Valorant HWID Ban Duration - How Long Does It Last?

The calendar became my prison wall. Day 37 of staring at VAN 152, and I'd already heard three different timelines from three different "experts" on Reddit. One swore it was 90 days. Another insisted I'd be banned forever. A third claimed he got unbanned in 10 days (he was lying). I just wanted to know when I could play with my friends again without buying a new motherboard.

If you're obsessively checking dates and counting down the hours like I was, here's the definitive answer based on Riot's actual policies and recent confirmed cases: Standard Valorant HWID bans for cheating last exactly 4 months (120 days) from the detection date. But that seemingly simple timeline comes with brutal conditions that turn 120 days into an eternity.

The 4-Month Standard (Anti-Cheat Bans)

According to Riot's official Valorant support documentation and confirmed by player reports through early 2026, standard HWID bans issued by Vanguard for cheating violations typically last 4 months (approximately 120 days). This is specifically for the VAN 152 error code you get when the anti-cheat detects third-party software.

The countdown starts from the date of detection, not your last login. During these 120 days, every new account you create on that hardware receives an automatic permanent ban within seconds. Riot's system doesn't care if it's your account, your brother's account, or a completely fresh email—if the hardware fingerprint matches the blacklist, Vanguard kills the connection immediately.

Here's where waiting gets complicated: Riot tracks all account activity during your ban period. While the 4-month timer technically runs regardless of your actions, creating multiple new accounts during your suspension flags your behavior pattern. When you eventually submit a ticket or appeal, Riot Support reviews whether you attempted to evade the ban. Heavy evasion activity during the 4 months can result in immediate denial of removal or extension of the HWID sentence.

When HWID Bans Extend Beyond 4 Months

Not every VAN 152 error expires at the 120-day mark. Several scenarios can extend your hardware ban to 1 year or make it effectively permanent:

Repeat Offenders: If you've already served a 4-month HWID ban or an IP Ban and Vanguard catches you cheating again, the second ban is typically 1 year minimum. Third offenses are often permanent with no expiration.

Extreme Behavioral Bans: This is where the confusion about "1 year minimum" comes from. Riot issues separate, rare HWID bans for extreme toxicity (verifiable threats, doxxing, extreme aggression across dozens of accounts). These are manually applied by Riot staff, not automated by Vanguard, and they require a minimum 1-year wait before you can even request removal.

False Positives: Ironically, if you get banned for cheating but were actually clean (rare but documented), clearing your name can take longer than 4 months. Riot Support moves slowly on appeals, and some innocent players report 6+ month resolution times while investigations drag on.

How to Verify Your Specific Expiration Date

Unlike some games that show a countdown timer, Valorant gives you no in-game indication of when your HWID ban expires. You find out by trying to log in and either getting VAN 152 again (still banned) or reaching the main menu (ban lifted).

To confirm your exact date, submit a ticket to Riot Support asking specifically for your "HWID ban expiration date." Provide your original banned account name and explain you're waiting out the sentence. Some support agents will tell you the date; others will cite policy and refuse, saying you must simply wait and check periodically.

Community trackers suggest that most standard bans issued in October 2025 will expire in February 2026, confirming the 120-day window. However, don't expect a notification or email when your time is up—you have to test it manually.

The "Waiting Game" Reality Check

Four months sounds survivable on paper. In gaming time, it's devastating. You'll miss:

• Two full battlepass seasons with exclusive skins
• Multiple agent releases or major balance patches
• Ranked Act resets where your friends climb ranks
• Limited-time modes and seasonal events
• Your mechanical edge—4 months off means severe rust

Additionally, when you return on day 121, you're starting from zero. Your old account with its skins and rank is permanently gone. You need to grind the battlepass again, unlock agents again, and placement matches will likely rank you lower than before due to skill decay.

Can You Shorten the Duration?

No. Riot does not offer "good behavior" reductions or early removals for standard HWID bans. The 120 days is fixed. However, you can ensure it doesn't get extended by following strict rules during your sentence:

Don't create new accounts. Don't let friends log into your PC with their accounts (Riot specifically warns that this gets their account banned too). Don't use hardware spoofers "just to check"—if detected, this resets your standing. Don't submit angry tickets every week—support agents note aggressive behavior in your file.

On day 120, create one fresh account, log in, and check if you reach the main menu. If you still get VAN 152, wait one more week and try again. Sometimes expiration dates shift slightly based on when Riot updates their blacklist database.

Final Verdict: Patience vs. Practicality

So how long does a Valorant HWID ban last? 4 months for first-time cheating offenses, 1+ years for repeats or extreme behavioral cases. The timer runs consistently, but your actions during those months determine whether you get a clean slate or extended surveillance.

For many players, 120 days of exile from their main game is functionally permanent—their friend groups move on, their skills fade, or they simply lack the patience to wait. If you can endure the 4-month drought without touching Valorant, you get a second chance. If you can't, you're looking at either new hardware or exploring alternative solutions to mask your identifiers.

Updated January 30, 2026: Confirmed 4-month (120 day) duration for standard Vanguard anti-cheat HWID bans per official Riot support documentation and community verification.