Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsLeague of Legends FPS drops usually come from a rendering bottleneck, overheating, competing background software, or an outdated graphics driver—not from the internet connection. First identify whether frames are actually falling, the game client is merely slow, or network actions are delayed. Then use Riot’s controlled low-setting custom-game test, update Windows and the graphics driver, isolate background processes, verify the dedicated GPU, and check temperatures.
The sequence below moves from reversible software checks to hardware inspection and, finally, Riot support logs. It also explains what each step can and cannot fix, so you do not replace network equipment for a graphics problem or lower every setting when the client—not the match—is slow.
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Identify which kind of “lag” you have
Riot uses “lag” for several different symptoms. Watch the in-game frame counter while reproducing the problem and compare it with what happens in menus.
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| Symptom | Likely class | Useful first test |
|---|---|---|
| FPS number falls, animation stutters, or fights become visibly choppy | Rendering performance | Run a controlled custom game with Riot’s low-setting profile |
| Menus, champion select, or the lobby respond slowly while the match itself is smooth | Client performance | Enable Close Client During Game and check client-specific settings |
| Clicks arrive late, champions rubber-band, or reconnect messages appear | Network latency or packet loss | Test a wired connection and stop connection-heavy applications |
| Performance degrades after several minutes, followed by fan noise or crashes | Thermal throttling | Monitor CPU and GPU temperatures during a match |
A network change cannot repair a frame-rendering bottleneck, and lowering graphics settings will not cure packet loss. Classify the symptom before changing several variables at once.
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1. Reproduce the drop in a controlled custom game
- Start a custom game on the same map and use a champion or practice setup that normally exposes the issue.
- Record the FPS before the drop, during the drop, and after recovery. Note whether it happens during team fights, after a fixed amount of play, or randomly.
- Play long enough to reproduce the behavior, then return to the client menus and compare responsiveness.
- Change one setting group at a time and retest in another custom game. Riot specifically recommends using a custom game to test settings before taking changes into a live match.
This baseline tells you whether a change improved frame delivery or merely made the client appear faster. Keep a short note of each setting and the observed FPS so you can undo an unhelpful change.
2. Apply Riot’s low-frame-rate diagnostic profile
Use the following profile as a controlled baseline, not as a permanent quality recommendation:
| League setting | Diagnostic value |
|---|---|
| Resolution | Match your Windows desktop resolution |
| Character Quality | Very Low |
| Environment Quality | Very Low |
| Shadows | No Shadow |
| Effects Quality | Very Low |
| Frame Rate Cap | 60 FPS |
| Wait for Vertical Sync | Unchecked |
| Anti-Aliasing | Unchecked |
Run the same custom-game scenario again. If the drop disappears, raise one quality option at a time until you find the setting that creates the bottleneck. If the FPS still falls with this profile and a 60-FPS cap, the cause is more likely to be drivers, background contention, thermals, hardware selection, or a game-side fault than visual quality.
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3. Update Windows and the graphics driver
Install pending Windows updates
Open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install available updates, and restart. Test League again after the restart rather than judging performance immediately after an update is queued.
Install the current official GPU driver
Use the support software or download page for the graphics-card manufacturer, select the exact GPU and Windows edition, and install the current driver. Restart when prompted. During testing, avoid running an optional driver-cleaning utility and a game update simultaneously; changing several system components makes the result difficult to interpret.
If a new driver introduced the drop, use the manufacturer’s supported rollback option or reinstall the previous known-good version. Driver updates are reversible, so note the version before changing it.
4. Remove software competing with the game
Close obvious resource users
Before launching a test match, close unused browsers, video editors, game launchers, file synchronizers, recording tools, overlays, music players, voice-chat clients, and streams. In Task Manager, sort the Processes tab by CPU, Memory, and GPU to see whether another program spikes when FPS falls. Do not end Windows processes you do not recognize; close only applications you started or can identify.
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Use a clean boot to isolate background contention
- Press Windows, type System Configuration, and open it.
- On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then disable the remaining non-Microsoft services temporarily.
- Open the Startup tab and choose Open Task Manager. Disable nonessential startup entries.
- Restart, run the same custom-game test, and compare the recorded FPS.
- If the problem disappears, re-enable services and startup items in small groups until the competing program is identified. Restore normal startup afterward.
This is an isolation test, not a recommendation to leave security software disabled. Re-enable anything you turned off once testing is complete.
5. Make sure League uses the dedicated GPU
Laptops and some desktops expose both integrated graphics and a discrete GPU. If League is assigned to the integrated chip, low settings may not prevent drops.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Add League’s game executable if it is not listed, select it, choose Options, select High performance, and save.
- Restart League and verify in Task Manager’s Performance view that the expected GPU shows activity while the match is running.
Manufacturer control panels can also provide a per-application GPU preference. The label differs by hardware, so select the discrete GPU for the League executable rather than applying a global setting that could increase power use for every application.
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6. Check heat, airflow, and power behavior
Riot’s Low Frame Rate guide warns that an overheating processor, graphics card, or laptop can cause lag and crashes as a game progresses. Monitor temperatures while reproducing the drop, paying attention to whether FPS declines as the match continues. Riot identifies temperatures above 80°C (176°F) as a point that merits cooling attention.
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- Shut down the PC, unplug it, and clear dust from vents and fans with compressed air according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Keep laptop intake and exhaust vents uncovered; do not play on soft bedding or fabric that blocks airflow.
- Check that desktop fans spin and that the graphics card is seated and powered correctly, if you are comfortable opening the case.
- Consider an improved cooling system when temperatures remain high. Cleaning and cooling can prevent throttling, but Riot does not promise a particular FPS increase.
On a laptop, reproduce the test while connected to its normal power adapter. If performance changes only on battery, compare the system’s power mode settings without claiming that a particular mode guarantees higher FPS.
7. Separate network lag from FPS loss
Delayed commands, reconnect notices, or slow champion select point to connectivity rather than rendering. For this branch:
- Connect the PC directly to the router with a wired Ethernet cable for one test session.
- Pause downloads and close connection-heavy music, voice-chat, cloud-sync, and streaming programs.
- Compare the wired session with your usual Wi-Fi session while watching the in-game FPS counter.
If actions remain delayed but the FPS counter is stable, continue troubleshooting the network. Ethernet cannot repair a GPU, CPU, driver, or thermal bottleneck; if the counter falls during effects-heavy scenes, return to the rendering steps above.
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8. Check client-specific performance settings
Riot’s May 1, 2024 guidance distinguishes client slowness from in-game FPS loss. Its Low Spec Mode and default 1280×720 window target the client, not the frame rate inside a match. Use them when menus or champion select are slow, but do not expect them to cure combat-time drops.
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For in-game drops, enable Close Client During Game in the League client settings. This removes the client while you play and reduces one source of background work. Reopen the client after the match when you need post-game screens or settings.
9. Confirm storage and update headroom
Riot’s 2024 updated-client performance guidance lists 8 GB of required space, with usage potentially reaching 12 GB as patches replace older files. Keep more free space than the minimum so updates can complete. Low storage is primarily an update and client-health risk, not proof of a rendering bottleneck, but a failed or incomplete patch can create confusing behavior.
10. Escalate with logs when the drop persists
- Reproduce the issue once more with the low-setting profile and record the approximate match time, FPS before and during the drop, temperature readings, GPU model, driver version, and whether a clean boot changed anything.
- Collect logs with Riot Repair Tool as Riot directs in its support documentation.
- Submit a Riot support ticket and attach the generated logs plus your test notes. State clearly whether the symptom is measured FPS loss, client slowdown, network delay, or a combination.
Providing a controlled comparison is more useful than reporting only that the game “lags.” Include the exact settings profile, whether the issue tracks team fights or elapsed time, and which steps changed the result.
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Which fix should you try first?
| Fix | Best match | Reversibility and cost | What it can establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-setting custom-game profile | Rendering drops | Free and immediately reversible | Whether visual workload is the trigger |
| Windows and GPU-driver updates | Driver or compatibility problems | Free; updates can be rolled back | Whether current supported software changes behavior |
| Close programs or clean boot | CPU, RAM, GPU, or overlay contention | Free; restore startup items afterward | Whether another process competes with League |
| Dedicated-GPU assignment | Hybrid-graphics laptops and desktops | Free; per-app setting is reversible | Whether League was rendering on the wrong adapter |
| Dust removal or cooling improvement | Temperature-related drops | Requires hardware access or equipment | Whether heat and throttling correlate with the drop |
| Wired Ethernet test | Delayed actions and reconnects | Requires cable access; reversible | Whether Wi-Fi or local connection quality is involved |
| Riot Repair Tool and support ticket | Persistent or unexplained faults | Free escalation path | Logs and account-specific investigation |
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