Completely Uninstall League of Legends: A Comprehensive Guide for Windows and Mac
League of Legends, the globally renowned Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game developed and published by Riot Games, has captivated millions with its strategic gameplay and diverse champion roster. However, there comes a time when players might decide to uninstall the game, whether due to lack of interest, storage constraints, or technical issues. A simple deletion of the game files is often insufficient, as leftover files can clutter your system, potentially leading to performance degradation or conflicts with future installations. This comprehensive guide provides a step-by-step approach to completely uninstall League of Legends from both Windows and Mac operating systems, ensuring a clean and optimized system.
Why a Complete Uninstall is Important
Before diving into the uninstallation process, it’s crucial to understand why a thorough uninstall is necessary. Leaving residual files behind can lead to several issues:
* **Storage Clutter:** Game installations, including League of Legends, often create numerous files and folders scattered throughout your system. These remnants can consume valuable storage space, especially on SSDs where space is often at a premium.
* **Performance Degradation:** Leftover files can sometimes interfere with system processes or create conflicts with other applications, potentially leading to performance issues and slowdowns.
* **Registry Errors:** Windows Registry stores configuration settings for all installed programs. Incomplete uninstalls can leave orphaned registry entries, which can contribute to system instability.
* **Installation Conflicts:** When reinstalling League of Legends or other games, residual files from a previous installation can cause conflicts and prevent a smooth installation process.
Therefore, following a comprehensive uninstallation procedure is essential to maintain a clean and optimized system. This guide covers all the necessary steps to remove League of Legends and its associated files completely.
Uninstalling League of Legends on Windows
The uninstallation process on Windows involves several steps to ensure all components of the game are removed. Follow these instructions carefully:
Step 1: Uninstalling Through the Control Panel
The primary method for uninstalling programs in Windows is through the Control Panel. This method initiates the program’s built-in uninstaller.
1. **Open the Control Panel:**
* Click the Windows Start button.
* Type “Control Panel” in the search bar and press Enter.
2. **Navigate to Programs:**
* In the Control Panel, select “Programs” or “Programs and Features.” (If you are in Category view, choose “Uninstall a program” under “Programs.”)
3. **Locate League of Legends:**
* A list of installed programs will appear. Scroll through the list and find “League of Legends.”
4. **Uninstall the Game:**
* Select “League of Legends” and click the “Uninstall” button at the top of the program list. (Alternatively, you can right-click on “League of Legends” and select “Uninstall.”)
5. **Follow the Uninstaller Prompts:**
* The League of Legends uninstaller will launch. Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the game. This process may take a few minutes.
* Confirm any prompts asking for permission to remove the program.
6. **Restart Your Computer (Optional):**
* After the uninstallation is complete, it’s recommended to restart your computer to ensure that all temporary files and processes are cleared.
Step 2: Removing Riot Vanguard (If Installed)
Riot Vanguard is Riot Games’ anti-cheat system, which is often installed alongside League of Legends. It runs at a kernel level and requires a separate uninstallation process.
1. **Locate Riot Vanguard in System Tray:**
* Check the system tray (usually located in the lower-right corner of your screen) for the Riot Vanguard icon (a stylized “V”).
2. **Exit Riot Vanguard:**
* Right-click on the Riot Vanguard icon and select “Exit Riot Vanguard.” Confirm the action if prompted.
3. **Uninstall Riot Vanguard Through Control Panel:**
* Open the Control Panel again (as described in Step 1).
* Navigate to “Programs” or “Programs and Features.”
* Locate “Riot Vanguard” in the list of installed programs.
* Select “Riot Vanguard” and click the “Uninstall” button.
* Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall Riot Vanguard. You may need to confirm that you want to allow this app to make changes to your device.
4. **Restart Your Computer:**
* Restarting your computer is crucial after uninstalling Riot Vanguard, as it operates at the kernel level. This ensures that all Vanguard drivers and processes are completely removed.
Step 3: Deleting Remaining League of Legends Files and Folders
Even after using the uninstaller, some files and folders might remain on your system. Manually deleting these remnants is essential for a complete uninstall.
1. **Open File Explorer:**
* Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
2. **Navigate to the League of Legends Installation Directory:**
* By default, League of Legends is installed in `C:\Riot Games\League of Legends`. However, you might have installed it in a different location. If you’re unsure, check the shortcut properties on your desktop or start menu to find the installation directory.
3. **Delete the League of Legends Folder:**
* Right-click on the “League of Legends” folder (or the parent “Riot Games” folder if it only contains League of Legends) and select “Delete.”
* Confirm the deletion if prompted.
4. **Delete Riot Games Folder (If Applicable):**
* If the “Riot Games” folder only contained League of Legends, you can also delete the entire “Riot Games” folder.
5. **Check the ProgramData Folder:**
* The ProgramData folder is a hidden folder that often contains application data. To access it, you need to enable the display of hidden files and folders.
* In File Explorer, click the “View” tab.
* Check the box next to “Hidden items” in the “Show/hide” section.
* Navigate to `C:\ProgramData`. (Note that “ProgramData” is distinct from “Program Files” and “Program Files (x86)”)
* Look for a folder named “Riot Games” or “League of Legends.” If you find it, delete it.
6. **Empty the Recycle Bin:**
* Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin.” This permanently deletes the files and folders you removed.
Step 4: Removing League of Legends Registry Entries (Advanced)
**Warning:** Editing the Windows Registry can be risky if not done correctly. Incorrect modifications can cause system instability. It’s recommended to back up your registry before making any changes. If you’re not comfortable with this step, you can skip it, but it might leave some residual registry entries behind.
1. **Back Up the Registry:**
* Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
* Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
* In the Registry Editor, click “File” and select “Export.”
* Choose a location to save the backup file (e.g., your desktop) and give it a name (e.g., “RegistryBackup”).
* In the “Export range” section, select “All.” Click “Save.”
2. **Open Registry Editor:**
* Press the Windows key + R, type “regedit,” and press Enter.
3. **Navigate to Relevant Registry Keys:**
* Use the left-hand pane to navigate to the following registry keys. For each key, check if there are any subkeys or values related to “League of Legends” or “Riot Games.” If you find any, right-click on them and select “Delete.”
* `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software`
* `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE`
* `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node` (if you’re on a 64-bit system)
* Specifically, look for keys like `Riot Games` or `League of Legends` under these locations.
4. **Search the Registry (Optional):**
* You can also use the Registry Editor’s search function to find any remaining entries related to League of Legends. Press Ctrl + F to open the search dialog box.
* Type “League of Legends” or “Riot Games” in the “Find what” field and click “Find Next.”
* If you find a relevant entry, carefully review it before deleting it. Make sure it’s actually related to League of Legends and not something else.
* Press F3 to find the next occurrence.
5. **Close Registry Editor:**
* After deleting the relevant registry entries, close the Registry Editor.
6. **Restart Your Computer:**
* Restart your computer to apply the changes you made to the registry.
Uninstalling League of Legends on Mac
The uninstallation process on macOS is generally simpler than on Windows, but it still requires careful attention to detail to ensure a complete removal.
Step 1: Moving the Application to the Trash
The most basic step is to move the League of Legends application to the Trash.
1. **Open Finder:**
* Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Navigate to the Applications Folder:**
* Click “Applications” in the Finder sidebar.
3. **Locate League of Legends:**
* Find the “League of Legends” application icon.
4. **Move to Trash:**
* Drag the “League of Legends” icon to the Trash icon in the Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click on the icon and select “Move to Trash.”
5. **Empty the Trash:**
* Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action if prompted. This permanently deletes the League of Legends application.
Step 2: Removing Application Support Files
macOS applications often store support files in the Application Support folder. Removing these files is crucial for a complete uninstall.
1. **Open Finder:**
* Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to the Library Folder:**
* The Library folder is hidden by default. To access it, click “Go” in the Finder menu bar, then hold down the Option (Alt) key. The “Library” option will appear in the Go menu. Click on it.
3. **Navigate to Application Support:**
* In the Library folder, open the “Application Support” folder.
4. **Locate and Delete Riot Games and League of Legends Folders:**
* Look for folders named “Riot Games” or “League of Legends.” If you find them, drag them to the Trash.
5. **Empty the Trash:**
* Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action if prompted.
Step 3: Removing Preferences Files
Applications also store preferences files in the Preferences folder. Removing these files helps to ensure a clean uninstall.
1. **Open Finder:**
* Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to the Library Folder:**
* As before, click “Go” in the Finder menu bar, hold down the Option (Alt) key, and click “Library.”
3. **Navigate to Preferences:**
* In the Library folder, open the “Preferences” folder.
4. **Locate and Delete League of Legends Preferences Files:**
* Look for files with names that start with `com.riotgames.leagueoflegends` or similar. These files contain the game’s preferences. Drag them to the Trash.
5. **Empty the Trash:**
* Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action if prompted.
Step 4: Removing Caches
Clearing cache files can free up disk space and resolve potential conflicts.
1. **Open Finder:**
* Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to the Library Folder:**
* Access the Library folder as described in the previous steps (Go -> Option key -> Library).
3. **Navigate to Caches:**
* In the Library folder, open the “Caches” folder.
4. **Locate and Delete League of Legends Cache Files:**
* Look for folders or files related to “Riot Games” or “League of Legends.” If you find them, drag them to the Trash.
5. **Empty the Trash:**
* Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action if prompted.
Step 5: Removing Logs
Log files can also take up space, and it’s a good practice to remove them.
1. **Open Finder:**
* Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to the Library Folder:**
* Access the Library folder as described previously.
3. **Navigate to Logs:**
* In the Library folder, open the “Logs” folder.
4. **Locate and Delete League of Legends Log Files:**
* Look for folders or files related to “Riot Games” or “League of Legends.” Drag them to the Trash.
5. **Empty the Trash:**
* Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action if prompted.
Troubleshooting Common Uninstallation Issues
Despite following the steps above, you might encounter some issues during the uninstallation process. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
* **”Access Denied” or “File in Use” Errors:**
* These errors typically occur when a League of Legends process is still running in the background. To resolve this, open Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) and close any processes related to League of Legends or Riot Games. Then, try deleting the files or folders again.
* **Uninstaller Not Working:**
* If the League of Legends uninstaller fails to launch or encounters errors, you can try using a third-party uninstaller tool, such as Revo Uninstaller (Windows) or AppCleaner (Mac). These tools can force uninstall programs and remove associated files and registry entries.
* **Files Still Remain After Uninstall:**
* Double-check that you’ve followed all the steps outlined in this guide, including deleting files from hidden folders like ProgramData (Windows) and the Library folder (Mac). You can also use a file search tool to locate any remaining files related to League of Legends.
* **Riot Vanguard Not Uninstalling:**
* Ensure that you’ve exited Riot Vanguard from the system tray before attempting to uninstall it. Also, make sure to restart your computer after uninstalling Riot Vanguard.
* **Registry Errors After Uninstall (Windows):**
* If you experience system instability after manually editing the registry, you can restore the registry backup you created before making any changes. Double-click the backup file to restore the registry to its previous state.
Conclusion
Completely uninstalling League of Legends requires a multi-step process that involves using the built-in uninstaller, removing leftover files and folders, and, optionally, editing the Windows Registry. By following the detailed instructions in this guide, you can ensure that all components of the game are removed from your system, freeing up storage space, preventing performance issues, and ensuring a clean and optimized system for future installations. Whether you’re on Windows or Mac, this guide provides the necessary steps to achieve a complete and thorough uninstallation of League of Legends.