⚡ Quick Answer
Error VAN 57 in League of Legends means Riot Vanguard, the game’s kernel-level anti-cheat driver, failed to initialize — so the game refuses to launch until Vanguard is running properly. It’s the same anti-cheat used in Valorant. The fastest fix is a full PC restart (not just relaunching the client), which resolves most cases. If that doesn’t work, force-start the vgc Windows service, then reinstall Riot Vanguard, and finally check for conflicting antivirus or anti-cheat software.
Getting stopped at the login screen with Error VAN 57 is one of the most common Vanguard issues League of Legends players run into on Windows. Here’s exactly what it means and the step-by-step fix, starting with the solution that works most often.
What Does Error VAN 57 Mean?
Error VAN 57 shows up when Riot Vanguard fails to initialize properly — the game client cannot establish communication with the anti-cheat system, so it blocks you from launching League of Legends entirely. Since Vanguard is shared infrastructure, this same error code can appear in Valorant too.
- Vanguard is a kernel-level driver that loads when Windows starts, not when the game starts
- The error typically reads something like “An unexpected error with Vanguard has occurred”
- It does not mean your account is banned or flagged
- Most cases are resolved with a full system restart, not just restarting the Riot Client
What Causes Error VAN 57?
- Vanguard driver not loaded — the kernel-level driver didn’t start correctly during Windows boot
- The
vgcservice is stopped or set to Manual — Vanguard’s background service isn’t running - Corrupted or incomplete Vanguard installation — damaged files after an update
- Conflicting security software — antivirus or a second anti-cheat (like FACEIT AC) blocking Vanguard
- Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 disabled — Vanguard requires both to be enabled in BIOS on affected systems
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Vanguard driver not loaded | Fully close the game and Riot Client, then restart your PC |
vgc service stopped |
Set the vgc service to Automatic in services.msc and start it |
| Corrupted Vanguard files | Uninstall Riot Vanguard and let the Riot Client reinstall it |
| Conflicting antivirus/anti-cheat | Add a Vanguard exception, or temporarily disable and test |
| Secure Boot / TPM disabled | Enable both in your motherboard’s BIOS settings |
How to Fix Error VAN 57: Step-by-Step
Fix 1: The “Clean” Restart (Most Likely Fix)
Vanguard is a kernel-level driver, meaning it loads when Windows starts. If it crashes or fails to load, restarting the game alone won’t help — you need to restart the PC.
- Close the Riot Client and League of Legends completely
- Restart your computer (not just the game)
- Try launching the game again
Fix 2: Force Start the “vgc” Service
Sometimes the Vanguard service (called vgc) gets stuck or is set to “Manual” startup, causing it to fail silently.
- Press Windows Key + R, type
services.msc, and hit Enter - Scroll down to find the service named vgc
- Right-click
vgcand select Properties - Change Startup type to Automatic
- Click Start (if active) to force it to run immediately
- Click Apply and OK, then restart your computer
Fix 3: Reinstall Vanguard (If the Above Fail)
If Vanguard’s files are corrupted, force the Riot Client to redownload them fresh.
- Press Windows Key + I to open Settings, then go to Apps → Installed Apps
- Search for Riot Vanguard (NOT League of Legends) and uninstall it
- Once uninstalled, restart your computer
- Open the Riot Client — it will detect Vanguard is missing and reinstall it automatically
- Restart your computer one final time to finalize the installation (required)
Fix 4: Check for Conflicting Software
If the error persists, something may be actively blocking Vanguard from initializing:
- Antivirus: Temporarily disable Norton, McAfee, Avast, or similar to test. If the game launches, add a Vanguard exception permanently
- Other anti-cheat software: Close or uninstall tools like FACEIT AC or ESEA, which can conflict with Vanguard
Fix 5: Enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 in BIOS
Vanguard requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled on supported systems. If these are disabled in your motherboard’s BIOS/UEFI settings, Vanguard may refuse to initialize even after a clean reinstall.
Still Not Working? Contact Riot Support
If none of the fixes above resolve the issue, the problem may be deeper — such as a driver conflict specific to your hardware. Riot Games maintains an official support article for this exact error with additional diagnostics; see the official Riot Games VAN 57 support page for the latest guidance and to submit a support ticket if needed.
Dealing with a different launch or connection error? Check our Helldivers 2 Error 55 connection fix guide for another common game-launch troubleshooting walkthrough.
Related Searches:
Here’s what players are actually typing into Google around this error, with short, direct answers to each:
1. “van 57 error league of legends fix”
The most reliable first step is a full PC restart, not just relaunching the Riot Client — Vanguard is a kernel-level driver that loads with Windows.
2. “riot vanguard failed to initialize”
This is the underlying issue behind VAN 57 — the anti-cheat driver didn’t load correctly, usually fixed by restarting the vgc service or the PC itself.
3. “vgc service not starting windows”
This refers to Vanguard’s background Windows service; setting it to Automatic startup in services.msc resolves most stuck-service cases.
4. “van 57 valorant error”
Since Valorant uses the same Riot Vanguard anti-cheat as League of Legends, this error and its fixes are identical across both games.
5. “does vanguard need secure boot and tpm”
Yes — Vanguard requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 enabled in BIOS on supported systems, and disabling either can trigger initialization errors like VAN 57.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does VAN 57 mean I’ve been banned?
No. It’s a technical initialization error with the anti-cheat driver, not an account penalty or ban.
Will reinstalling Vanguard delete my League of Legends progress?
No. Vanguard is separate anti-cheat software; reinstalling it does not touch your League account, rank, or in-game purchases.
Why does restarting the Riot Client alone not fix it?
Because Vanguard loads as a Windows driver at boot time, not when the game launches — only a full system restart reloads it correctly.
📝 TL;DR
- VAN 57 means Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat driver, failed to initialize — it’s not a ban
- First fix: fully restart your PC, not just the Riot Client
- Second fix: set the
vgcservice to Automatic and start it manually in services.msc - Third fix: uninstall and let the Riot Client reinstall Vanguard fresh
- Also check: conflicting antivirus/anti-cheat software, and Secure Boot/TPM 2.0 settings in BIOS
- Still stuck? Use Riot Games’ official VAN 57 support page to submit a ticket
Written by Freddy John
Freddy John covers gaming errors, anti-cheat troubleshooting, and consumer tech fixes for Seminars Only News. This guide is compiled from verified troubleshooting steps and Riot Games’ own support documentation, and is reviewed periodically for accuracy as Vanguard’s requirements change.
