How to fix Valorant error code 38?

VAL 38 is the code VALORANT shows when the game loses its connection to Riot's platform, at launch or in the middle of a session. Riot's own fix is to restart both VALORANT and the Riot Client. If the code comes back, check Riot's status page before you change anything on your PC or router.

Facts checked on 16 October 2026. Steps written for VALORANT with the Riot Client on Windows 11 (25H2 and 26H2) and Windows 10 22H2, read against Riot's support articles.

What error code VAL 38 means in Valorant, and its other spellings

VALORANT keeps a live link to Riot's platform from login to logout. Your session, your party, chat and matchmaking all run through it. VAL 38 means that link failed, so the game stops and asks you to start the client again.

Riot's support article "Error Codes and Solutions in VALORANT" lists code 38 as Connection Error, with the solution "Go ahead and restart VALORANT and the Riot Client." That is the whole official entry. Codes 0 and 1 carry exactly the same meaning and fix.

What causes VAL 38, from most to least common

Riot publishes no numbers on how often each cause occurs. The order below follows Riot's advice: its fix for code 38 is a restart of the game and the client, so a stuck session comes first. Riot's VALORANT network article then covers the home network and the PC.

How to fix Valorant error code 38

Fix 1 is Riot's own solution and takes two minutes. Fix 2 tells you whether anything you do can help. Fix 3 and Fix 4 cover the home network on any platform. Fix 5 to Fix 8 are for Windows PCs. Stop as soon as you reach the play screen.

Fix 1. Quit VALORANT and exit the Riot Client completely, then start again

2 minutesNo riskEveryone with VAL 38, as the first step.

This is the solution Riot gives for code 38: restart VALORANT and the Riot Client. Closing the game window is not enough, because the Riot Client keeps running in the system tray with the same broken session.

1. Select QUIT GAME in the error box, or close VALORANT.
2. Look at the system tray in the bottom right corner of the screen. Select the small arrow if the Riot icons are hidden.
3. Right-click the Riot Client icon and select Exit.
4. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. On Windows 10, select More details if you see only a short list.
5. On the Processes tab, look for Riot Client and VALORANT entries that are still running. Select each one and select End task.
6. Start the Riot Client again from the Start menu, sign in if asked, and select Play for VALORANT.

• Leave Riot Vanguard running. The red Vanguard icon in the tray is the anti-cheat. Riot's entry for code 38 does not ask you to exit it, and VALORANT needs it.
• Restart the PC if a process will not end. A full restart also clears a session that broke when the PC went to sleep.
• Frozen windows: the general way to close an app that does not respond is here: Close a frozen app (Task Manager, Force Quit)

Fix 2. Check Riot's status page, support banners and Discord

2 minutesNo riskVAL 38 came back after Fix 1, on any platform.

Code 38 is a connection error, and one end of that connection is Riot's platform. Riot's error table itself asks players to watch its Discord and support site banners for emergent issues. If Riot has an incident, nothing at home will help.

1. Open https://status.riotgames.com on a phone or in a browser.
2. Choose your region at the top of the page, for example North America or Europe.
3. Find VALORANT and read the current messages. A message shows the time and the platforms affected.
4. Open support.riotgames.com and look for a banner at the top about VALORANT.
5. Check the announcements on the official VALORANT Discord server, which Riot links in its error table.
6. If any of these shows an incident for your region and platform, stop here. Try again every 15 to 30 minutes, and do Fix 1 once after Riot closes it.

The 30 minute interval is our suggestion, not Riot's. Riot's table names code 39 for an unavailable server and code 46 for planned downtime, but during an outage several codes can appear in turn.

Fix 3. Restart the PC, the modem and the router

5 minutesLow riskNo incident from Riot, on PC or console, and above all when other online services at home act up.

VAL 38 is a dropped connection, and a router that has run for weeks or a modem with a weak link to the provider drops connections. A power cycle makes the modem build a new link.

1. Close VALORANT and exit the Riot Client as in Fix 1.
2. Shut down the PC, or turn the console off completely. Rest mode is not enough.
3. Turn off the modem and the router, or unplug them.
4. Wait about 30 seconds.
5. Turn on the modem first, then the router, and wait until their lights are steady.
6. Start the PC or console, wait until it has fully started, then start VALORANT.

Fix 4. Use a cable, free up the line and turn off VPN or proxy

5 to 10 minutesNo riskYou play over Wi-Fi, on a busy shared line, or with a VPN or proxy on.

Riot's VALORANT network article starts with these basics: it says a wired connection is faster and more stable, and that a proxy or VPN "can cause issues with your connection and should only be used if 100% necessary".

1. Disconnect your VPN and close its app. If you set a proxy in Windows, turn it off where you turned it on.
2. Pause downloads, streaming and cloud sync on the PC and on other devices at home.
3. Connect the PC or console to the router with an Ethernet cable, and check that the cable sits firmly at both ends, as Riot asks.
4. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Network & internet and check that Ethernet shows as connected.
5. Exit and start the Riot Client again, then start VALORANT.

• A phone hotspot as a one-time test. If VAL 38 disappears on a hotspot, your home line or router is the cause. If it stays, the cause is the PC or Riot.
• Windows up to date. Riot's network article notes that Windows updates sometimes carry connection fixes.
• A wider check of the home network on Windows: How to check your internet connection in Windows

Fix 5. On PC: renew the IP address and flush DNS

5 minutesLow riskA Windows PC that still gets VAL 38 after the router restart, while other devices on the same network play fine.

Riot's VALORANT network article gives release, renew and flush DNS as the way to fix minor network glitches. Windows forgets stored server addresses and asks the router for a fresh address.

1. Close VALORANT and exit the Riot Client as in Fix 1. Close your browsers too, as Riot asks.
2. Press the Windows key, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator, then Yes.
3. Run these three commands one by one. Riot writes them without a space, but the usual form with a space works the same.

   ipconfig /release
   ipconfig /renew
   ipconfig /flushdns

4. Restart the PC, then start the Riot Client and VALORANT.

If this does not help, Windows can also reset its whole network stack. That also clears an IP address or DNS server you typed in by hand, so note them first. Step by step with screenshots: Reset the network and flush DNS

Fix 6. On PC: switch to a public DNS server

5 minutesLow riskA Windows PC where Fix 5 did not help, or where your provider's DNS has been slow before.

Riot's network article says your provider's DNS server sometimes "isn't ideal for gaming" and suggests Google's or Cloudflare's servers for stability. The old version of this guide used Cloudflare's addresses, which Riot also lists.

1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter. The Network Connections window opens on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
2. Right-click the adapter you use (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and select Properties.
4. Leave the IP address part as it is. In the lower half, select Use the following DNS server addresses.
5. Type Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, or Google's 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
6. Select OK, then OK again, and restart the PC.

Fix 7. On PC: let VALORANT, the Riot Client and Riot Vanguard through the firewall

10 minutesLow riskA Windows PC where only VALORANT fails, above all after a new or updated security program.

Riot's network article says a firewall can "wind up blocking VALORANT or Vanguard" and links its firewall guide. An old entry that points at a file from before an update can block the connection the game needs.

1. Type Windows Defender Firewall in the Windows search box and open it.
2. Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall, then Change settings.
3. Select the existing VALORANT and Riot Client entries and select Remove.
4. Select Allow another app, then Browse, and add C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\live\VALORANT.exe. Select Add.
5. Repeat for C:\Riot Games\Riot Client\RiotClientServices.exe and C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\vgc.exe.
6. Tick both Private and Public for each new entry, select OK, and restart the Riot Client.

The paths are for a default installation. If you installed VALORANT on another drive, use that path. For a third-party antivirus or firewall, add the same three files to its exception list.

• A test with protection paused. If the exceptions do not help, pause Microsoft Defender's real-time protection for one test, start VALORANT, then turn it back on at once: Turn off Microsoft Defender protection for a moment
• Do not leave the firewall off. If the game works only with it off, fix the exceptions instead.

Fix 8. On PC: update VALORANT, try a clean boot and reinstall Riot Vanguard

15 to 30 minutesLow riskA Windows PC where Fix 1 to Fix 7 did not help, or where other codes appear next to VAL 38.

None of this is on Riot's line for code 38, so it comes last. It is here because Riot's display bug can show another error as VAL 38, and Riot gives these steps for connection codes such as 128.

1. Open the Riot Client and the VALORANT page. If an Update button shows instead of Play, select it and wait.
2. If other programs might be in the way, do a clean boot: How to perform a clean boot in Windows
3. To reinstall Riot Vanguard, exit the Riot Client and every Riot game first.
4. On Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Apps & features on Windows 10), find Riot Vanguard, open its menu and select Uninstall.
5. Restart the PC.
6. Start the Riot Client. It installs Vanguard again by itself; restart the PC once more if asked, then start VALORANT.

If VAL 38 is still there: the logs Riot needs and when it is not your PC

Because of the display bug, Riot asks for logs with every ticket so it can find the right error. Logs also show what you cannot see: whether the connection dropped on your side or on Riot's. Do not delete the log folders before you send them.

1. Press Win + R, paste a path from the table and press Enter.
2. Select the files, right-click them and compress them to a .zip file.
3. Open a ticket at support.riotgames.com under Submit A Ticket, and attach the zip.
4. Write your platform, region, the time of the first VAL 38, any other codes you saw, and the fixes you already tried.

• When it is your provider: VAL 38 and other drops go away on a phone hotspot. Then the line itself is the problem, and only your provider can check it.
• When it is Riot: only VALORANT fails, on a connection that passes every test. Support can see account and server side faults that you cannot.
• On console: use the help or support option inside the game and say yes when asked to include logs.

How to avoid VAL 38 next time

The honest part: a fault on Riot's platform cannot be prevented from your side. If VAL 38 hits many players at once, the shortest way back into the game is to wait and restart the client after Riot closes the incident.

Frequently asked questions

What does error code VAL 38 mean in Valorant?

It means VALORANT lost its connection to Riot's platform. Riot's error table lists code 38 as "Connection Error" and gives one fix: restart VALORANT and the Riot Client. Codes 0 and 1 have exactly the same entry. The box players see usually reads "There was an error connecting to the platform. Please restart your game client." It can appear at launch or in the middle of a session, and it does not say whether the fault is on your side or Riot's.

Is Valorant down when I get VAL 38?

Sometimes. Open status.riotgames.com, choose VALORANT and your region, and read the current messages. An open incident for your platform means the problem is on Riot's side and you can only wait. Also check the banners at the top of Riot's support site and the VALORANT Discord, which Riot names in its error table. If all are clear and friends in other homes can play, the cause is between your device and Riot, and Fix 3 to Fix 8 apply.

Does VAL 38 mean I am banned?

No. Riot's error table gives bans their own codes: code 61 means you have been banned from playing VALORANT, and code 152 is a hardware ban that typically lasts four months. Code 7 can point to a suspension. Code 38 is described only as a connection error. Since September 2026 Riot warns that VALORANT can show the wrong code, so if you also got an email about a penalty, read that email and contact Riot support.

What is Valorant error code -79 or VAN -79?

It is a different error from VAL 38. Codes with the VAN prefix belong to Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat, and Riot documents VAN -79 in its own support article rather than in the VALORANT error table. The steps for Vanguard codes differ: they center on the Vanguard service and a reinstall of Vanguard. Our guide to the VAN 0 error in Valorant covers the Vanguard family. If your screen shows VAL 38, stay with this page.

What are VAL 40, VAN 38, VAN 293 and err-7482-38?

We could not find any of them on Riot's support site. Riot's VALORANT table jumps from code 39 to 43, so VAL 40 is not listed, and Riot's Vanguard codes we know include no VAN 38 or VAN 293. VAN 38 is almost always VAL 38 typed wrong. The string err-7482-38 does not follow Riot's format at all, so it most likely belongs to another program. For a code that is not in Riot's tables, send Riot a ticket with logs.

How do I fix VAL 38 on PS5 or Xbox?

Close the VALORANT app completely and start it again, which is the console form of Riot's fix. Then check Riot's status page for your region and platform. If there is no incident, turn off the modem and router for about 30 seconds, connect the console with a cable and test again. If the code stays on a working connection, use the help option in the game to open a ticket, and agree to include logs so Riot can see the real error.

Why does VAL 38 kick me out in the middle of a match?

Because the game needs a live link to Riot for the whole session, not just at login. A short drop of your Wi-Fi, a router that resets or a VPN that changes route can break that link mid-match, and VALORANT reports it as a connection error. Riot does not describe the mid-session case separately. Fix 3 and Fix 4 matter most here: restart the router, use a cable and turn off any VPN. Then watch whether the drops stop.

Will reinstalling Valorant fix VAL 38?

Rarely, and Riot does not recommend it for this code. Riot's table gives one fix for code 38, a restart of VALORANT and the Riot Client, and its network article covers the router, VPN, DNS and firewall. A full reinstall downloads the whole game again and does nothing against a Riot incident or a bad connection. Try Fix 1 to Fix 7 first. Reinstalling Riot Vanguard, which is much smaller, is part of Fix 8.

Is Valorant Fehlercode 38 the same error?

Yes. Fehlercode is simply German for error code, so Valorant Fehlercode 38 is VAL 38 in a German search. The meaning in Riot's table does not change with the language of the game: code 38 is a connection error, and the fix is to restart VALORANT and the Riot Client. The steps on this page work the same with a German Windows and a German game, though menu names are in German there.

Why does Riot say its error code list is out of date?

Riot added a warning to the top of its VALORANT error table: a recent issue is causing VALORANT errors to display incorrectly. A banner dated 22 September 2026 says the game shows the wrong error code for various errors due to a bug. Riot's advice is to include logs when you submit a ticket so it can find the right error. The entry for code 38 is still on the list, so start with its fix, but do not spend an evening on it.