If you play online games and, out of nowhere, just can’t get around bans no matter what account you try, you might start to suspect something more serious is going on.
Hardware bans—HWID bans—are a different beast. Instead of just locking out your account, they actually target your whole computer or device.
Spotting the main signs of an HWID ban can save you a ton of confusion and wasted time. Here’s what you should be watching for, so you can figure out if you’re just dealing with a regular account ban—or if the game’s gone nuclear and blocked your entire device.
1) Unable to launch the game on your usual PC
Trying to launch your game and it just won’t open on your regular computer? That’s a classic red flag for a hardware ban. Sometimes the game shuts down immediately, or maybe you get a not-so-helpful error message.
Weirdly enough, other people on your home network might still be able to play, as long as they’re using a different computer.
2) Immediate ban when creating a new account
Let’s say you make a brand new account, but it gets banned instantly—like, before you even do anything. That’s a pretty obvious sign you’ve been HWID banned. Even if you’re playing by the rules, the ban sticks because your computer’s hardware is already on their blacklist.
The game checks your device in the background and blocks you based on its hardware ID, not your username. So making a new account? Sadly, not gonna help here.
3) Receiving an email notification about the ban
Sometimes you’ll get an email straight from the game or platform if you’ve caught an HWID ban. Usually, it’ll explain (in their words, anyway) why your account—or your hardware—got the boot.
Check your inbox, especially if the timing lines up with when you noticed the ban. If you see an official message, that’s a pretty clear indicator it’s linked to your hardware or account.
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Read those emails carefully. Sometimes they actually include useful info or next steps, even if it’s not what you want to hear.
Common Triggers for HWID Bans
Wondering what actually triggers an HWID ban? Here are some of the most common reasons:
- Cheating or Using Hacks
Honestly, most HWID bans happen because of cheating, hacks, or other shady software. Developers use these bans to try to stop repeat offenders from coming back on the same computer. - Repeated Offenses
Getting banned over and over on different accounts from the same device is another big one. Even if you switch accounts, breaking the rules again and again is just asking for an HWID ban. - Unauthorized Programs
Some games don’t mess around—they’ll ban you for using software that changes how the game works, even if it seems harmless. If it gives you an unfair advantage, it’s risky. - Toxic or Disruptive Behavior
In some games, really extreme toxic behavior, boosting, or griefing can get you hardware banned. Usually, though, it just leads to a regular account ban—unless you really push your luck.
Just to keep it simple, here’s a quick list:
- Using cheats or hacks
- Multiple bans on the same device
- Using unauthorized third-party software
- Exploiting glitches
- Constantly making and losing new accounts for rule-breaking
- Serious cases of toxic behavior
- RMT
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting hit with a hardware ID ban is rough—it’s not just your account that’s blocked. If you can’t launch games or get banned the second you make a new account, those are pretty strong hints that you are going to need a HWID Spoofer to fix bans
How can you tell if you're experiencing a hardware ID ban in games like Fortnite or Valorant?
If you can’t even open the game on your PC but it works fine somewhere else, that’s a big clue. Or, if every new account gets banned instantly on the same computer, that’s another sign.
You might also get emails about the ban, or notice that multiple accounts get blocked when you use them on the same device. And if reinstalling or resetting Windows doesn’t help? Yeah, you’re probably HWID banned.
Is there a way to check if your hardware ID has been banned?
Honestly, the quickest way is just to make a fresh account and try logging in from your usual computer. If you get banned instantly, well, that’s a pretty big hint your hardware ID’s on their blacklist.
You could also grab a totally different computer—one that’s never touched the game or made any accounts for it—and give that a shot. If everything works smoothly on the new device, it’s a good sign your main PC is probably HWID banned. Not exactly scientific, but it gets the job done.