Riot Games Player Support, Error VAN 140, updated July 16, 2026. Riot's steps are paraphrased here, not copied; checked October 8, 2026.