Black Ops 7 hardware bans lock the PC rather than the account, and they cannot be appealed. Activision's Call of Duty Security and Enforcement Policy, dated 31 July 2026, puts it in one line: "Hardware bans apply to the device and not the account." Activision issued more than 70,000 new hardware bans in August 2026 alone. On PC, Black Ops 7 runs RICOCHET Anti-Cheat with a kernel-level driver and requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. The same rules cover Black Ops 6, Modern Warfare III and Warzone as of November 2026.
| Anti-cheat | RICOCHET, with a kernel-level driver on PC |
|---|---|
| Hardware bans | Yes. They apply to the device, can cross titles and vary in length |
| Appeals | Only permanent bans; hardware bans cannot be appealed |
| When bans are overturned | Only if your Activision account was hacked |
| PC requirements | TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for Black Ops 7 |
| Scale | More than 70,000 new hardware bans in August 2026 |
Does Black Ops 7 HWID ban?
Black Ops 7 does issue hardware bans, under the Call of Duty Security and Enforcement Policy that also governs Warzone and Black Ops 6. A hardware ban blocks the device, whichever account signs in. It can reach across Call of Duty titles past, present and future, and its length varies. Activision doesn't say how it sets that length.
If device bans are new to you, start with our primer on HWID bans and the identifiers behind them.
What is RICOCHET anti-cheat?
RICOCHET is Activision's anti-cheat for Call of Duty, and both Black Ops 7 and Warzone run it. On PC it includes a kernel-level driver that operates only while a protected Call of Duty title is running.
The ban numbers are big. Activision's RICOCHET update of 18 September 2026 reported more than 70,000 new hardware bans in the previous month, and its RICOCHET page describes stronger hardware banning technology built on protections such as TPM 2.0. To see how that kernel driver stacks up against BattlEye, Easy Anti-Cheat and EA Javelin, read our side-by-side of the big anti-cheat systems.
Does Black Ops 7 require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?
Black Ops 7 requires both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on PC. Activision confirmed it in its PC specifications post of 4 November 2025 and added that other security measures may be enforced. EA takes a similar line with its own shooter, as our Battlefield 6 guide to Secure Boot and device bans explains.
A PC that fails the check is not banned. Activision's Season 04 RICOCHET update says those players go into separate matchmaking pools, limited to Nuketown 24/7 and Battle Royale Casual. Activision also admits a PC can fail attestation because of hardware or firmware problems. A failed check, in other words, is not proof of cheating.
What types of Call of Duty bans are there?
Call of Duty has temporary bans, permanent bans and hardware bans, plus a set of lighter penalties. Here is how the Security and Enforcement Policy splits them:
- Temporary bans vary in length and run their course.
- Permanent bans are final and apply across titles.
- Hardware bans apply to the device, can cross titles and vary in length.
- Other penalties include limited matchmaking, Ranked restrictions and a full reset of stats, emblems and weapon customizations.
Repeat violations escalate. Extreme or repeated cases can end in permanent suspension of all accounts, with hardware bans on top. Warzone follows the same policy, and our breakdown of how long Warzone HWID bans last goes deeper on duration.
How do you appeal a Black Ops 7 ban?
You can appeal a Black Ops 7 ban on the Activision ban appeal page, but only if it is a permanent ban. The rules are narrow:
- Only permanent bans can be appealed. Temporary bans run their course.
- Hardware bans "are not eligible for appeal" under the Security and Enforcement Policy.
- A ban is overturned only when your Activision account was hacked.
- Replies usually arrive within 8 hours and can take up to 3 business days.
- Activision treats its decisions as final.
So a Black Ops 7 appeal works for a hacked account and almost nothing else. Our answers to common ban and appeal questions show how that compares with other publishers.
Can a secondhand PC carry a Call of Duty ban?
A secondhand or shared PC can carry a Call of Duty hardware ban, because the ban follows the device. Activision's policy warns players to take care when buying, borrowing or using secondhand, shared or publicly accessible devices. Hardware bans can't be appealed, so a PC banned under a previous owner can stay banned under you.
Wondering which parts of a computer make it recognizable? Our guide to the hardware IDs inside a Windows PC lists them.
Does a new account get around a Black Ops 7 ban?
A new account won't get you around a Black Ops 7 hardware ban, since the ban sits on the device. Activision also treats spoofing as an infraction of its own: the policy forbids any attempt to hide, disguise or obfuscate the identity of your hardware devices. Its Season 03 RICOCHET update (2 April 2026) added SMS two-factor authentication to make it harder for banned cheaters to create new accounts and come back.
Call of Duty is among the strictest series for hardware bans. Our roundup of 20 games that ban by hardware puts it in context.
Black Ops 7 ban FAQ
Can you appeal a Call of Duty hardware ban?
You cannot appeal a Call of Duty hardware ban. Activision's policy rules hardware bans out of the appeal process; only permanent bans are eligible.
Does a Black Ops 7 ban affect Warzone and other Call of Duty games?
A Black Ops 7 ban can carry over to Warzone and other Call of Duty games. Permanent bans apply across titles, and hardware bans can cover past, present and future games.
Are Call of Duty hardware bans permanent?
Call of Duty hardware bans are not always permanent. Activision says their length varies but does not publish how it decides.
Can I play Black Ops 7 without TPM 2.0?
Black Ops 7 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on PC. A PC that fails the check goes into separate matchmaking pools with limited modes instead of being banned.
Does Call of Duty IP ban?
Activision's public Call of Duty policy does not mention IP bans. The bans it describes apply to accounts and devices.
Sources
- Activision: Call of Duty Security and Enforcement Policy (31 July 2026)
- Activision Support: Ban appeal
- Call of Duty: RICOCHET Anti-Cheat
- RICOCHET: Taking on the cheating ecosystem (18 September 2026)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 PC specifications (4 November 2025)
- RICOCHET Anti-Cheat update, Season 04 (4 June 2026)
- RICOCHET Anti-Cheat update, Season 03 (2 April 2026)
Rules change. Check the publisher's official pages before you act on anything here.