How to Fix the Van 81 Error in Valorant and LoL

Image Source: Riot Games

No one wants to deal with annoying error codes when playing Valorant. Unfortunately, there are some that seem to be harder to crack than others. One of those annoying Valorant error codes is the VAN-81, but what exactly does this error mean, and how can you fix it?

Worry not. I’m here to help you out with the most annoying and pesky of error codes. I’ll give you the rundown of what to do whenever you encounter the VAN-81 error code by Riot Games. Then you can quickly get back to your ranked games, because let’s be real you need those ranked rewards by the end of an Act, right? 

VAN-81 Error Code: What Does This Error Mean?

Before jumping into things, let’s quickly go over what the VAN-81 error even is. Why is it preventing you from getting into the game and having fun? 

Image Source: Riot Games

The VAN-81 error is most likely related to the game's anti-cheat system, Vanguard. You cannot launch the game without Vanguard running, so whenever there is a problem with the anti-cheat, then you’ll experience issues with logging in as well and the connection. Not only is this an issue with Valorant, but with League of Legends also switching to Vanguard, the same issues can be found with the MOBA as well. 

If you want to be able to properly start Valorant without issues, you’ll need to ensure that you have: 

• A consistent and seamless internet connection
• Ensure no firewall settings are obstructing the launcher or Riot Vanguard
• Riot Vanguard should launch and operate without any disruptions

How to Fix the VAN-81 Error 

Since we’ve found the root cause of the issue with the VAN-81 error, it’s time to fix it. There are a few ways you can try to quickly get back to playing. 

Fully Restart the Game, Vanguard and the Riot Launcher

Image Source: Riot Games

The initial step in addressing any error code is to simply restart the game. This action fixes the issue in over 60% of instances. Should a basic restart not work, you might have to terminate certain processes and then reopen the game.

To do so, follow these steps: 

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to open Task Manager
2. Head to the “Processes” tab
3. Scroll and find any Riot-related processes
4. Right-click each and select “End Task”
5. After closing all, manually restart the game

Restart Vanguard Completely

If Vanguard is acting up, it’ll stop the game from starting. Here’s the fix: Open Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DELETE), shut down Riot Vanguard, and then reboot your computer.

Image Source: Riot Games

Once your PC’s back on, fire up the game again. Vanguard will kick back in automatically.

Remember, restarting your system is the only way to get Vanguard running after you close it. This is similar to the fix above, but this time around we’re just closing Vanguard first. 

Whitelist Riot in Your Firewall

Your firewall could be preventing you from playing the game. That shouldn’t happen, but it can, so you might have to whitelist some Riot processes manually so you can get back into the game. Follow the steps below, and you’ll be able to whitelist what you need. 

1. Hit the Windows Key + S
2. Enter "Firewall" in the search bar and hit Enter
3. Select "Allow an app through Firewall"
4. Ensure that both Riot Client and Valorant are listed and permitted
5. Finish setting up by clicking Confirm

Image Source: Riot Games

If none of these fixes worked, then there is only one thing left to do, unfortunately, and it is likely going to be the longest and most tedious fix on our list. 

Reinstall Valorant and Vanguard

Finally, if all else fails, you might just have to re-install the game and the anti-cheat from scratch. So, first, you need to uninstall everything. Once you’ve done that, download everything once more. Hopefully it doesn’t come to this, though, and you can fix the VAN-81 error quicker and easier.