In short, there is pretty much nothing you can do. If you cheated in a game and you received a VAC ban, you won't get the ban lifted, and you also won't be able to trade any items you have in your inventory. However, if you didn't cheat and still got a ban, there are some possibilities for getting the ban removed. This article will serve as a complete guide to VAC bans and what to do if your account receives one.
What is a VAC Ban?
VAC, or Valve Anti Cheat, is an anti-cheat used in all Valve games. A VAC ban is given when Valve's Anti Cheat discovers you, or another account linked to the same phone number as your account, cheating in a VAC-secured server, and bans you from playing any Valve games on that account.
As Steam states on the top of their VAC support page:
VAC bans are permanent, non-negotiable, and cannot be removed by Steam Support. If a VAC ban is determined to have been issued incorrectly it will automatically be removed.
Why Did I Get VAC Banned?
99% of the time, you got VAC banned for cheating. If you have ever cheated on a VAC-secured server, that is why you have been banned.
If you have never cheated in a VAC-secured server, then it is possible that you received a false ban. This could be the result of a software glitch triggering VAC, or a glitch in the Anti Cheat.
Can I Appeal a VAC Ban?
VAC bans cannot be appealed, so don't waste your time trying. Steam states: "If a VAC ban is issued incorrectly it will be automatically removed after investigation, but Steam Support does not manually remove VAC bans applied to accounts for any reason."
What Games Am I VAC Banned From?
To see which games your VAC ban affects, launch Steam and go to Settings > Account tab > select "Click here for details" under VAC Status. This will disclose what games you are banned from.
Can I Still Trade Items With a VAC Ban?
No. A VAC ban locks your account and prevents you from trading your skins, meaning the money you spend on skins is locked on that account forever. You can, however, receive new items, but cannot send them.
Why Can't I Gift a Game While VAC Banned?
VAC-banned accounts cannot send the game they've been VAC banned in as a gift to other Steam accounts in the future. If you are unable to gift a game to someone, that likely means that they are VAC banned, and if the gift goes through, you will be prevented from gifting that game ever again.
What To Do If You Get VAC Banned
If you have been VAC banned for cheating, then you have taken a risk and paid the price. You cannot remove the ban, and the best you can do is create a new Steam account with a new phone number and not cheat on the new account.
If you have been VAC banned but have never cheated, wait patiently for Steam to remove the ban. If they don't remove the ban, then they likely have a reason for you to be VAC banned and you won't be unbanned anytime soon.
