How to Uninstall Riot Client Completely: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Riot Client is the central hub for all Riot Games titles, including League of Legends, Valorant, Legends of Runeterra, and Teamfight Tactics. While it provides convenient access to these games, there might be situations where you need to uninstall the Riot Client. This could be due to technical issues, wanting to free up storage space, or simply no longer playing Riot Games. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of completely uninstalling the Riot Client and all its associated files, ensuring a clean removal from your system.
Why Uninstall the Riot Client?
Before diving into the uninstallation process, let’s briefly consider why you might want to remove the Riot Client:
* Troubleshooting Issues: If you’re experiencing persistent problems with Riot Games titles (e.g., crashing, connection errors), a fresh installation of the Riot Client and the games themselves can often resolve these issues.
* Freeing Up Disk Space: Riot Games and the client can consume a significant amount of storage space. Uninstalling them can free up valuable space, especially if you have a smaller SSD.
* Changing Regions: If you need to change your Riot Games account region, completely uninstalling and reinstalling the client might be necessary.
* No Longer Playing: If you’ve stopped playing Riot Games, there’s no need to keep the client installed, contributing to system clutter and potential background processes.
Important Considerations Before Uninstalling
* Back Up Important Data (If Necessary): While game progress is typically saved on Riot’s servers, check if you have any custom game configurations, replays, or other local files you want to back up before proceeding. Look for these typically in your Documents folder or within the individual game installation directories.
* Close All Riot Games and Processes: Ensure that all Riot Games (League of Legends, Valorant, etc.) and the Riot Client itself are completely closed. Check the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen) for any Riot-related icons and right-click to exit them. Also, use Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to verify that no Riot Games processes are running in the background.
* Admin Privileges: You will need administrator privileges on your computer to uninstall the Riot Client and its components. Ensure you are logged in to an account with administrator rights.
Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstalling the Riot Client
This guide provides multiple methods to ensure a complete uninstallation. Follow the steps carefully:
Method 1: Uninstalling via the Windows Settings App
This is the most straightforward method for uninstalling programs in Windows.
1. Open the Windows Settings App:
* Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
* Alternatively, click on the Start menu, then click on the gear icon (Settings).
2. Navigate to Apps:
* In the Settings app, click on “Apps.” On some versions of Windows, this might be labelled “Apps & Features.”
3. Find the Riot Client in the List:
* Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find “Riot Client.” You might also see individual Riot Games titles listed separately (League of Legends, Valorant, etc.). Uninstall the Riot Client *first*.
4. Uninstall the Riot Client:
* Click on “Riot Client.” An “Uninstall” button should appear. Click on it.
5. Confirm the Uninstallation:
* A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click “Uninstall” again to confirm.
* Windows may ask for administrator permission. Click “Yes” to allow the uninstallation to proceed.
6. Follow the On-Screen Instructions:
* The Riot Client uninstaller will launch. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. This might involve clicking through a series of windows and agreeing to terms and conditions.
7. Repeat for Riot Games Titles (if desired):
* If you also want to uninstall individual Riot Games titles (League of Legends, Valorant, etc.), repeat steps 3-6 for each game.
Method 2: Uninstalling via the Control Panel
The Control Panel is another traditional method for uninstalling programs in Windows. It’s particularly useful for older versions of Windows.
1. Open the Control Panel:
* Type “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar and press Enter.
* Alternatively, press the Windows key + R, type “control,” and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Programs and Features:
* In the Control Panel, click on “Programs.” Then, click on “Programs and Features.” If you are viewing by “Large icons” or “Small icons,” you may directly see “Programs and Features.” Click on it.
3. Find the Riot Client in the List:
* Scroll through the list of installed programs until you find “Riot Client.” You might also see individual Riot Games titles listed separately.
4. Uninstall the Riot Client:
* Click on “Riot Client.” An “Uninstall” button should appear at the top of the program list (or you can right-click and choose “Uninstall”). Click on it.
5. Confirm the Uninstallation:
* A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click “Uninstall” again to confirm.
* Windows may ask for administrator permission. Click “Yes” to allow the uninstallation to proceed.
6. Follow the On-Screen Instructions:
* The Riot Client uninstaller will launch. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
7. Repeat for Riot Games Titles (if desired):
* If you also want to uninstall individual Riot Games titles, repeat steps 3-6 for each game.
Method 3: Using the Riot Client Uninstaller (If Available)
In some cases, the Riot Client might have a dedicated uninstaller executable located in its installation directory. This method is less common but can be effective.
1. Locate the Riot Client Installation Directory:
* The default installation directory is usually `C:\Riot Games\Riot Client`.
* If you’re unsure where you installed it, right-click on the Riot Client shortcut on your desktop, select “Properties,” and look at the “Target” field. This will show you the path to the executable.
2. Look for an Uninstaller Executable:
* Within the Riot Client installation directory, look for a file named something like `Uninstall.exe`, `unins000.exe`, or similar. The name may vary slightly.
3. Run the Uninstaller:
* Double-click the uninstaller executable to run it.
* Windows may ask for administrator permission. Click “Yes” to allow the uninstallation to proceed.
4. Follow the On-Screen Instructions:
* The uninstaller will launch. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
Step 4: Removing Remaining Riot Client Files and Folders
After using one of the uninstallation methods above, it’s crucial to manually remove any remaining files and folders associated with the Riot Client. This ensures a completely clean removal and prevents potential conflicts with future installations.
1. Show Hidden Files and Folders:
* By default, some system folders are hidden. You need to enable the display of hidden files and folders to find all Riot Client remnants.
* In Windows 10 and 11:
* Open File Explorer.
* Click on the “View” tab.
* In the “Show/hide” group, check the box next to “Hidden items.”
* In Windows 7 and 8:
* Open File Explorer.
* Click on “Organize” -> “Folder and search options.”
* Go to the “View” tab.
* Under “Hidden files and folders,” select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.”
* Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
2. Delete Riot Games Folders:
* Navigate to the following locations and delete any Riot Games or Riot Client folders you find. *Be very careful when deleting folders, and only delete folders that you are certain are related to the Riot Client or Riot Games.* Deleting the wrong folders can cause problems with your operating system or other applications.
* `C:\Riot Games`
* `C:\Program Files\Riot Games` (Less common, but check anyway)
* `C:\ProgramData\Riot Games` (ProgramData is a hidden folder)
* `C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Riot Games` (AppData is a hidden folder)
* `C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Riot Games` (AppData is a hidden folder)
* `C:\Users\Public\Riot Games` (Less common, but check anyway)
* To access the `AppData` folder, you need to either type `%appdata%` in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter or enable the display of hidden files and folders as described above.
3. Empty the Recycle Bin:
* After deleting the Riot Games folders, empty the Recycle Bin to permanently remove the files from your system.
Step 5: Removing Riot Client Registry Entries (Advanced)
Warning: This step involves editing the Windows Registry. Incorrectly modifying the registry can cause serious system problems. Proceed with caution and only if you are comfortable with editing the registry. It is highly recommended to back up your registry before making any changes.
1. Back Up the Registry:
* Press the Windows key + R, type `regedit`, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
* In the Registry Editor, click on “File” -> “Export.”
* Choose a location to save the backup file, give it a name (e.g., “RegistryBackup”), and select “All” under “Export range.”
* Click “Save.”
2. Open the Registry Editor:
* Press the Windows key + R, type `regedit`, and press Enter.
* Windows may ask for administrator permission. Click “Yes” to allow the Registry Editor to open.
3. Navigate to Riot Games Registry Keys:
* Carefully navigate to the following registry keys and delete any entries related to Riot Games or the Riot Client. Again, be *extremely* careful when deleting registry keys. Deleting the wrong keys can cause significant problems with your system.
* `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games`
* `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games`
* `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Riot Games` (For 64-bit systems)
* `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall` (Look for entries with “Riot Client” or Riot game names in the DisplayName value. Delete the *entire key* for that program. *DO NOT DELETE ANY OTHER KEYS*)
4. Delete the Registry Keys:
* Right-click on the Riot Games registry key (e.g., `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games`) and select “Delete.”
* Confirm the deletion when prompted.
* Repeat for all the Riot Games registry keys listed above.
5. Close the Registry Editor:
* Once you have deleted all the relevant registry keys, close the Registry Editor.
Step 6: Restart Your Computer
After completing all the steps above, restart your computer. This ensures that all remaining Riot Client processes are terminated and any changes you made to the system are applied.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
* “Access Denied” Error: If you encounter an “Access Denied” error while deleting files or folders, it means that the files are still in use by another process. Make sure all Riot Games and Riot Client processes are closed (using Task Manager) and try again. You may also need to take ownership of the folder before you can delete it.
* Files or Folders Not Deleting: Sometimes, stubborn files or folders may refuse to delete. You can try using a third-party file deletion tool (e.g., IObit Unlocker) to force the deletion.
* Problems After Uninstalling: If you experience any issues after uninstalling the Riot Client, such as system instability or errors, try restoring your system from a backup or using System Restore to revert to a previous state.
Reinstalling the Riot Client
If you uninstalled the Riot Client to troubleshoot issues and want to reinstall it, you can download the latest version from the official Riot Games website. Simply download the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
Conclusion
Completely uninstalling the Riot Client involves more than just using the standard uninstallation process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure a clean removal of the client and all its associated files, freeing up storage space, resolving technical issues, or preparing your system for a fresh installation. Remember to back up your data, close all Riot Games processes, and exercise caution when editing the Windows Registry. With careful attention to detail, you can successfully remove the Riot Client and maintain a clean and stable system.