There are many reasons why a player might want to uninstall League of Legends. Whether you’re switching to a new game, trying to fix recurring bugs, or simply taking a break from competitive play, removing the game from your system can seem like a simple task, but it’s not always that straightforward. If you’re wondering how to uninstall League of Legends properly, you’re in the right place.
Depending on your setup, there are several ways to go about it. Some users uninstall League of Legends through the Windows Control Panel, while others prefer doing it directly via the Riot Client. However, many players run into common issues like leftover files, error messages, or the dreaded “Riot Client is still running” notification. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to uninstall League of Legends on different systems, how to perform a clean removal, and how to troubleshoot common uninstallation problems.
How to Uninstall League of Legends (Step-by-Step)
The most common way to uninstall League of Legends is through the Windows Control Panel. This method is simple and doesn’t require any third-party software. Here’s how to delete League of Legends safely from your system:
Step-by-step: Uninstalling via Control Panel
- Open the Start Menu: Click the Windows icon on the bottom-left corner of your screen or press the Windows key on your keyboard;
- Go to “Apps & Features” or “Programs and Features”:
- On Windows 10/11, type “Apps & Features” in the search bar and open it;
- On older versions, go to Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
- Find League of Legends in the list: Scroll through your installed programs until you find League of Legends. You may also see Riot Client listed separately;
- Click “Uninstall”: Select League of Legends and click Uninstall. A confirmation prompt will appear;
- Follow the on-screen instructions: The uninstaller will begin removing the game. This may take a few minutes. Follow any prompts that appear;
- Restart your computer (optional but recommended): This helps ensure that all temporary files and services are closed completely.
Even though this method works for most users, it may not completely remove all League of Legends files from your system. If you want a full cleanup, including hidden folders and residual data, continue reading the next sections to learn how to perform a clean uninstall of League of Legends.
Using Riot Client to Uninstall League of Legends
If you installed the game more recently, you’re probably using the Riot Client to launch and manage your games. Thankfully, the client also allows you to uninstall League of Legends directly from the interface. Here’s how the process works, and what to do if you run into errors like “Riot Client is still running.”
How to Uninstall League of Legends via Riot Client
- Launch Riot Client: Open the Riot Client as you normally would to start the game;
- Click on Your Profile Icon: In the top-right corner, click your profile icon to open the dropdown menu;
- Select “Settings”: Choose Settings from the list of options;
- Choose League of Legends from the left sidebar: You’ll see a list of Riot games. Select League of Legends;
- Click “Uninstall”: Click the Uninstall button. A confirmation popup will appear, accept it to begin the process;
- Wait for the uninstallation to complete: The Riot Client will handle the rest. Once done, you can close the client or restart your PC.
Troubleshooting: “Riot Client is Still Running”
Sometimes, users encounter an error stating that the Riot Client is still running, even when they’re trying to uninstall or delete League of Legends. Here’s what to do:
- End Riot Client manually: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager, find any process named RiotClientServices.exe or RiotClientUx.exe, and click End Task.
- Restart your PC: Rebooting often resolves client processes that are stuck in the background.
- Reinstall Riot Client, then uninstall again: If the client is corrupted or unresponsive, reinstalling it may help you fully remove the game afterward.
How to Uninstall Riot Client (If Needed)
If you’re done with all Riot games and want to remove the client itself, here’s how to uninstall Riot Client:
- Go to Apps & Features on Windows;
- Find Riot Client in the list;
- Click Uninstall, then follow the prompts.
Note that if you have other Riot games installed (like Valorant or Teamfight Tactics), uninstalling the client will affect them as well.
How to Perform a Clean Uninstall of League of Legends
Uninstalling the game through the Control Panel or Riot Client often leaves behind residual files on your system. These leftover folders can take up space, cause reinstall issues, or lead to unexpected errors in the future.
To fully remove everything, you’ll need to manually delete several hidden files and directories. This process is known as a clean uninstall of League of Legends.
Here’s how to make sure every trace of the game is gone from your system.
Manual Cleanup Checklist
Follow these steps after uninstalling the game to ensure a full cleanup:
- Delete the installation folder: Navigate to the directory where League of Legends was installed (usually in C:\Riot Games) and delete the League of Legends folder;
- Clear AppData folders: Press Win + R, type %appdata%, and delete any folders related to Riot or League of Legends;
- Check LocalAppData: Again press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and remove any related folders;
- Remove Riot-related files in ProgramData:
- Go to C:\ProgramData\
- Delete folders named Riot Games, RiotClient, or anything League-related.
- Clean the Windows Registry (Advanced):
- Press Win + R, type regedit, and search for entries containing Riot Games or League of Legends;
- Warning: Be careful when editing the registry. Deleting the wrong keys can affect system stability.
Tip: Create a system restore point before editing the registry.
Table: Common Paths to Check for Leftover Files
| Location Type | Path to Check | Action Required |
| Installation Folder | C:\Riot Games\League of Legends | Delete entire folder |
| AppData (Roaming) | %appdata%\ → Riot Games | Delete Riot-related |
| AppData (Local) | %localappdata%\ → Riot Games | Delete Riot-related |
| ProgramData | C:\ProgramData\Riot Games | Delete Riot folders |
| Registry (Optional) | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games | Delete carefully |
| Registry (Optional) | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games | Delete carefully |
This process guarantees a clean uninstall of League of Legends, helping you avoid reinstallation bugs or file conflicts. It’s especially recommended if you’re planning to reinstall the game later or if you’re switching accounts and want a fresh start.
If you’re unsure about manually editing your system files, consider using a third-party uninstaller tool like Revo Uninstaller or IObit Uninstaller, which can automate deep scans for leftover files.
Special Cases: Mac, PBE, and Vanguard
Some users face specific scenarios when trying to remove League of Legends from their systems. Here’s how to handle these situations, including how to uninstall League of Legends Mac, remove the PBE version, and uninstall Vanguard if it’s installed alongside your Riot games.
macOS – How to Uninstall League of Legends Mac
- Go to the Applications folder;
- Drag League of Legends.app to the Trash;
- Delete ~/Library/Application Support/Riot Games;
- Delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.riotgames.LeagueOfLegends.plist;
- Empty the Trash.
PBE – Public Beta Environment
- Locate the League of Legends PBE folder (usually in C:Riot GamesPBE);
- Manually delete the PBE folder;
- Clear AppData folders associated with PBE;
- Optionally remove leftover registry entries related to PBE.
Vanguard (If Installed with LoL or Valorant)
- Open Apps & Features from the Windows Start menu;
- Locate and select Riot Vanguard;
- Click Uninstall and confirm;
- Restart your PC;
Check and delete any remaining C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard folder.
FAQ
To completely uninstall League of Legends, you need to:
– Remove the game using the Riot Client or Control Panel;
– Manually delete residual folders in AppData, ProgramData, and the installation path;
– Clear Riot-related registry entries if you’re comfortable doing so;
– Use a third-party tool for deeper cleanup (optional).
1- Open Riot Client;
2- Click your profile icon and go to Settings;
3- Select League of Legends from the sidebar;
4- Click Uninstall;
5- Confirm and wait for the process to finish.
– Press Windows + I and go to Apps > Installed apps;
– Search for League of Legends;
– Click Uninstall;
– Follow on-screen instructions;
– Optionally restart your PC for a cleaner process.
This usually happens when background processes prevent the client from closing.
– Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc);
– End processes like RiotClientServices.exe;
– Try uninstalling again;
– Reboot your PC if needed.
If this persists, reinstall the client and then remove it properly.
Navigate to the following locations and delete related folders:
– C:\Riot Games\League of Legends;
– %appdata%\ and %localappdata%\ → Riot folders;
– C:\ProgramData\Riot Games;
– Registry keys under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games
For safety, backup your registry before making changes.
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