PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds) was one of the first battle royale games to invest heavily in anti-cheat, and after years of battling an enormous cheating problem, Krafton has built one of the most aggressive hardware ban systems in competitive gaming. PUBG uses BattlEye as its primary anti-cheat engine, but Krafton layers their own proprietary anti-cheat system on top of it, creating a dual-detection approach where either system can independently identify cheating and issue hardware bans.
The free-to-play transition made the problem even more acute. With zero cost to create new accounts, hardware bans became Krafton's primary weapon against repeat offenders. If you have been hardware banned in PUBG, your machine's fingerprint is stored in both BattlEye's and Krafton's ban databases. A new Steam account gets you past the account ban, but the moment PUBG's anti-cheat scans your hardware during launch, it finds the match and blocks you before you ever reach the lobby. The only way to break this cycle is a proper kernel-level HWID spoofer that addresses every hardware identifier both systems check.
In this guide, we break down PUBG's dual anti-cheat system, explain why its hardware ban enforcement is exceptionally strict, detail the cleanup and spoofing process, and recommend the best PUBG spoofer for 2026.
PUBG's Dual Anti-Cheat System Explained
PUBG's anti-cheat infrastructure has evolved dramatically since the game's early access days when cheating was rampant. Today it operates as a multi-layered system where BattlEye and Krafton's custom solution work in tandem.
BattlEye — Kernel-Level Client Protection
BattlEye handles PUBG's client-side anti-cheat protection. It runs as a kernel-level driver that loads before the game process, monitors system calls, scans for known cheat signatures, detects code injection and process hooking, and builds a comprehensive hardware fingerprint. BattlEye's fingerprint includes SMBIOS serials, disk drive serials, MAC addresses, GPU identifiers, and volume serial numbers. This fingerprint is checked against BattlEye's global ban database at every launch. BattlEye has been protecting games since 2004 and has one of the most mature detection engines in the anti-cheat industry.
Krafton's Custom Anti-Cheat Layer
On top of BattlEye, Krafton operates their own proprietary anti-cheat system that handles server-side detection and additional client-side monitoring. This custom layer analyzes gameplay patterns, movement data, damage calculations, aim behavior, and statistical anomalies to identify cheating that BattlEye's signature-based detection might miss. Krafton's system has become increasingly sophisticated over the years, employing machine learning models trained on millions of matches to distinguish legitimate gameplay from cheating.
What makes this dual system particularly effective is that either layer can trigger a hardware ban independently. Even if a cheat bypasses BattlEye's detection, Krafton's server-side analysis can flag the account, and the resulting ban includes a hardware component. This means you need to evade both systems simultaneously, not just one.
PUBG Shield (Enhanced Anti-Cheat)
Krafton also introduced PUBG Shield, an enhanced anti-cheat mode that runs with additional system-level access. When PUBG Shield is active, the anti-cheat has deeper hardware inspection capabilities and more aggressive monitoring. PUBG Shield collects additional system information that standard BattlEye does not, making hardware fingerprinting even more thorough. Some ranked and competitive modes require PUBG Shield to be active.
PUBG hardware bans are stored in both BattlEye's global database and Krafton's proprietary database. Even if you bypass one, the other can still detect your hardware. A successful PUBG spoof needs to fool both systems simultaneously, which requires comprehensive hardware identity change at the kernel level.
Types of PUBG Bans
| Ban Type | Issued By | Duration | Scope | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BattlEye Hardware Ban | BattlEye | Permanent | All accounts on that hardware + other BE games | HWID spoofer + new account |
| Krafton Hardware Ban | Krafton anti-cheat | Permanent | All accounts on that hardware (PUBG only) | HWID spoofer + new account |
| Account Ban (Temporary) | Krafton | 24h to permanent | Specific account only | Wait it out or new account |
| Ranked Restriction | Krafton | Season-based | Ranked mode only, specific account | New account |
| Machine Learning Flag | Krafton server-side | Investigation period | May lead to hardware ban | HWID spoof if ban confirmed |
The most common PUBG ban scenario is a combined BattlEye hardware ban and Krafton hardware ban issued simultaneously. Since PUBG is free-to-play, the account ban is almost irrelevant — the hardware ban is the actual enforcement mechanism. You need a spoofer to change your hardware identity and a new Steam account (free to create) to have a clean game account.
Why PUBG Hardware Bans Are Among the Strictest
PUBG's hardware ban enforcement has been refined over nearly a decade of combating what was once the worst cheating problem in gaming history. Here is why PUBG's system is particularly difficult to bypass:
- Dual-database enforcement — your hardware fingerprint is checked against both BattlEye's database and Krafton's database. Even if one system misses you, the other can catch you.
- Free-to-play incentive — with no purchase barrier, Krafton relies entirely on hardware bans to prevent cheaters from returning. This means their hardware identification is as aggressive as technically possible.
- Machine learning detection — Krafton's server-side system uses ML models trained on millions of matches. It can detect subtle cheating patterns that traditional signature-based detection misses.
- Historical data — PUBG has been running since 2017 and has built up one of the largest ban databases in gaming. The probability of detection increases with every year of data collection.
- Massive player base — PUBG's enormous player base means Krafton has vast amounts of behavioral data to train their detection models, making them increasingly accurate over time
- Esports integrity — with a professional esports scene and regular tournaments, Krafton has extra motivation to maintain strict anti-cheat enforcement
What a PUBG Spoofer Needs to Cover
PUBG's dual anti-cheat system means your spoofer needs to handle everything BattlEye checks plus whatever additional identifiers Krafton's custom system collects. This makes PUBG one of the most demanding games for HWID spoofing.
Essential Spoofing Components
- Kernel-level operation — absolutely non-negotiable. Both BattlEye and Krafton's anti-cheat read hardware IDs through kernel APIs. User-mode spoofers are completely ineffective.
- SMBIOS / Motherboard serial — the primary identifier for both systems. If this matches a banned entry, you are instantly blocked.
- All disk drive serials — every connected drive must show different serial numbers. BattlEye checks all connected storage.
- All MAC addresses — every network adapter, physical and virtual, must present new hardware addresses.
- GPU identifiers — your graphics card's unique identifier strings must be changed.
- Volume serial numbers — BattlEye checks Windows volume IDs that can persist across reinstalls.
PUBG-Specific Considerations
- PUBG Shield compatibility — if PUBG Shield is active, the anti-cheat performs deeper hardware inspection. Your spoofer must handle these additional checks without being detected as a spoofing tool itself.
- Krafton's extended fingerprint — Krafton's custom layer may collect additional system identifiers beyond what standard BattlEye checks. A comprehensive spoofer that covers all possible hardware identifiers is essential.
- Both anti-cheat trace cleanup — you need to clean both BattlEye files AND Krafton's anti-cheat data before spoofing.
- TslGame local data — PUBG's game process (TslGame.exe) creates local data files that can contain hardware-linked identifiers.
Unlike games that require re-purchasing after a ban, PUBG is free-to-play. This means once your hardware is properly spoofed, you only need a new Steam account (free) to get back in. The entire cost of returning to PUBG after a hardware ban is just the cost of the HWID spoofer itself — no game re-purchase needed.
Cleanup Steps Before Spoofing PUBG
PUBG's dual anti-cheat system means there are more traces to clean than single-anti-cheat games. Both BattlEye's driver files and Krafton's anti-cheat data must be removed before spoofing.
Step 1: Uninstall PUBG Completely
Uninstall through Steam, then manually delete the entire Steam\steamapps\common\PUBG folder. PUBG stores configuration files, crash dumps, and cached data that Steam's uninstaller may leave behind. Also check for PUBG-related folders in %LocalAppData% and %AppData% — look for folders named TslGame, PUBG, or Krafton.
Step 2: Remove BattlEye Files
Delete C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\BattlEye and any BattlEye folders in the PUBG installation directory. Stop and remove BEService and BEDaisy from Windows Services (services.msc). Delete BattlEye driver files (BEDaisy.sys, BEService.exe) from their installation locations. These files cache your real hardware fingerprint.
Step 3: Clean BattlEye and Krafton Registry Entries
Open Registry Editor and search for both BattlEye AND Krafton entries. Check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM, and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE. Remove all related registry keys. Krafton's custom anti-cheat stores its own registry data separately from BattlEye, so you need to find and remove both sets of entries.
Step 4: Remove PUBG Shield Data
If you had PUBG Shield active, it creates additional driver files and registry entries that are separate from standard BattlEye data. Search for any PUBG Shield or Zakynthos-related files and registry entries and remove them. PUBG Shield's enhanced hardware inspection data must be cleaned for a complete fresh start.
Step 5: Clean System-Level Traces
Clear Windows event logs through Event Viewer, clean temp folders (%TEMP% and C:\Windows\Temp), clear Steam's download cache, and empty the Recycle Bin. Also clear any PUBG-specific Steam workshop content and delete the Steam appcache folder contents.
For comprehensive cleanup instructions applicable to all games, see our HWID spoofer setup guide for beginners.
Many guides only cover BattlEye cleanup for PUBG and miss Krafton's proprietary anti-cheat data entirely. Krafton stores hardware fingerprint data in separate locations from BattlEye. If you only clean BattlEye traces, Krafton's system can still detect your real hardware from its own cached data. Clean both systems thoroughly.
TATEWARE vs Generic Spoofer Providers
| Feature | TATEWARE | Generic Providers |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Level | Kernel-level | Often user-mode |
| BattlEye Bypass | Full compatibility | Partial or none |
| Krafton Anti-Cheat Bypass | Full compatibility | Not addressed |
| Components Spoofed | SMBIOS, disks, MACs, GPU, volume serials | Often missing volume serials |
| Dual Trace Cleaning | BattlEye + Krafton data | BattlEye only, if any |
| PUBG Shield Compatible | Yes | Rarely tested |
| Detection Status | Undetected | Frequently detected |
| Support | Discord + direct support | Limited or absent |
Step-by-Step: Getting Back Into PUBG
- Confirm your ban type — launch PUBG and check the ban message. A hardware ban from BattlEye shows "BattlEye: Global Ban." A Krafton ban shows their own ban notification. Either way, hardware spoofing is required.
- Uninstall PUBG and perform complete cleanup — game files, BattlEye driver files, Krafton anti-cheat data, PUBG Shield files, registry entries, Windows services, event logs, temp files
- Restart your PC after cleanup to flush all anti-cheat processes and cached services from memory
- Run your HWID spoofer as administrator. Verify all components show changed values — SMBIOS, disk serials, MAC addresses, GPU IDs, volume serials
- Create a new Steam account — fresh email, no connection to your old account. Since PUBG is free-to-play, no purchase is needed.
- Install PUBG fresh on the new account. Let BattlEye and Krafton's anti-cheat register your new (spoofed) hardware fingerprint during first launch.
- Launch PUBG and play. Both anti-cheat systems will scan your spoofed hardware and find no match in their ban databases.
- Play normally — avoid extremely high-level performance on a brand-new account, as Krafton's ML detection flags new accounts with veteran-level statistics as potentially suspicious
Common PUBG Spoofing Mistakes
Only Cleaning BattlEye Traces
The most PUBG-specific mistake. PUBG has two separate anti-cheat systems with two separate data stores. Cleaning BattlEye files while leaving Krafton's anti-cheat data intact means Krafton's system can still identify your real hardware from its own cached fingerprint. You must clean both systems.
Ignoring PUBG Shield
If you had PUBG Shield enabled before your ban, it created additional system-level files and registry entries. These are separate from standard BattlEye data and contain enhanced hardware fingerprint information. If you do not clean PUBG Shield traces, the enhanced fingerprint data can betray your real hardware identity.
Performing Too Well on a New Account
Krafton's machine learning anti-cheat flags statistically anomalous behavior. A brand-new account with zero hours that immediately performs at Diamond or Master level in ranked matches is going to get flagged for investigation. Play casually at first and build up your account history organically. Do not immediately jump into ranked at your old skill level.
Using the Same IP Address
While not strictly a hardware issue, PUBG's anti-cheat system logs IP addresses alongside hardware fingerprints. If your new account connects from the same IP address as your banned account, it creates a correlation that can trigger additional scrutiny. Consider using a VPN for your first few sessions on the new account.
Not Spoofing Volume Serials
BattlEye checks Windows volume serial numbers that many basic spoofers do not cover. If your disk serials and MAC addresses are spoofed but your volume serials remain unchanged, BattlEye still has a partial fingerprint match. A comprehensive spoofer must include volume serial spoofing for PUBG.
Our Recommendation
The TATEWARE HWID Spoofer is our top recommendation for PUBG in 2026. PUBG's dual anti-cheat system — BattlEye plus Krafton's custom layer — demands a spoofer that goes beyond basic hardware identity change. TATEWARE provides kernel-level operation that intercepts hardware ID queries from both BattlEye's and Krafton's anti-cheat drivers simultaneously. Every identifier both systems check is covered: SMBIOS, disk serials, MAC addresses, GPU identifiers, and volume serial numbers. The automatic trace cleaning module addresses both BattlEye driver files and Krafton's anti-cheat cached data, eliminating the dual-cleanup problem that trips up most PUBG players.
For a deeper understanding of how HWID spoofing works, read what is an HWID spoofer. For information on EAC games (which use a different anti-cheat but similar spoofing principles), see our best HWID spoofer for EAC games guide. New to spoofing? Start with the beginner setup guide.
TATEWARE HWID Spoofer — Full BattlEye + Krafton Bypass for PUBG
Kernel-level bypass for PUBG's dual anti-cheat. All hardware identifiers spoofed. Automatic trace cleaning for BattlEye and Krafton data. PUBG Shield compatible. One click to a clean slate.
View HWID SpooferBottom Line
PUBG's hardware ban system is one of the most comprehensive in gaming, combining BattlEye's 20-plus years of anti-cheat expertise with Krafton's own machine learning-powered detection layer. Getting past it requires thoroughness at every step: cleaning traces from both anti-cheat systems (not just BattlEye), spoofing every hardware identifier that both systems check (including volume serials), and approaching your return with operational awareness (new account, gradual performance ramp-up, different IP initially). The silver lining is that PUBG is free-to-play, so once your hardware is properly spoofed, you only need a free Steam account to get back in. Do it right with a comprehensive spoofer like TATEWARE, and both BattlEye and Krafton's system will see nothing but a clean machine with no ban history.