League of Legends Vanguard Errors: Complete Fix Guide

7 min

League of Legends Vanguard errors have become one of the most common technical problems since Riot integrated Vanguard into LoL. Instead of a single issue, players now encounter multiple VAN codes that prevent the game from launching or connecting properly.

If you are facing League of Legends Vanguard errors, it means Riot Vanguard failed to initialize, authenticate, or communicate with your system correctly. Because Vanguard runs at kernel level, even small system conflicts can block access to matches.

So what are Vanguard errors exactly? They are anti-cheat validation failures triggered when Vanguard cannot verify system integrity, start its services, or establish a secure connection with Riot servers. The most common ones include VAN 57, VAN 84, VAN 1067, and VAN 135.

Many users search for terms like league of legends vanguard error van 57, vanguard error league of legends, or vanguard league of legends error. However, the root cause usually falls into one of three categories: service startup failure, system conflict, or network instability.

Current image: League of Legends Vanguard Errors

What Are League of Legends Vanguard Errors?

What Is Riot Vanguard?

Riot Vanguard is Riot Games’ kernel-level anti-cheat system. It launches when your PC boots and monitors low-level processes to prevent memory injection, unauthorized drivers, and cheating tools.

Because it operates at such a deep system level, it depends heavily on:

  • Proper Windows service configuration
  • Updated drivers
  • Secure Boot compatibility (in some systems)
  • Stable network communication

If any of these fail, Vanguard blocks League from launching and displays a VAN error code.

Vanguard Error VAN 57 – Service Startup Failure

League of Legends Vanguard error VAN 57 is the most common Vanguard issue.

What Causes VAN 57?

  • Vanguard service (vgc) disabled
  • Startup type set incorrectly
  • Corrupted Vanguard installation
  • Outdated Windows build
  • Antivirus interference

How to Fix VAN 57

  1. Press Win + R
  2. Type services.msc
  3. Locate “vgc”
  4. Set Startup Type to Automatic
  5. Start the service
  6. Restart your PC

If that does not work, uninstall Vanguard, reboot, and let League reinstall it automatically.

Vanguard Error VAN 84 – Network Communication Issue

Vanguard error VAN 84 League of Legends is typically connection-related.

What Causes VAN 84?

  • Packet loss
  • ISP routing instability
  • Riot server maintenance
  • Firewall blocking traffic

How to Fix VAN 84

  • Check Riot Server Status
  • Restart router
  • Switch from Wi-Fi to Ethernet
  • Temporarily disable firewall for testing

Unlike VAN 57, this error is not service-based – it is communication-based.

Vanguard Error 1067 – Windows Service Crash

Vanguard error 1067 League of Legends indicates that the Vanguard service terminated unexpectedly.

Common Causes

  • Corrupted system files
  • Incompatible drivers
  • Background software conflicts

Fix Steps

  • Reinstall Vanguard
  • Run Windows System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
  • Perform a clean boot

This error is more system-level than VAN 84.

Vanguard Error VAN 135 – Driver-Level Conflict

Vanguard error VAN 135 League of Legends is usually linked to driver interference.

What Triggers VAN 135?

  • Overclocking software
  • RGB control apps
  • Virtual machine tools
  • Outdated GPU drivers

Fix

  • Update GPU drivers
  • Disable overclocking tools
  • Perform clean boot

Vanguard Error Comparison Table

Error CodeMain CategoryRoot CauseFix Difficulty
VAN 57Servicevgc not startingEasy
VAN 84NetworkConnection instabilityEasy
1067SystemService crashMedium
VAN 135DriverSoftware conflictMedium

Understanding which category your error belongs to is critical before applying random fixes.

Why Vanguard Errors Often Appear After Updates

Major League patches frequently include Vanguard updates. During patch rollout, conflicts may happen due to:

  • Updated driver signatures
  • Windows permission changes
  • Background programs launching before Vanguard

Since Vanguard runs at boot, startup order matters.

How to Prevent League of Legends Vanguard Errors

Follow this prevention checklist:

  • Keep Windows updated
  • Keep GPU drivers updated
  • Avoid system optimizer tools
  • Do not disable Vanguard service
  • Restart PC after major patches
  • Avoid installing unknown background utilities

Stable system configuration dramatically reduces Vanguard error frequency.

Vanguard Errors and Connection Stability

Vanguard must complete a secure handshake with Riot servers before League launches. If packet loss interrupts this validation, even a correctly configured system may display errors.

ExitLag improves routing through Real-Time Optimization and Multipath Connection technology. Instead of relying on a single unstable path, it distributes traffic across multiple optimized routes.

This reduces packet loss, stabilizes ping spikes, and ensures smoother Vanguard authentication – especially during peak hours and patch days.

If you want to avoid recurring League of Legends Vanguard errors, combining proper system configuration with optimized network routing is the most effective long-term solution.

Advanced Fixes for League of Legends Vanguard Errors

When basic troubleshooting does not resolve the issue, deeper system-level diagnostics are required. Advanced fixes target persistent service crashes, corrupted Windows components, and hidden software conflicts.

Perform a Clean Boot to Remove Software Conflicts

Many vanguard league of legends error cases are triggered by third-party applications that load at startup before Vanguard initializes.

Follow these steps to perform a Clean Boot:

  1. Press Win + R and type msconfig
  2. Go to the Services tab
  3. Check Hide all Microsoft services
  4. Click Disable All
  5. Open Task Manager → Startup
  6. Disable all startup applications
  7. Restart your PC

This isolates Vanguard from external interference. Clean Boot is especially effective for:

  • vanguard error van 135 league of legends
  • vanguard error 1067 league of legends
  • Persistent service-based failures

If the game launches successfully after Clean Boot, re-enable services gradually to identify the conflicting software.

League of Legends Vanguard Errors

Deep System Repair for Vanguard Error 1067 League of Legends

When the Vanguard service crashes unexpectedly, Windows system corruption may be the root cause.

Run System File Checker (SFC)

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  2. Type: sfc /scannow
  3. Press Enter and wait for completion
  4. Restart your PC

This scans and repairs missing or corrupted Windows system files that may prevent Vanguard from running correctly.

Use DISM for Advanced Image Repair

If SFC does not resolve the issue, run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

DISM repairs deeper Windows image corruption that can cause vanguard error van 1067 league of legends scenarios.

These tools are safe when executed properly and often resolve long-standing service failures.

BIOS & Secure Boot: Hardware-Level Validation

Vanguard verifies system integrity at boot. On certain systems, especially Windows 11, Secure Boot configuration can influence validation.

Why Secure Boot Matters

Secure Boot ensures only trusted drivers and bootloaders run during startup. If disabled in specific hardware configurations, Vanguard may fail integrity checks.

To verify Secure Boot:

  • Restart your PC
  • Enter BIOS/UEFI
  • Locate Secure Boot settings
  • Ensure it is enabled (if compatible)

This is not required for all systems, but it can resolve stubborn Vanguard validation failures.

Network-Level Vanguard Errors: Deep Analysis of VAN 84

Unlike service errors, vanguard error van 84 league of legends is usually network-related.

Vanguard performs a secure authentication handshake with Riot servers before the client launches. If packet loss interrupts this handshake, validation fails.

How Packet Loss Triggers Errors

  • Interrupted authentication packets
  • Route instability between ISP and Riot servers
  • High latency spikes during validation

Advanced Network Fix Checklist

  • Switch to wired Ethernet
  • Restart modem and router
  • Flush DNS (ipconfig /flushdns)
  • Reset network adapter
  • Download ExitLag!

These steps stabilize routing and reduce VAN 84 occurrences.

League of Legends Vanguard Errors

Complete Vanguard Error Diagnostic Table

Error CodeCategoryRoot CauseAdvanced FixRisk Level
VAN 57Servicevgc disabled or blockedReconfigure servicesLow
VAN 84NetworkPacket instabilityOptimize routingLow
1067SystemCorrupted Windows filesSFC + DISM repairMedium
VAN 135DriverSoftware conflictClean BootMedium

Identifying the correct category prevents unnecessary reinstallations and speeds up resolution.

When to Fully Reinstall League of Legends

In rare cases, a complete reinstallation is required.

Steps:

  • Uninstall League of Legends
  • Uninstall Riot Vanguard
  • Delete Riot Games folder (if remaining)
  • Restart PC
  • Download fresh installer from official site

This resets all client-side configuration and resolves persistent corruption issues.

How ExitLag Prevents Network-Based Vanguard Errors

Because Vanguard depends on stable authentication routing, unstable ISP paths can indirectly cause League of Legends Vanguard errors.

ExitLag uses Real-Time Optimization, Traffic Shaper technology, and Multipath Connection routing to send packets through multiple simultaneous paths. Instead of relying on a single unstable route, it dynamically selects the most stable connection.

This reduces packet loss, stabilizes ping spikes, and prevents handshake interruptions that commonly trigger VAN 84.

While system errors like VAN 57 require configuration fixes, network-based Vanguard errors benefit directly from optimized routing.

Long-Term Prevention Strategy for Vanguard Errors

Maintaining system integrity is the best long-term solution.

Follow this prevention checklist:

  • Keep Windows fully updated
  • Keep GPU drivers updated
  • Avoid kernel-level tweaking utilities
  • Do not disable Vanguard service
  • Restart PC after major patches
  • Avoid installing unknown background tools
  • Monitor Riot server status during patch days

Combining clean system maintenance with stable routing dramatically reduces the likelihood of future Vanguard disruptions.


All game images used in this blog belong to Riot Games. They are used for informational/educational purposes only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation with the rights holders.

Got questions or want to connect with other players? Join the conversation at the ExitLag Forum!

Leandro Sandmann

Leandro Sandmann

Leandro Sandmann, graduated in Computer Science from FEI, is the co-founder of ExitLag, a company created to improve stability and internet connections for online games. He has been sharing his knowledge about games and technology through various channels, contributing to the Blog's articles.

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