Are VAC bans really permanent?

VAC bans are indeed permanent and non-negotiable, meaning that once a ban is issued, it will not be removed by Steam Support, and the account will be restricted from playing on VAC-protected servers. However, it’s worth noting that while the ban itself is permanent, its visibility on a player’s profile will stop showing to others after 7 years, although the ban remains in effect.

Understanding VAC Bans

To provide more insight into VAC bans, let’s address some frequently asked questions that players and users often have.

FAQs About VAC Bans

1. Do VAC bans go away after 5 years? No, VAC bans do not expire or go away after a certain period, such as 5 years. They are permanent.

2. Can you get a VAC ban removed? No, VAC bans are permanent and cannot be removed by Steam Support. Reversals are extremely rare and usually due to technical issues.

3. When did VAC bans become permanent? VAC bans became permanent with the release of VAC2 in 2005, replacing the previous temporary ban durations.

4. What is the oldest VAC ban on Steam? Given that permanent bans started in 2005, the oldest VAC ban would be around 15 years old or more.

5. Is VAC ban removed after 10 years? No, VAC bans are permanent and will not be removed after any number of years.

6. How bad is a VAC ban? A VAC ban restricts play on VAC-protected servers for any VAC-enabled game on the banned account, although play on custom, non-VAC-protected servers is still possible.

7. Can you get VAC banned without cheating? You will not be banned by VAC unless you have a cheat installed on your computer and log into a VAC-secure server.

8. Is Valve Anti-Cheat good? The effectiveness of Valve Anti-Cheat can be seen in the number of banned accounts, but its delayed detection can allow cheaters to affect games before being banned.

9. What does 1 VAC ban on record mean? It means that Valve Anti-Cheat has detected cheats on your account, resulting in a ban.

10. Is a VAC ban an IP ban? VAC does not IP ban; it bans accounts.

11. How many people have VAC bans? According to recent statistics, there were over 420,000 VAC bans in one year alone, indicating a significant number of accounts affected.

12. How do I know if someone has a VAC ban? You can use tools like VacList to view and track Steam accounts and their ban status.

13. Do VAC bans expire after 7 years? While VAC bans themselves are permanent, they will stop being visible on a player’s profile to others after 7 years.

14. Can you trade with a VAC banned account? No, a VAC ban restricts access to the CS:GO store, trading for CS:GO items, and receiving item drops.

15. Why did I get VAC banned for no reason? All VAC bans result from the detection of known cheats, either used on the account or due to account or library sharing, emphasizing the importance of account security.