Few things are more frustrating for League of Legends players than launching their favorite game, only to be confronted with a terrifying blank screen. The black screen issue in League of Legends on Windows PCs is a common but solvable problem. Gamers encounter it when trying to launch the game, enter champion select, or start a match. The game either freezes on a black screen or crashes entirely, effectively locking players out of Summoner’s Rift.

This guide will walk you through a series of effective steps to fix the League of Legends black screen issue on Windows. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a new recruit to the Rift, these troubleshooting methods will help you restore your gameplay experience.

Understanding the Black Screen Problem

The black screen issue stems from several potential culprits. These range from graphics driver conflicts and software compatibility problems to issues with display settings and corrupted game files. Before we dive into the fixes, it’s important to understand when it typically happens:

• During the game startup
• After champion select when the match is loading
• While returning from alt-tabbing the window
• After a new patch or game update

Recognizing the timing and frequency of the black screen helps narrow down the cause. Now, let’s explore how to fix it step-by-step.

1. Run the Game as Administrator

Sometimes, League of Legends lacks the necessary permissions to operate correctly, which can trigger the black screen. Granting administrator rights might resolve it.

Steps:

1. Right-click on the League of Legends shortcut icon.
2. Select Run as administrator.
3. Check if the game now launches properly.

For a permanent fix, change its properties:

1. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check “Run this program as an administrator”.
4. Click Apply and then OK.

2. Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Your GPU is responsible for rendering everything on screen, including League of Legends. Outdated or corrupt drivers can easily lead to black screen issues.

To update your drivers:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display adapters section.
3. Right-click your graphics card and choose Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers.

Alternatively, visit the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to download and install the latest version manually.

3. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Windows 10 and later use a feature called Fullscreen Optimizations, designed to improve gaming performance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always play well with League of Legends.

To disable it:

1. Navigate to the League of Legends installation folder.
2. Locate the LeagueClient.exe file.
3. Right-click and select Properties.
4. Click on the Compatibility tab.
5. Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations”.
6. Click Apply and OK.

Disabling this feature has resolved black screen issues for many players.

4. Change Display Mode to Windowed

Sometimes, League of Legends fails to display correctly in full screen, showing only a black window. Changing to windowed mode can help bypass this.

How to do it:

• Launch the game.
• As soon as it opens (even if it’s a black screen), press Alt + Enter.

This command forces the game into windowed mode. If the game window now displays correctly, go to Settings > Video and adjust your display settings.

5. Delete Config and Logs

Corrupt configuration files and logs can sometimes interfere with gameplay.

Steps:

1. Close League of Legends and the Riot Client completely.
2. Navigate to the game’s installation folder.
3. Find the “Config” and “Logs” folders.
4. Backup and then delete them (don’t worry—it will recreate new ones automatically).
5. Restart League of Legends.

6. Set a Fixed DPI Scaling Setting

If your display uses any custom scaling (like 125% or 150%), it may cause rendering issues in some programs.

To fix DPI settings:

1. Right-click LeagueClient.exe and choose Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Click Change high DPI settings.
4. Under High DPI scaling override, check “Override high DPI scaling behavior”.
5. Choose Application from the drop-down.
6. Click OK and Apply.

7. Check Windows Scaling and Resolution

Improper screen resolution or scaling settings can cause black screen issues, especially on 4K monitors or multi-monitor setups.

Steps:

1. Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
2. Under Scale and layout, make sure Scaling is 100% or 125% only.
3. Ensure the Display resolution matches your monitor’s native resolution.

Try setting the system back to default resolution settings and test the game again.

8. Force League to Use a Specific GPU

Laptops with dual GPUs (integrated + dedicated) sometimes launch League on the weaker GPU by mistake, resulting in a black screen or severe lag.

Force the dedicated GPU:

1. Open Graphics Settings in Windows (search it in Start Menu).
2. Click Browse and locate LeagueClient.exe.
3. Click Options and select High performance.
4. Save and restart your game.

9. Repair the Game Using Riot Client

If corrupted or missing game files are the issue, repairing the installation might offer a permanent fix.

To repair:

1. Open the Riot Client.
2. Click the Profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
4. Under League of Legends, click Repair.
5. Wait for the process to complete.

This checks and replaces damaged game files automatically.

10. Uninstall and Reinstall League of Legends

If all else fails, a fresh installation might be your best bet. This will remove all corrupted files and give you a clean slate.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to Apps > Apps & features.
3. Find League of Legends and click Uninstall.
4. After it’s done, visit official League of Legends site to download and reinstall the game.

Final Thoughts

Technical issues can put a damper on an otherwise thrilling