Complete Guide to Fixing Valorant Error Code VAL 5

Is there anything more frustrating than that blasted VAL 5 error code? There you are, mid-match, about to bag a thrifty, clutch within reach, and WHAM!

“The game has lost connection. Please relaunch the client or restore connectivity. Error Code: VAL 5.”

Once your eyes have rolled back to normal and your anguished cries have died down, it’s time to sort out this pesky error. And that, friend, is why we’re here. Let’s get you back in the saddle again…

What causes the VAL 5 error code?

Plenty of people get confused about the VAL 5 error, mostly because the official Riot support page says that a code 5 means “Account was logged into elsewhere.” and that “You should log out from all devices.”

Great, in theory. Except when you’re dead certain that you’re not signed in anywhere else. Then what?

Well, it seems the VALORANT’s code 5 error can also hit when Riot is performing server maintenance, or the server is overloaded due to a surge in players.

If the server is under strain or undergoing maintenance while you’re in-game, whether in a matchmaking queue or a match itself, you’ll be booted and see the VAL 5 error.

We’ve seen forum threads where people have chewed over the problem loads before realizing that everyone affected was on the same server region.

How do you fix the VAL 5 error code?

First, check out the server status on Riot’s site. If there’s maintenance going on, you’ll just have to be patient for now.

If it’s definitely not a server issue, here’s what we recommend…

Fix 1 – Log out and restart

1. Log in to your Riot account
2. Head to the Login Management section of your Account Management settings
3. Click the “Log Out Everywhere” button.
4. Restart the Riot client and your PC.
5. Try launching VALORANT again.

Fix 2 – Run as administrator

If you’re still being slapped with the VAL 5 after that, take a deep, calming breath, then try this…

1. Restart your internet router.
2. Right-click on the VALORANT game icon and select “Run as administrator”.
3. Try launching the game again.
4. (optional) If this worked, make the game permanently run like this (right-click the icon > click Properties > Open the Compatibility tab > Tick the “Run this program as an administrator” option and hit Apply)

Fix 3 – Repair

This one’s less likely if you’ve been playing VALORANT for a while without any issues, but if your game files are corrupted, it could be causing this error.

Here’s how to repair your game files…

1. Launch the Riot Client.
2. Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Click VALORANT, then the Repair button.
5. Let Riot verify the game files, then relaunch the game.

If you’re still getting that VAL 5 error code, try the next fix…

Fix 4 – Reinstall, close, and update

Sadly, your last easy way around VAL’s error 5 code is to fully uninstall and reinstall VALORANT and Vanguard, which means even more patience… disheartened “yaaay”

Some players report that updating their network drivers and closing unnecessary programs via the Task Manager can help too, but it’s a bit of a long shot.

Here’s how to update your network drivers…

1. Open the Start menu, type “device manager” (without the quote marks) and hit Enter.
2. Expand the “Network adapters” entry.
3. Right-click each adapter one by one and click “Update Driver”.

Fix 5 – Flush the DNS and reset TCP/IP settings

If it’s not too intimidating, you could try the more tech-savvy solution of flushing your DNS cache and resetting your TCP/IP settings.

Here’s how…

1. Type “Run” (without the quote marks) into your Start Menu and hit Enter.
2. Type “cmd” into the Run window and hit Enter to load the Command Prompt window.
3. Type in “netsh winsock reset” and hit Enter.
4. Type in “netsh int ip reset” and hit Enter.
5. Type in “ipconfig /release” and hit Enter.
6. Type in “ipconfig /renew” and hit Enter.
7. Type in “ipconfig /flushdns” and hit Enter.
8. Now close the Command Prompt window and restart your PC.

If the error still persists after all that, your best bet is to submit a ticket to Riot and pray to the Gaming Gods for a fast resolution.

Like this content? Then here’s some other similar pages you should probably check out…

• How to fix VALORANT crashing and freezing issues
• How to enable secure boot for VALORANT
• A critical error has occurred - what it means and how to solve it
• Error code VAL 59
• Beginner guides
• Install guides