VALORANT Stuck Loading Screen and Can’t Login Fix 2026
If VALORANT is stuck on the loading screen, loops in Riot Client, loses connection to Riot services or hangs before agent select, do not start with random scripts. Use a clean fix order: service status, client restart, network, firewall, updates, then Vanguard.
How to fix VALORANT stuck on loading screen
The safest VALORANT stuck loading screen fix is to check Riot service status, close Riot Client completely, restart the PC, test without VPN or proxy tools, then check firewall and antivirus blocks for Riot Client, VALORANT and Vanguard. If the game still hangs, update VALORANT, Windows and graphics drivers, then repair or reinstall Vanguard through the normal Riot flow.
Do this in order and test after every step. Loading problems often look the same from the outside, but the cause can be completely different. A Riot service outage, a broken patch, a blocked firewall rule and a Vanguard issue should not be treated with the same fix.
Another VALORANT account usually does not fix loading screen or login issues. If your local client, PC, network or Vanguard install is broken, every account will hit the same wall.
First identify where VALORANT gets stuck
Before you change settings, identify the exact failure point. A Riot Client login loop is not the same as a black loading screen after launch. A match hang after agent select is not the same as a patcher that cannot update. Better diagnosis saves time and avoids risky fixes.
| Symptom | Likely area | Best first move |
|---|---|---|
| Riot Client cannot log in | Riot service, account session, network, VPN or DNS | Check status, restart client, test network without VPN. |
| VALORANT stuck on first loading screen | Client, Vanguard, game files, firewall or graphics driver | Restart PC, update, check firewall and Vanguard. |
| Hangs after agent select | Connection, PC performance, patch files or service instability | Check connection stability and repair/update files. |
| Shows a VAN or VAL error code | Specific Riot/Vanguard error path | Follow the exact code instead of generic fixes. |
VALORANT login and loading screen fix steps
Use this order. It moves from low-risk checks to heavier repairs, so you do not reinstall everything for a problem that was just a blocked client session.
Check firewall, antivirus and network blocks
Riot has a dedicated firewall guide because blocked components can stop VALORANT from connecting correctly. The goal is not to turn off your firewall forever. The goal is to make sure trusted Riot components are allowed and that a third-party security tool is not silently blocking the client.
Open Windows Security or your antivirus history and look for blocked events at the exact time VALORANT hangs. If Riot Client, VALORANT, Vanguard or related Riot services were blocked, allow the trusted Riot process. After that, restart the PC and test once.
Allow Riot components, test a normal connection, remove VPN temporarily and watch whether the symptom changes.
Turning protection off permanently, running unknown fix tools or changing router settings without knowing what failed.
When Vanguard is part of the problem
Vanguard is Riot’s anti-cheat system for VALORANT. Because it works close to the operating system, it can block launch or fail cleanly when a driver, service or security requirement is not healthy. That does not mean every loading issue is Vanguard, but it should be checked after simpler steps.
If the error code points to Vanguard, follow Riot’s exact error-code guidance. If there is no code and the game simply hangs, do not jump straight into BIOS, Secure Boot, TPM or registry changes. Those should only be touched when the exact Riot message points there and you understand the impact.
Uninstall Riot Vanguard through Windows installed apps, restart the PC, open Riot Client or VALORANT to let Vanguard install again, then restart once more before testing ranked.
If the issue started after a patch
If VALORANT started hanging right after an update, treat it as a patch or file problem first. Let Riot Client finish any pending update, make sure the drive has enough free space, avoid moving the install folder manually, and restart before launching again.
A full reinstall makes sense when the install path is messy, updates repeatedly fail, or the game keeps hanging after service, client, firewall, network and Vanguard checks. Reinstalling too early can waste time if the issue is actually a live Riot service problem or blocked network route.
Can account access cause login issues?
Sometimes login trouble is not local. If the Riot Client works on the PC but one specific account cannot pass login, check email verification, region, two-factor or Riot account recovery prompts. If the account is locked, restricted or flagged, reinstalling VALORANT will not fix that.
For account buyers, this is why access quality matters. A good VALORANT account should have clear login details, correct region context and a clean handover path. Still, if the local client is broken, even a clean account will not launch properly.
Fixed the client and want a cleaner VALORANT account?
Once VALORANT launches normally, compare accounts by region, rank comfort, skins, agent unlocks and access quality. Do not use a new account as a workaround for a broken PC setup.
Where the fix order comes from
This guide follows Riot’s public support topics for stuck loading, login, launch, firewall, error codes and Vanguard. Exact errors should always be matched to Riot’s current error-code guidance.
VALORANT loading screen and login FAQ
Why is VALORANT stuck on the loading screen?
VALORANT can hang because Riot Client, Riot services, Vanguard, firewall rules, antivirus tools, network routing, game files or a patch issue is blocking the game before it reaches the lobby or match.
How do I fix VALORANT can’t login?
Check Riot service status, close Riot Client fully, restart the PC, test without VPN or proxy tools, then check firewall, antivirus, updates and Vanguard only if needed.
Should I reinstall VALORANT?
Only after easier steps fail. If the issue is a service outage, firewall block or Vanguard service problem, a full reinstall may not solve the real cause.
Is this the same as VAN 1067?
No. A stuck loading screen is a symptom. VAN 1067 is a specific Vanguard-related error path and should be handled through Riot’s error-code guidance.
Can another VALORANT account fix loading screen issues?
Usually no. If the local PC, Riot Client, Vanguard, firewall or network is the problem, another account will hit the same issue.