Game won't launch after champion select: League never reaches the loading screen

League of Legends Not Launching After Champion Selection

Which champ select problem you have

You lock in, the timer hits zero, and then nothing. No loading screen. Riot's article for that exact moment was last updated June 1, 2026.

Got a Reconnect button? Riot has a separate article with its own fixes for that, covered on stuck at reconnect after champion select. And if the game does open but dies with a quick repair notice, you want the crash and quick repair page.

How to fix it

Riot's list runs from quick to drastic. Go in order and queue a game after each one (Riot's crash guide suggests a custom game for testing changes like these).

1. Do a clean boot. The idea is that fewer background programs leaves less for the game to fight with. Run msconfig, tick Hide all Microsoft services on the Services tab, disable what's left and keep vgc ticked so Vanguard still starts. Then restart.
2. Add security exceptions by hand. Antivirus and firewalls can block the launch, and so can security authenticator apps. They'll often keep running through a clean boot too, which is why this step exists. Riot names these files:

   C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\LeagueClient.exe
   C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\LeagueClientUx.exe
   C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\LeagueClientUxRenderer.exe
   C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\Game\League of Legends.exe
   C:\Riot Games\Riot Client\RiotClientServices.exe
   C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\vgc.exe
   C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard\vgm.exe

   How you add them depends on the program, and its own help pages will have the details. If yours won't take exceptions, disable or uninstall it while you test.
3. Update your graphics driver. NVIDIA, AMD and Intel each have their own tool that finds the right one.
4. Turn off compatibility mode. Right-click the game's .exe, go to Properties and then Compatibility, and untick Run this program in compatibility mode for. Apply, OK, and try again.
5. Repair the game. It's in the Riot Client: profile icon at the top right, Settings, League of Legends in the left column, then Repair at the bottom.
6. Clear the local cache. Inside C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local, delete the game's folder. There's a Riot Games folder in the same place; delete the game folders in that one as well.
7. Reinstall League. It's a bit more work than the rest, so save it for when nothing else has worked. A fresh install replaces any corrupted files the repair didn't catch.

Still no loading screen? Riot wants a ticket at that point.

The same seven files, patch 25.15

Riot reused this exact exception list for the client failing to launch after patch 25.15 (that article was updated May 26, 2026). It adds two things. The paths assume a default install, so if League lives on another drive, point to your own folders. And after adding the exceptions, make sure none of the seven files runs in Compatibility Mode: right-click, Properties, every box cleared. If you do end up switching a third-party antivirus off, Riot's advice is to turn Windows Defender on while you test (Riot says it confirmed Defender works with that patch).

Related errors

• Stuck at reconnect
• Critical error
• Game crashed, quick repair
• Client not responding

Source: Riot Games Player Support, League of Legends Not Launching After Champion Selection, updated June 1, 2026. Riot's steps are paraphrased here, not copied; checked September 29, 2026.