Read the number at the bottom of the ‘VALORANT has encountered a connection error’ dialog before changing anything. Riot maps different numbers to different actions: restart Riot Client for 0, 1, 38, or 43; wait for Riot for 39 or 46; restart the PC and reinstall Vanguard only for service-start codes -81 or 128; and do not run VALORANT in a virtual machine for 138.
Keep the number at the bottom of the message visible. A VAN number, a plain number such as 43, and a message with no number are not interchangeable; the next action depends on that exact result.
2
Wait if the code is 39 or 46
Code 39 means the server is unavailable, and Code 46 means planned platform downtime. Check Riot's regional status page and retry after the incident or maintenance window ends. Reinstalling VALORANT cannot restore a Riot server.
3
Restart Riot Client for 0, 1, 38, or 43
Close VALORANT, right-click Riot Client in the notification area beside the Windows clock, and select Exit. If Riot Client remains in Task Manager, select it and End task. Reopen Riot Client and start VALORANT once; Riot lists a client restart for these codes.
4
Restart Windows for -81 or 128
These codes mean a required service failed to start. Restart the PC, open Riot Client, and start VALORANT. Do not merely exit Vanguard from the system tray because Riot says a PC restart is required to enable Vanguard again.
5
Reinstall Vanguard if -81 or 128 returns
Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Riot Vanguard, select its menu, and choose Uninstall. Restart the PC, launch VALORANT from Riot Client so Vanguard is installed again, and restart once more if Riot asks. If the same code still returns, Riot's current code page calls for reinstalling both Riot Vanguard and VALORANT.
6
Leave a virtual machine for Code 138
Code 138 means Riot detected VALORANT or Vanguard inside a virtual machine. There is no setting to bypass this limitation; install and run both on a regular supported Windows installation.
7
Use the specific path for Code 29
Code 29 is the firewall case. Open the linked Error 29 guide and add Riot's current VALORANT, vgc, and Riot Client executables instead of resetting DNS or uninstalling Vanguard without evidence.
8
Verify the client stays connected
The repair is verified when VALORANT reaches the home screen, opens the Practice Range, and remains connected for five minutes without repeating the same code. If the code is not in Riot's list or no number appears, run Riot Repair Tool as administrator and send its zip, the screenshot, local time, and region in a support ticket.
If it does not work
If the number changes, follow the new code rather than repeating the previous branch.
If only one network fails and the same code disappears on another trusted connection, give Riot the original network type and code; do not install a VPN as a repair.
If Riot Vanguard is absent from Installed apps before a -81 or 128 repair, launch VALORANT once from Riot Client and record the new message instead of deleting folders manually.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: VALORANT on Windows PC.
Source-checked against Riot's current error-code and Vanguard uninstall articles. The connection dialog was not reproduced during review.
