Frequent League of Legends crashes can be resolved by repairing game files, updating graphics drivers, ensuring sufficient system resources, managing overheating, or addressing software conflicts. This guide provides detailed steps to troubleshoot each of these potential causes.

Common Culprits Behind League of Legends Crashes

1. Corrupted Game Files

Sometimes, the League of Legends installation itself can become corrupted. This can happen due to interrupted updates, disk errors, or other software conflicts.

  • Solution: Repair the League of Legends Client:
    • Open the League of Legends client.
    • Click the “Settings” icon (gear icon) in the top right corner.
    • Click “Repair” under the General tab. This process will scan your game files and replace any damaged or missing components. Be patient; this can take a while.
  • Solution: Reinstall League of Legends: If repairing doesn’t work, a clean reinstall is your next best bet. Uninstall the game completely (including deleting any residual files in your installation directory) and then download a fresh copy from the official Riot Games website.

2. Outdated or Corrupted Graphics Drivers

Your graphics card driver is crucial for properly rendering the game. Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers are a frequent cause of crashes. Using tools such as DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) can help you make sure your driver is installed correctly.

  • Solution: Update Your Graphics Drivers:
    • NVIDIA: Go to the NVIDIA website and download the latest drivers for your GeForce card.
    • AMD: Go to the AMD website and download the latest drivers for your Radeon card.
    • Intel: Go to the Intel website and download the latest drivers for your integrated graphics.
  • Solution: Perform a Clean Driver Installation: When installing new drivers, choose the “Custom (Advanced)” option and select “Perform a clean installation.” This will remove any previous driver files and prevent conflicts.
  • Solution: Rollback to Previous Drivers: If the latest drivers are causing issues, try rolling back to a previous version that you know was stable.

3. System Requirements and Resource Constraints

League of Legends has relatively modest system requirements, but if your computer is struggling to meet them, crashes can occur. Also, not having enough RAM or CPU resources when running can cause crashes.

  • Solution: Close Unnecessary Applications: Before launching League, close any other programs that are using significant system resources (e.g., web browsers, video editing software).
  • Solution: Lower Graphics Settings: Within the game settings, reduce the graphics quality, resolution, and other visual effects. This will reduce the load on your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and CPU (Central Processing Unit).
  • Solution: Check System Requirements: Ensure your computer meets the minimum and recommended system requirements for League of Legends.

4. Overheating

Safety First: Overheating can damage your computer hardware. Ensure proper ventilation and follow safety precautions when cleaning or modifying your system.

If your CPU or GPU is overheating, it can lead to system instability and crashes. This is particularly common in older systems or those with inadequate cooling. The use of tools such as MSI Afterburner to monitor your GPU temperature can help in identifying the potential cause of this issue.

  • Solution: Check Your Computer’s Temperature: Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing League of Legends. You can use monitoring software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner. If temperatures are consistently high (e.g., above 80°C for the GPU or CPU), consider improving your cooling.
  • Solution: Clean Your Computer: Dust buildup inside your computer can restrict airflow and cause overheating. Use compressed air to clean out your case, fans, and heatsinks.
  • Solution: Reapply Thermal Paste: If you’re comfortable doing so, reapply thermal paste to your CPU and GPU. Thermal paste helps to transfer heat from the chips to the heatsinks.

5. Compatibility Issues and Third-Party Software Interference

Sometimes, other software running on your computer can interfere with League of Legends, leading to crashes. This can include antivirus software, overlays, and other third-party applications.

  • Solution: Disable Overlays: Overlays from programs like Discord, Overwolf, or Steam can sometimes cause conflicts. Try disabling them before launching League of Legends.
  • Solution: Disable Antivirus Software Temporarily: Antivirus software can sometimes mistakenly flag League of Legends files as malicious. Temporarily disable your antivirus software to see if that resolves the issue (but remember to re-enable it afterward!).
  • Solution: Perform a Clean Boot: A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, which can help identify if a third-party application is causing the problem. To perform a clean boot:
    • Press the Windows key + R.
    • Type msconfig and press Enter.
    • Go to the “Services” tab and check “Hide all Microsoft services.”
    • Click “Disable all.”
    • Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
    • Disable all startup items.
    • Restart your computer.

6. Directx Issues

Problems with DirectX can cause a range of graphical problems, including crashing. League of Legends relies on DirectX for rendering.

  • Solution: Reinstall DirectX: Download and reinstall the latest version of DirectX from the Microsoft website. The League of Legends installer also typically includes the necessary DirectX runtime files.

Still Crashing? Further Troubleshooting Steps

If you’ve tried the above solutions and are still experiencing crashes, consider these additional steps:

  • Check the League of Legends Forums: Other players may be experiencing similar issues, and solutions might be posted in the official forums.
  • Contact Riot Games Support: If you’ve exhausted all other options, reach out to Riot Games support for assistance. Be prepared to provide details about your system, error messages, and troubleshooting steps you’ve already taken. Common error messages might include “BugSplat” or specific DirectX errors.
  • Run a Memory Test: Use a memory testing tool like Memtest86 to check for errors in your RAM. Faulty RAM can cause system instability and crashes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does League of Legends keep crashing on my PC?

League of Legends crashes can stem from several issues, including corrupted game files, outdated graphics drivers, insufficient system resources, overheating, or conflicts with other software.

How do I repair corrupted League of Legends game files?

Open the League of Legends client, go to Settings (gear icon), and click “Repair” under the General tab. This will scan and replace any damaged or missing files.

What should I do if updating my graphics drivers doesn’t fix the crashing?

If the latest drivers cause issues, try rolling back to a previous stable version. You can also perform a clean driver installation during the update process to prevent conflicts.