Quick answer: On a dual-GPU Windows PC, add the League of Legends game executable in Settings > System > Display > Graphics and choose the high-performance GPU. Restart the Riot Client and test a Practice Tool match.
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Before you start
- Close League of Legends and the Riot Client completely.
- Know where League is installed; the default Riot Games folder is common, but your location may differ.
- Install pending Windows and graphics-driver updates from the hardware manufacturer.
How to fix it
- Find the game executable. Right-click your League shortcut, choose Open file location, then locate the game folder and
League of Legends.exe. Do not select only the Riot Client shortcut. - Open Graphics settings. Go to Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics, choose to add a desktop app, and browse to the League game executable.
- Choose the high-performance GPU. Select the added app, open Options, choose High performance, and save. Windows shows which GPU that option uses.
- Restart the client. Exit Riot from the notification area, reopen it, and test in Practice Tool before joining a live queue.
- Repair if the loading screen still stalls. Use Riot’s Full Repair Tool or the client repair option, then reboot Windows.
Why this can work
After champion select, League switches from the client to the game process. On laptops and multi-GPU desktops, Windows can assign that process to the power-saving GPU. Giving the actual game executable a specific graphics preference removes that ambiguity. It is a targeted preference, not a global overclock.
Other safe fixes to try
- Turn off Discord, GeForce, Xbox Game Bar, and other overlays for one test.
- Remove third-party skins or injectors.
- Use Riot’s repair tool to replace damaged files.
- Temporarily test borderless mode if exclusive fullscreen is failing.
Warnings and how to undo the change
This video-derived workaround may help only on systems with more than one GPU. It can increase power use and heat on a laptop. To undo it, return to Graphics settings, select League, and choose Let Windows decide or remove the entry. Do not disable antivirus protection or download replacement DLL files.
Frequently asked questions
Should I add the Riot Client or the game?
Add the League game executable first because that process renders the match.
Will this fix a Riot server outage?
No. If many players cannot enter games, check Riot service status before changing the PC.
Can I test without risking a penalty?
Yes. Use Practice Tool or a custom game before returning to a matchmade queue.
Official references
Source video
The menu path demonstrated in this Moe Gaming video was used as source material and checked against the official guidance linked above.