Valorant Error Code 51: How to Fix It

Easy 15-30 minutes Medium Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
51
Brand
Valorant
Product Type
game
Severity
Medium
DIY Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Fix Time
15-30 minutes
Valorant Error Code 51 means the game client was unable to establish or maintain a connection to Riot's game servers. This is typically caused by network issues on your end, interference from security software, or temporary server outages on Riot's side. In most cases, you can resolve this error yourself in just a few minutes by following the steps below.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code 51

  1. Check Riot's Server Status

  2. Restart the Game and Riot Client

  3. Restart Your Router and Modem

  4. Switch to a Wired Connection

  5. Flush DNS Cache and Renew IP Address

    Running these commands will temporarily drop your internet connection until your PC reconnects. Save any open work before proceeding.

  6. Change Your DNS Server

  7. Temporarily Disable Firewall and Antivirus

    Only disable your security software briefly for testing purposes. Re-enable it immediately after testing and add game exceptions instead of leaving protection off.

  8. Allow Valorant Through Windows Firewall

  9. Use a VPN or Disable One If Active

    Note that using a VPN may violate Riot's Terms of Service in some contexts. Use only for diagnostic purposes and check Riot's current policy.

  10. Reinstall the Riot Client and Valorant

    Uninstalling Valorant will not delete your account progress — all progression is stored on Riot's servers. You will only lose locally cached settings.
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When to Call a Professional

If you have completed all troubleshooting steps and Valorant Error Code 51 persists, contact Riot Games Support directly at support.riotgames.com. Provide your account name, region, and a description of the steps you have already tried. Riot support agents can inspect account-level flags, server-side connection logs, and regional routing issues that cannot be diagnosed locally. If your ISP is the root cause — for example, if you notice widespread slowdowns across multiple services — contact your internet service provider to report a connectivity issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Valorant Error Code 51 mean?
Valorant Error Code 51 means the game client failed to connect to Riot's game servers. It is a network connectivity error and is usually caused by a local network issue, a firewall or security program blocking the connection, or a temporary outage on Riot's servers.
Is Valorant Error Code 51 a server-side problem?
It can be either. Sometimes Error Code 51 is caused by Riot's servers being down for maintenance or experiencing an outage. Check status.riotgames.com to see if there is a known server issue in your region. If servers are listed as operational, the problem is most likely on your end.
Why does Valorant Error Code 51 keep coming back?
If Error Code 51 keeps recurring, the most common causes are an unstable internet connection (especially on Wi-Fi), an ISP routing problem, or a firewall or antivirus program that resets its settings and re-blocks Valorant after each session. Try switching to a wired Ethernet connection and adding permanent exceptions for Valorant in your security software.
Does flushing DNS actually fix Valorant Error Code 51?
Yes, in many cases it does. Flushing the DNS cache forces your PC to look up Riot's server addresses fresh rather than using outdated cached data. Combined with renewing your IP address and resetting the Winsock catalog, this set of commands resolves a significant portion of Error Code 51 cases.
Will reinstalling Valorant fix Error Code 51?
A clean reinstall can fix Error Code 51 if it is caused by corrupted game files or a broken client installation. It is recommended as a last resort after trying all other steps. Your account progress, skins, and rank are all stored on Riot's servers, so reinstalling will not affect your in-game progress.

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