How to Uninstall League of Legends: Complete Removal Guide for 2026

Whether you’re taking a break from the Rift, freeing up hard drive space, or moving on to other games entirely, uninstalling League of Legends might be on your radar. The process seems straightforward, find it in your apps, hit delete, done. But if you’re actually trying to do a clean removal of League of Legends, you’ll quickly realize there’s more to it than meets the eye. The game leaves behind files, cache folders, and registry entries scattered across your system, especially if you’ve been playing for years. This guide walks you through a complete uninstall on Windows and Mac, covers the Riot Client (which powers multiple Riot games), and shows you how to delete your League account if you’re making a permanent exit. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to wipe League from your system and reclaim that disk space.

Why You Might Want to Uninstall League of Legends

There are plenty of legitimate reasons to uninstall League of Legends. It’s not always about falling out of love with the game, sometimes it’s just practical necessity.

System Space and Performance Issues

League of Legends isn’t a heavyweight by modern standards, it sits around 15–20 GB on disk, but if you’re running older hardware or have limited storage, every gigabyte counts. Players with 256 GB SSDs or older mechanical drives often hit a ceiling where they need to choose between LoL, Valorant, or another major title. The game also benefits from having some free drive space: installing it on a nearly full drive can cause stutters, longer load times, and general performance degradation.

Beyond just disk footprint, some players notice their systems run hot or sluggish when both League and the Riot Client are running in the background. The client launches on startup by default, consuming RAM and CPU cycles even when you’re not actively playing. For competitive players chasing 240+ FPS or streamers managing multiple applications simultaneously, that overhead matters.

Personal Gaming Priorities and Time Management

This one’s real: League of Legends is designed to keep you invested. The seasonal ranking system, event-driven battle passes, and cosmetic progression create continuous hooks. Some players make the conscious choice to uninstall because they recognize the game’s engagement mechanics are working exactly as intended, and they’d rather reclaim that time for other hobbies, work, or study.

Others rotate games seasonally. Maybe you’re burned out on the current meta, waiting for a major patch overhaul, or just want to grind through a different title for a few months. Uninstalling makes it harder to fall back into old habits during a break. It’s a deliberate friction point, which is exactly the point.

Uninstalling League of Legends on Windows

Windows is where most LoL players are, and the uninstall process has a few layers. You can use the built-in uninstaller, but a true clean removal requires some extra steps.

Using the Control Panel Uninstaller

1. Open the Start Menu and type “Control Panel.”
2. Navigate to Programs > Programs and Features (or “Add/Remove Programs” on older Windows versions).
3. Scroll through the list until you find “League of Legends.”
4. Click it and select Uninstall.
5. The uninstaller will launch. Follow the prompts and confirm removal.
6. When it finishes, restart your PC.

This removes the game executable and most associated files. But, it often leaves behind remnants, especially the Riot Client, which is handled separately (see the Riot Client section below).

Manual Folder Deletion and Cleanup

After running the standard uninstaller, you should check for leftover files:

Common LoL installation directories:

• C:Riot GamesLeague of Legends (default location)
• C:Riot Games (the Riot folder itself, if you don’t have other Riot games)

If the folders still exist after uninstalling, delete them manually. Right-click the folder, select Delete, and move it to the Recycle Bin. Alternatively, use a file manager’s Shift+Delete to skip the Recycle Bin entirely.

Cache and temporary files:

• Navigate to C:Users[YourUsername]AppDataLocalRiot Games
• Delete the entire Riot Games folder here. This contains game cache, crash logs, and local settings.

Registry cleanup (advanced):

If you want to be thorough, you can remove League registry entries, though this is optional. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and search for “Riot” or “League of Legends.” Delete matching entries. Be cautious, only delete folders you’re confident are related to LoL, and never delete unrelated system entries.

For most players, deleting the installation folder and the AppDataLocalRiot Games folder is sufficient for a clean removal.

Uninstalling League of Legends on Mac

Mac uninstallation is simpler than Windows in some ways, but Mac-specific cache and preference files can hide in less obvious locations.

Removing the Game Application

1. Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder.
2. Look for “League of Legends.” (It may also appear as “leagueoflegends.app” depending on your version.)
3. Right-click the application and select Move to Trash, or drag it directly to the Trash.
4. Empty the Trash to permanently remove it.

That handles the main executable. But like Windows, there’s more cleanup to do.

Clearing Associated Files and Cache

Mac stores preference files, cache, and support data in hidden folders within your home directory. You’ll need to show hidden files first:

1. In Finder, press Command + Shift + . (period) to reveal hidden files.
2. Navigate to ~/Library/Application Support/ and look for any Riot Games or League of Legends folders. Delete them.
3. Check ~/Library/Caches/ for similar folders and remove them.
4. Check ~/Library/Preferences/ for any LoL-related .plist files (like com.riotgames.leagueoflegends.plist) and delete those as well.
5. If present, navigate to ~/Library/Logs and remove any Riot or LoL log folders.

Once you’ve deleted these, press Command + Shift + . again to hide the hidden files. Restart your Mac for good measure.

How to uninstall league of legends mac becomes straightforward when you remember that the Application itself is just the tip of the iceberg, the Library folders hold the persistent data.

Uninstalling the League Client on All Platforms

This is critical: the Riot Client is separate from League of Legends and handles authentication, patching, and launching for multiple Riot titles (Valorant, TFT, Legends of Runeterra, etc.). Removing it requires explicit action.

What to Know About the Riot Client

The Riot Client is Riot Games’ unified launcher introduced several years ago. It runs in the background, manages game updates, and stores your login credentials. If you only play League of Legends and no other Riot games, you can uninstall it. But, if you play Valorant or any other Riot title, you’ll need to keep it, uninstalling it will break your ability to launch those games.

The client also hooks into your system at startup. Even after you uninstall League, the Riot Client can remain, still auto-launching and consuming system resources. Removing it is a key step most players miss.

Complete Removal Steps

On Windows:

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
2. Find “Riot Client” in the list.
3. Click it and select Uninstall.
4. Follow the prompts and restart.
5. Navigate to C:Riot Games and delete any remaining folders (it’s usually empty after uninstall, but check anyway).

On Mac:

1. Open Finder and go to Applications.
2. Find “Riot Client” and move it to Trash.
3. Go to ~/Library/Application Support and delete any Riot Games folders.
4. Check ~/Library/Preferences for Riot Client .plist files and delete them.

Disable startup launch (if keeping the client):

If you’re uninstalling League but keeping Valorant and the Riot Client, prevent auto-launch:

• Windows: Open the Riot Client settings, go to General, and toggle off “Launch Riot Client when you start your computer.”
• Mac: System Preferences > General > Login Items, find Riot Client, and remove it.

Verifying the client is gone: Restart your computer and check your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) to confirm the Riot Client isn’t running in the background.

Deleting Your League of Legends Account

Uninstalling the game is one thing: permanently deleting your account is another. If you’re making a clean break, you might want to delete your Summoner account as well. This is irreversible, so be certain.

Account Deactivation vs. Permanent Deletion

Riot Games offers two options:

Account Deactivation is temporary. Your account becomes invisible for 30 days, but you can reactivate it anytime within that window by logging in. Your MMR, rank, champions, skins, and Blue Essence remain intact. This is useful if you think you might return.

Account Deletion is permanent and irreversible. After initiating the deletion request, Riot gives you a 30-day grace period. If you log in during those 30 days, the deletion is cancelled. After 30 days without logging in, your account, and everything on it, is gone forever. No recovering skins, RP, mastery progress, or rank. Nothing.

The Account Deletion Process

1. Log in to your Riot account on the support website.
2. Verify your email or phone number for security confirmation.
3. Navigate to Account Settings and find the “Request Deletion” option.
4. You’ll be asked to confirm your reasons and acknowledge that this is irreversible.
5. Click Confirm Deletion Request.
6. Riot will send a confirmation email. You have 30 days to reverse this by logging back in.
7. If you don’t log in within 30 days, your account is permanently deleted.

Before you delete, consider:

• Are you absolutely sure you won’t want your account back in a year?
• Do you have any cosmetics (skins, chromas, borders) you want to check the value of? (You won’t get a refund, they’re simply deleted with the account.)
• Is your account linked to anything else (Discord server memberships, esports accounts, content creator platforms)?

Many players who took breaks have regretted permanent deletion. Deactivation is a safer first step if you’re unsure.

Verifying Complete Uninstallation and Cleanup

After you’ve run the uninstallers and deleted folders, how do you know you got everything? Here’s how to verify.

Checking Remaining Files and Registry Entries

On Windows:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:Riot Games. This folder should be empty or gone entirely. If it still exists and contains files, delete them manually.
2. Check C:Users[YourUsername]AppDataLocalRiot Games. This should also be empty.
3. Search your entire C: drive (or wherever you installed League) for any remaining “Riot” or “League” folders using File Explorer’s search bar. Delete any you find.
4. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and check the Startup tab. There should be no Riot or League entries. If any exist, right-click and Disable.
5. For registry, open regedit and search for “Riot.” If entries still exist, delete them carefully.

On Mac:

1. Use Spotlight (Command+Space) to search for “League” or “Riot.” Nothing should appear in Applications or results.
2. Check ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Caches, and ~/Library/Preferences one more time for any leftover files.
3. Open System Preferences > General > Login Items and confirm no Riot Client entry exists.
4. Restart your Mac and confirm the Riot Client doesn’t appear in the menu bar.

Disk space verification:

Before uninstalling, note your free disk space. After uninstalling and deleting all associated files, check again (Disk Management on Windows, or About This Mac on Mac). You should reclaim roughly 15–20 GB, depending on your cache size.

Freeing Up Disk Space Effectively

If you’re uninstalling specifically to free space, don’t stop here. Other things pile up quickly:

• Temporary files: Run a disk cleanup tool. On Windows, search “Disk Cleanup” in the Start Menu. On Mac, apps like CleanMyMac X or Disk Diag can help (though Mac’s built-in storage management is decent).
• Old shader caches: Games often cache compiled shaders. Check if other games (like Valorant, CS2, etc.) have large cache folders you don’t need, some are safe to delete and will simply recompile when you next launch the game.
• Windows Update cache: C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload can hold old update files.
• Browser cache: If you’re chasing every megabyte, clear browser caches and temporary files.

Combining these steps typically frees an additional 5–20 GB on systems that haven’t been cleaned in a while.

Reinstalling League of Legends in the Future

What to Expect When You Return

Sometimes players uninstall temporarily, taking a break for a patch or a season, then coming back. If that’s you, here’s what awaits:

When you reinstall League of Legends, your account data persists on Riot’s servers (assuming you didn’t permanently delete it). Your summoner name, rank, champions, skins, and Blue Essence are all still there. You’ll be able to log back in as if you never left. Your MMR is preserved, though it’ll decay if you’re inactive for a very long time, generally around 10 LP per day after 28+ days off. The meta will have shifted since you left: competitive players often study recent patch notes and meta reports to catch up fast.

Downloading the full client and game files again will take 15–30 minutes on a solid internet connection. The patch system has improved significantly, so subsequent updates are usually much faster.

One thing worth noting: cosmetics you obtained before uninstalling remain yours. If you picked up a limited-edition skin from a previous event or battle pass, it’s still sitting in your inventory. But, cosmetics from limited events that passed while you were inactive won’t be available for purchase, Riot keeps those exclusive for players who earned them during the event window.

If you were thinking about trying a different region server (NA, EUW, EUNE, KR, etc.), you’d need to create a new account on that region. Your main account is tied to its original region and can’t be transferred.

The meta changes frequently, especially after major patches. Checking out recent LoL Esports results is a quick way to see what champions and strategies are dominating at the highest level, which often trickles down to solo queue within weeks.

Conclusion

Uninstalling League of Legends is straightforward in theory but requires attention to detail if you want a truly clean removal. Whether you’re freeing up disk space on a packed drive, taking a mental break from the Rift, or moving on entirely, the process is the same: uninstall the game and client through your system’s standard removal tools, hunt down leftover files and cache folders, and optionally delete your account if you’re not coming back.

The key takeaway: don’t just drag the game folder to trash and call it done. The Riot Client, AppData folders, preferences, and registry entries will linger otherwise, consuming space and resources. A proper uninstall takes maybe 10 minutes and saves you headaches later.

If you think you might return, deactivate your account instead of deleting it, the 30-day grace period gives you an out if you change your mind. And remember, the game will be waiting if you ever feel the itch to queue up again. The meta will shift, new champions will release, and your rank decay will be minimal. League isn’t going anywhere.