> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ducks-services.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ducks-services.com/troubleshooting/i-got-banned.-what-next.md). # I Got Banned. What Next? Receiving a game ban can be confusing, especially because different games and anti-cheat systems handle enforcement differently. A ban may be limited to your account, or the game may also place restrictions associated with your system or device. *** ### 1. Confirm the Ban Before changing anything, check the message shown by the game or launcher and review any email associated with your account. Determine whether the restriction appears to be: * Temporary * Permanent * Account-based * Device-related Enforcement methods vary between games, so there is usually **no reliable way to know beforehand** whether a particular ban also includes a hardware-related restriction. *** ### 2. Clean Leftover Game Traces We provide all Duck's Services customers with a **free Game Ban Trace Cleaner**. The tool can be used to clean leftover local files, cached data, configuration files, and other game-related traces that may remain on your system. {% hint style="info" %} **Free Game Ban Trace Cleaner** [View the Game Ban Trace Cleaner Guide](https://docs.ducks-services.com/select-your-product/hardware-id-spoofer-guides/game-ban-trace-cleaner) {% endhint %} After completing the cleanup process, we recommend **restarting your computer**. *** ### 3. Create a New Account **Create a new game account before continuing.** Do not attempt to reuse or continue playing on the account that was banned. {% hint style="warning" %} Creating a new account does not guarantee that you will be able to play if additional device or hardware-related restrictions are present. {% endhint %} *** ### 4. Hardware-Related Restrictions Some games may associate enforcement with hardware or device information in addition to the game account itself. Hardware-related bans are not issued consistently, and there is **no guaranteed way to confirm beforehand** whether your system has received one. If you believe you are **Hardware-ID banned (HWID banned)**, we recommend running a **HWID spoofer every time before launching your game**. Most temporary spoofers only change your hardware serials for the current session. After restarting your PC, your original serials are typically restored, meaning you will need to run the spoofer again before launching the game. If you are using a **permanent spoofer**, the changes are designed to remain after restarting your PC, so you generally will not need to spoof again each session. {% hint style="info" %} **Looking for an HWID Spoofer?** [View Recommended HWID Spoofers](https://ducks-services.com/store/category/17-hwid-spoofer/) {% endhint %} *** ### 5. Before Playing Again Before launching your game again: 1. Make sure the cleanup process has been completed successfully. 2. Restart your PC. 3. Confirm that you are using a new game account. 4. If you are using a HWID spoofer, make sure the spoofing process completes successfully **before launching the game**. {% hint style="warning" %} Cleaning local traces does **not** remove, reverse, or guarantee protection from an account or hardware restriction. {% endhint %} *** ### Need Help? If you're unsure what type of ban you received or what you should do next, open a support ticket and send us a screenshot of the ban message. Our team can help you identify what happened and walk you through the appropriate troubleshooting steps. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.ducks-services.com/troubleshooting/i-got-banned.-what-next.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.