Introduction: You're Facing a Hardware Ban (HWID) – Now What?
Reading this you are either Hardware banned or wondering what it means, in this blog I will try to explain to you what it is, how anti cheats systems implement them and how you can possibly circumvent them.
My name is Alexz and I have been developing and selling cheats for the last 10 years. This information is from my own research into these anti cheats and creating spoofers from them. I also have extensive experience developing scripts to automate spoofing and system modification tasks, making the process faster and more reliable.
What is a Hardware ban (HWID Ban)
A Hardware ID ban (commonly called an HWID ban) is a severe type of punishment used by online video games to block access not just to a specific player account, but to the entire computer or device tied to it. Unlike a standard account ban—which can often be bypassed by creating a new profile—an HWID ban targets your machine’s unique “fingerprint and serials,” often focusing on your entire PC, including key pc parts such as the cpu, hard drive, and even controllers.
When Hardware ID banned, you cannot access the game on a new account, even if you swap out some pc parts, as identifiers from components like the cpu and hard drive are often used. Some anti-cheat systems can also identify peripherals like controllers, making it even harder to bypass bans.
How can i check if i am hwid banned?
Most Anti Cheat systems don’t expose this data anywhere, but they track users by their hardware profiles. My recommendation would be to follow the process of buying another account, not using any cheats on the account, then playing for 2 hours and waiting 24 hours. If you get banned within those 24 hours, you are most likely HWID banned.
Are Hardware bans permanent?
Hardware bans are permanent on most games with a few exceptions with Vanguard aka VGK (Valorant & League Of Legends) and EasyAntiCheat (EAC) for specific games like Fortnite, Rust, and other popular titles such as Apex Legends that also use Easy Anti-Cheat and enforce HWID bans, which usually are timed for 6 – 12 months.
BattlEye, ACE and Ricochet supported games are always Permanent
How to circumvent a HWID bans
This is a complicated topic and is very dependent on what anti cheat you are dealing with.
A HWID Spoofer, this tool or utility hides your Hardware ID’s by spoofing them, which allows you to play the game without getting banned.
For BattlEye you can use RAID0, for more info you can check this post on unknowncheats.
Reinstalling Windows might clear traces and unique serial numbers on your system, but won’t work for any major anti cheat systems.
Achieving a hwid unban often involves using a specialized utility or tool, such as a hwid changer or spoofer, to modify or spoof hardware identifiers. Part of the process may require editing or cleaning registry entries and registry keys in the windows registry to remove traces that could be used to detect a previously banned system. Some spoofers may leave behind files or logs that need to be deleted to avoid detection. If you encounter errors during the spoofing process, a common fix is to perform a clean reinstall of Windows. The critical moment comes when all identifiers have been spoofed and you attempt to access the game again—this determines if the hwid unban was successful.
Preventing Game Account Restrictions
If you’re looking to dodge HWID bans and other game account restrictions, you need to understand exactly how anti-cheat systems work and what really triggers hardware ID bans in the first place.
Game developers aren’t messing around — they use hardware identifiers like your motherboard serial, MAC addresses, and disk serials to lock out cheaters and keep their games completely clean. The real deal? Don’t use cheats, hacks, or any software that could get flagged by anti-cheat systems. Simple as that.
Even thinking about HWID spoofing or using some sketchy hwid spoofers will put your account and hardware at serious risk — these companies are constantly updating their detection methods, and they’re not playing games.
Here’s the thing: keeping your software updated and staying away from suspicious tools isn’t just smart, it’s essential.
Remember, once your hardware ID gets flagged, you’re not just looking at a game account ban — your entire system could be locked out from accessing the game permanently. By respecting the game’s terms and understanding the real risks of cheating and spoofing, you’ll protect your access and keep your gaming experience smooth and completely ban-free. No shortcuts, no fake promises — just real protection that comes from playing it smart.
When and Why HWID Bans Happen
Hardware ID bans happen mostly when people get banned for reasons like cheating, botting, extreme behavior, and are often targeted at hackers. This is a way for games to deal with cheaters, hackers, and toxic users, deterring them from coming back and keeping the integrity of the game.
Anti-Cheat Breakdown: What do they target individually?
I have assembled this table below that tells you what the individual anti cheat systems use. This can be helpful to look at when you are looking for spoofer etc
HARDWARE | EasyAntiCheat | BattlEye | Vanguard | Ricochet | VAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HARDDRIVES | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
NVME’s | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
BIOS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
GPU | FORTNITE ONLY | No | Yes | No | No |
MONITOR | FORTNITE ONLY | No | No | No | No |
VOLUME ID (STORAGE) | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
EFI | No | No | Yes | No | No |
TPM CHIP | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
This is true as of Novemember 2025, I will try to keep this updated whenever I make new discoveries
Anti-cheat systems are designed to detect hardware identifiers and enforce bans that can impact gamers across multiple servers and even in other games. Popular titles like Rainbow Six Siege and Apex Legends use advanced anti-cheat strategies to issue account bans, HWID bans, and ip bans. While some gamers try to bypass ip bans by resetting their internet connection or router, hardware bans are much more persistent and tied directly to your device. Managing multiple accounts is a common tactic, but anti-cheat systems are increasingly able to link new accounts to previously banned hardware, making it harder to avoid detection. To successfully rejoin servers after a ban, a thorough cleanup—including removing traces and changing hardware identifiers—is necessary to prevent anti-cheat systems from detecting your device.
Also I would like to add that many games also leave traces on your system, so it is always recommend to reinstall your system after being banned from any game or use tools like Revo Uninstaller
Why Permanent HWID Spoofers Are a Trap (Dangers Exposed)
The market’s flooded with permanent spoofers, but what nobody warns you about is their massive risk of straight-up bricking your system and leaving it totally fucked. While some errors have been fixed in recent updates, serious risks remain. They’re not worth touching—every heavy user I know has dealt with catastrophic issues. Anti-cheat systems are designed to identify the person behind the hardware, not just the device, so bans can follow you even if you change components. Go for temporary spoofers instead; yeah, they cost more, but it’s a hell of a lot smarter than shelling out for a new motherboard, graphics card or ram.
Best Solutions
From hands-on experience, I can tell you: stick to temporary spoofers that are proven to bypass the specific anti-cheats you’re up against. They’re not perfect, but they’re the only reliable way back in without torching your setup. Once your hardware identifiers have been spoofed, you can resume playing your favorite games without worrying about previous bans.
BattlEye? RAID0 is a solid, widely trusted option — it works consistently across tons of titles and setups.
Pro tip: Most modern cheat packages — including ours at ZSOFTWARE — now come with built-in HWID spoofers. Always check for that feature before buying. It saves hassle, reduces detection risk, and keeps everything in one clean package.
Don’t sleep on integrated solutions. They’re often better vetted and updated faster than standalone tools.
Creating a New Game Account
After an HWID ban, don’t fall for the amateur mistake of just making a new game account — that’s exactly what the noobs do, and it won’t get you anywhere. Hardware ID bans are tied to your actual hardware, not some throwaway account, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you garbage. To truly bypass an HWID ban the right way, you need to understand that your hardware identifiers (like disk serials, MAC addresses, and motherboard IDs) are what’s keeping you locked out. This is where a real hwid spoofer or hardware id changer comes in — not some sketchy tool from a random forum, but something that actually masks or modifies those identifiers properly before you even think about creating that new account.
When you’re setting up your new account, use a completely fresh email address, a brand new username, and any other unique info — because getting detected is for people who cut corners. Sure, you can throw a VPN in the mix to mask your IP address, but here’s what most people don’t get: VPNs won’t touch the hardware IDs that modern games actually use to enforce their bans. By combining a proper spoofer with a clean new account setup, you’re not just hoping to get back in — you’re guaranteeing you’ll bypass those same ban triggers that caught you the first time. No guesswork, no crossing your fingers — just the method that actually works.
Changing Your MAC Address
Here’s the thing about bypassing HWID bans that most people completely miss — your MAC address is probably the biggest target on your system. Anti cheat systems lock onto the MAC address from your network adapter like a heat-seeking missile, and if that identifier gets flagged, you’re done. No new accounts, no fresh starts — just a permanent lockout. Your MAC address is basically your network hardware’s fingerprint, and once it’s tied to a banned account, game over.
The solution? MAC address spoofing — and we’re talking about real spoofing tools, not some sketchy workaround. You can use dedicated software or built-in utilities to completely change that identifier, making it impossible for developers and anti cheat systems to connect you to previous bans. Now here’s the real talk — some games dig deeper into your system, checking disk serials and motherboard IDs too. That’s why smart players layer their approach. MAC spoofing combined with other HWID techniques and a fresh account? That’s your bulletproof setup. No guesswork, no hoping for the best — just a clean slate that actually works.