Alex Ruben
How To Fix Valorant Error Code VAN 1
If Valorant throws that VAN-1 error at you, yeah, it’s annoying. Usually, this pops up when some external device or network setting gets weird or conflicts, especially USB drives or SD cards. Here’s a rundown of what’s worked for some folks — kinda weird, but unplugging a bunch of stuff, resetting network, and rechecking connections sometimes does the trick.
Step 1: Unplug External Devices
This one’s basic but surprisingly effective. The VAN-1 error can be triggered by anything external, like SD cards or external drives sitting in the background. So do this:
- Remove any SD cards, micro SD cards, or other external storage devices from your computer — especially USB drives, external HDDs, or even webcams with memory. On some machines, it’s the SD card reader causing trouble, so just unplug it to be safe.
- Once all that’s disconnected, give your system a quick reboot. Not sure why it helps, but sometimes just a fresh start clears it out.
- Launch Valorant again, and see if the error pops up.
This fix helps because those external devices sometimes interfere with network or game processes, especially if they’re causing driver conflicts or somehow affecting the network stack. And yeah, I’ve seen this avoid errors on multiple setups — on one, just unplugging stuff fixed it; on another, still had to reboot after.
Step 2: Reset Network and Switch to Mobile Hotspot
If unplugging everything didn’t do the trick, here’s the next move. Sometimes the error’s network-related, and resetting your connection can clear out stubborn issues. Also, switching over to a mobile hotspot can help bypass whatever Wi-Fi issues might be lurking.
- Go to your Settings menu — Windows 10/11: hit Start > Settings. On Mac, open System Preferences > Network.
- Navigate to Network & Internet (Windows) or Network (Mac).
- Turn off your current Wi-Fi connection. On Windows, click Wi-Fi and toggle Off.
- Unplug all cables from your router, including the power cable, then wait a few seconds (sometimes a minute if you’re feeling thorough) before plugging it back in. This forces a reset of your router’s internal hardware.
- While the router’s off, connect your PC directly to your phone’s mobile hotspot — easiest way is via tethering feature on your phone. Make sure your mobile plan can handle gaming data.
- Launch the Riot client and start Valorant. You might get errors like
1067— don’t worry, it’s normal during the switch. On some setups, errors happen as part of network tests, and then they disappear after the reboot. - If you get any error, just close everything, restart your PC, and then reconnect your router to switch back to Wi-Fi. After that, open the Riot client, log in, and check for updates.
- Update finishes, hit Play, and cross fingers — sometimes that cools down network conflicts.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Besides the main steps, a few extras might save your patience:
- Make sure your game and Riot Vanguard are both updated — outdated software can launch conflicts. Check for updates through the Riot client or via their website.
- Ever run a
ipconfig /flushdnsin PowerShell or Command Prompt? That can clear DNS cache messes that sometimes cause connection hiccups. - For some, disabling and re-enabling the network adapter in Device Manager (on Windows: Start > Device Manager > Network adapters) solved problems that felt deeper than just a restart.
- Remember: don’t leave SD or micro SD cards plugged in when launching Valorant, because somehow they seem to be triggering that VAN-1 error even if they’re not actively used.
Conclusion
Follow these steps, and chances are the VAN-1 error will finally chill out. External devices are the usual suspects — disconnect them, reset network, and make sure your drivers and game are up to date. Sometimes it’s just about forcing Windows or your router to forget the bad state it’s in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VAN-1 error in Valorant?
It’s basically a connection problem, often caused by external devices or network settings acting up. Sometimes it’s just Windows being weird about the hardware or network stack.
How can I prevent the VAN-1 error in the future?
Keep external devices unplugged before launching, regularly update your game and OS, and restart your router if issues persist. Also, avoid leaving SD/micro SD cards connected while gaming.
Is there a way to contact support if nothing works?
Yeah, Riot support’s pretty responsive if you’re stuck after all these steps. Usually, they suggest deep network troubleshooting or checking logs, but 90% of the time, unplugging a few peripherals helps.
Summary
- Unplug all external storage and peripherals before launching
- Reset your router and switch to hotspot if needed
- Update game, drivers, and clear DNS cache
- Reboot, reconnet, and keep an eye on network stability
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary sometimes.