Dealing with ‘The Requested Resource Requires Authentication’ in Riot Games?
There is nothing more frustrating than gearing up for a competitive match in Valorant or a strategic clash in League of Legends, only to be stopped by a cold, technical error message: “The requested resource requires authentication.”
This error typically indicates a communication breakdown between your local client and the Riot Games servers. Whether it’s a session timeout, a credential mismatch, or a server-side glitch, it prevents you from accessing the game services you love. But don’t worry—you don’t have to stay on the sidelines.
Common Causes of Riot Authentication Issues
Before diving into the solutions, it is important to understand why this happens. Most often, this error is triggered by:
- Expired Session Tokens: Your login session may have timed out or become corrupted.
- Incorrect Credentials: A simple typo or an outdated saved password.
- Server Instability: Riot’s authentication servers might be experiencing temporary downtime.
- Cache Interference: Local temporary files blocking the handshake between your PC and the server.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Riot Authentication Errors
Follow these proven methods to resolve the issue and regain access to your account:
1. Fully Restart the Riot Client
Simply closing the window isn’t enough. Open your Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find all processes related to Riot Client and the specific game, and select End Task. Relaunch the client as an Administrator to ensure it has all the necessary permissions.
2. Refresh Your Login Credentials
Sometimes the client “remembers” an old session. To fix this:
- Log out of your account completely.
- Clear your browser cache if you use a web-based login.
- Log back in manually by typing your username and password instead of relying on auto-fill.
3. Check the Official Server Status
Before tweaking your system, make sure the problem isn’t on Riot’s end. Check the Official Riot Games Service Status page to see if there are ongoing maintenance windows or unplanned outages in your region.
4. Update Your Network Configuration
A glitchy DNS can lead to authentication failures. Try flushing your DNS cache:
- Open the Command Prompt (CMD) as an Administrator.
- Type
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter. - Restart your router and try logging in again.
Still Stuck?
If none of the steps above worked, it might be a deeper account-specific issue. We recommend visiting the Riot Games Support portal to submit a ticket. Ensure you provide the exact error message and the steps you’ve already taken to speed up the resolution process.
Pro Tip: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your account. Not only does it increase security, but it often helps in refreshing your account’s authentication state during a manual login process.
