📘 Docs
Getting Started

BANNED Documentation

Everything you need to get up and running. Follow the steps below in order — it takes about 5 minutes from purchase to playing.

New here? Start with Prerequisites, then follow the guide top to bottom. Each section builds on the last.

Step 1

Prerequisites

Before running BANNED, make sure the following are installed on your PC. Missing any of these is the most common cause of launch errors.

⚙️
Visual C++ Redistributable 2022 (x64)

Required runtime libraries. Most PCs have this already but if you get a VCRUNTIME140.dll not found error, install this.

Download (Microsoft)
🔷
.NET Desktop Runtime 8.x (x64)

Required for the launcher UI. Download the x64 variant — do not use the ARM or x86 versions.

Download (Microsoft)
🪟
Windows 10 / 11 (up to date)

BANNED supports Windows 10 (20H2+) and Windows 11. Keep Windows Update current for best compatibility.

Open Windows Update
🛡️
Antivirus Exclusion

Add the BANNED folder to your antivirus exclusions before extracting the files. See the Antivirus guide below.

Jump to guide
Run as Administrator. The spoofer requires admin rights. Right-click bnd.exeRun as administrator, or it will not start correctly.

Step 2

Downloading BANNED

The download is available exclusively through the customer dashboard. You must have an active license to download.

01
Log in to the Dashboard
Go to /dashboard and sign in with your email and license key.
02
Click "Download"
Hit the Download button on the dashboard. The file (bnd.exe) will download to your browser's default downloads folder.
03
Move to a dedicated folder
Create a folder (e.g. C:\BANNED), move bnd.exe there, and add that folder to your antivirus exclusions before running.
Always download fresh. We push updates regularly. Re-download from the dashboard before each session to make sure you have the latest version.

Step 3

Antivirus Exclusion

Windows Defender (and most third-party AV) will flag BANNED as a false positive. You must add an exclusion before extracting or running the file, otherwise it will be quarantined or deleted automatically.

Windows Defender

01
Open Windows Security
Press Win + S → search "Windows Security" → open it.
02
Virus & threat protection settings
Click Virus & threat protection → scroll to Virus & threat protection settings → click Manage settings.
03
Add an exclusion folder
Scroll to ExclusionsAdd or remove exclusionsAdd an exclusionFolder → select the folder where you placed BANNED (e.g. C:\BANNED).
Third-party AV (Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, etc.) — If you use a third-party antivirus, you'll need to add the exclusion in that software too. Refer to your AV provider's documentation for how to add a folder exclusion. If unsure, temporarily disable real-time protection while setting up.

Step 4

First Launch

Once prerequisites are installed and your AV exclusion is in place, you're ready to run BANNED for the first time.

01
Right-click → Run as administrator
Navigate to bnd.exe, right-click it, and select Run as administrator. Admin rights are required.
02
Enter your license key
On first run you'll be prompted for your license key. Copy it from your dashboard and paste it in. Your hardware will be linked to this key.
03
The main window opens
After activation, the BANNED launcher will open. You'll see a Spoof button and a Clean button — see the next section for what each does.
Tip: A system restart may be required after running for the first time. If prompted, save your work and restart before launching your game.

Step 5

Using the Spoofer

BANNED has two core actions. Here's what they do and when to use each.

🟢
Spoof

Changes your hardware identifiers so the game's anti-cheat sees a fresh machine. Run this before launching your game, every session.

USE BEFORE GAME
🔁
Clean

Removes leftover traces from previous sessions. Use this if you want to fully reset before spoofing again, or if you were previously banned.

OPTIONAL / RESET

Recommended session flow

1
Close the game and all launchers
Make sure Steam, the game client, and any game processes are fully closed before running BANNED.
2
Open BANNED as administrator
Right-click bnd.exe → Run as administrator.
3
Click Spoof
Hit the Spoof button and wait for the success message. This takes a few seconds.
4
Restart your PC if prompted
If BANNED asks you to restart, do so before launching your game. Do not skip this step.
5
Launch your game normally
Open Steam / your launcher and start the game as you usually would. You're good to go.
Each session — repeat this flow each time you play. You do not need to run Clean every session, only Spoof.

Account

License & Activation

Your license key ties your purchase to your account. You can find it at any time in your dashboard.

🔑
Where to find your key
Log in at /dashboard. Your license key is shown in the License section. Click it to copy.
🖥️
HWID locking
Your license is locked to one machine when you first activate it. If you upgrade your hardware or need to move to a new PC, use the HWID Reset feature in the dashboard.
📋
Subscription vs lifetime
Subscription licenses expire after the purchased period. Lifetime licenses never expire. Your dashboard shows your expiry date if applicable.

Account

HWID Reset

Each license includes a limited number of HWID resets. Use one when you build a new PC, reinstall Windows on new hardware, or otherwise need to transfer your license to a different machine.

01
Go to your Dashboard
Log in at /dashboard.
02
Click "Reset HWID"
Find the Reset HWID button in the License section. Confirm the dialog — this will immediately unbind your current machine.
03
Re-activate on new machine
Download BANNED on your new machine, run it, and enter your license key again. The new machine will be bound to your key.
Resets are limited. If you run out of resets, open a support ticket and we'll review your case. Don't use resets unnecessarily.

Help

Frequently Asked Questions

My antivirus deleted bnd.exe. What do I do?
Add the exclusion folder first, then re-download from the dashboard. If you download before adding the exclusion, Defender will quarantine the file automatically. Check the Antivirus Exclusion section above.
Do I need to run BANNED every time I play?
Yes. Run BANNED and click Spoof before every gaming session for full protection. The spoof is not permanent — it resets when the PC restarts.
I get a "missing VCRUNTIME140.dll" error.
Install the Visual C++ Redistributable 2022 x64 from the Prerequisites section. After installing, restart your PC and try again.
BANNED won't start / crashes immediately.
Make sure you're running as administrator, and that both prerequisites (Visual C++ and .NET 8) are installed. If it still crashes, open a support ticket with a screenshot of the error.
How many PCs can I use my license on?
One machine at a time. Your license is HWID-locked to the first machine that activates it. Use the HWID Reset feature in the dashboard to transfer it to another PC.
I've used all my HWID resets. Can I get more?
Open a ticket at /tickets and explain your situation. We review these case by case.
Is BANNED updated after game patches?
Yes. We push updates as needed. Always re-download from the dashboard before playing to ensure you have the latest version. We announce updates in our Discord.
The dashboard says my license is expired.
Subscription licenses expire after the purchased period. Visit the checkout page to renew, or open a ticket if you believe there's an error.

Help

Support

Can't find what you're looking for? We're here to help.

🎫
Support Tickets

Open a ticket and our support team will get back to you. Best for account issues, license problems, and technical bugs.

RECOMMENDED
💬
Discord Community

Join our Discord server for announcements, status updates, and community discussion. Check here first for outage info.

COMMUNITY
Before opening a ticket — check this documentation and the FAQ. Most issues are covered here and tickets for documented issues will be directed back to these steps.