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Low FPS in League of Legends can turn simple trades, skillshots, and teamfights into a frustrating stuttery mess. Even though LoL is designed to run on a wide range of PCs, outdated drivers, heavy background apps, high graphics settings, overheating, or poor Windows power settings can still drag performance down.
Boosting FPS does not require risky third-party tools or changes that could affect account security. With the right in-game settings, driver updates, system cleanup, and a few hardware checks, you can make League run smoother while keeping your PC stable and your Riot account safe.
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Check Your Current FPS and System Requirements
Before changing settings, establish a baseline so you know whether each adjustment actually helps. In League of Legends, you can show your current frame rate and latency by pressing Ctrl + F during a match or in the Practice Tool. The counter appears in the top-right corner and shows FPS alongside ping. For testing, the Practice Tool is ideal because it removes most variables from other players, team fights, and network instability.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Spend a few minutes checking FPS in different situations: standing in base, walking through lane, fighting minions, and casting abilities during a larger skirmish. A PC that shows 200 FPS in base but drops to 55 FPS during team fights may need different tuning than a system that stays at 45 FPS everywhere. Also pay attention to frame pacing. Even if the average FPS looks acceptable, frequent stutters or sudden drops can feel worse than a lower but stable frame rate.
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Compare your PC with League of Legends requirements
Next, confirm that your hardware is suitable for the game. League of Legends is designed to run on a wide range of PCs, but older laptops, integrated graphics, low memory, overheating components, or slow storage can still cause poor performance. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then check the Performance tab for your CPU, memory, GPU, and disk details. You can also open Settings > System > About to confirm your processor and installed RAM.
- CPU: League relies heavily on processor performance, especially during busy fights. Very old dual-core CPUs may struggle with stable frame rates.
- RAM: Aim for at least 8 GB for a smoother Windows and League experience. With 4 GB, background apps can easily cause stutters.
- GPU: Dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics usually perform better, but many modern integrated GPUs can run the game at low or medium settings.
- Storage: An SSD will not always raise peak FPS, but it can improve loading times and reduce system hitching compared with an old hard drive.
- Display: Match expectations to your monitor. A 60 Hz display cannot show more than 60 frames per second, even if the FPS counter is higher.
If your system is close to the minimum requirements, focus on stability rather than maximum visual quality. A locked 60 FPS with lower settings often feels better than an unlocked frame rate that jumps between 45 and 120. If your PC exceeds the recommended requirements but still performs poorly, the issue is more likely related to drivers, Windows power settings, background software, overheating, or corrupted game settings rather than raw hardware capability.
Write down your starting FPS range before making changes, including the resolution and graphics preset you are using. For example: “1080p, medium settings, 80 FPS in lane, 45 FPS in team fights.” After each optimization, test in the same way. This simple baseline prevents guesswork and helps you avoid unnecessary changes that might reduce visual clarity or system stability without improving performance.
Optimize League of Legends In-Game Video Settings
League of Legends is designed to run on a wide range of PCs, but a few in-game video settings can still make a major difference to FPS and frame stability. Start by opening the client, entering Practice Tool, then pressing Esc and going to Video. Testing changes in Practice Tool is safer than experimenting during a ranked match, and it gives you a consistent environment for checking whether your FPS improves.
The biggest performance gains usually come from lowering visual quality settings rather than changing gameplay settings. If your FPS is low or unstable, use Fullscreen mode instead of Borderless or Windowed, because it often gives the game more direct control over display resources. Set your resolution to your monitor’s native resolution if the game already runs well; if you are struggling badly, dropping from 1920×1080 to 1600×900 or 1280×720 can provide a large FPS boost, though the image will look less sharp.
Recommended video settings for higher FPS
- Character Quality: Medium or Low. This reduces detail on champions and can help during team fights.
- Environment Quality: Low. The map will look simpler, but gameplay clarity remains good.
- Effects Quality: Low. This is one of the best settings to lower because spell effects can heavily affect FPS in fights.
- Shadow Quality: Off. Shadows add visual depth but are not needed for competitive play and can cost noticeable performance.
- Frame Rate Cap: Set this to your monitor refresh rate, such as 60, 120, 144, or 165 FPS. If your PC cannot hold that number, cap it slightly below your average FPS for smoother pacing.
- Anti-Aliasing: Off. This smooths jagged edges but can reduce FPS on weaker GPUs.
- Wait for Vertical Sync: Off. V-Sync can reduce screen tearing, but it may add input delay and lower FPS responsiveness.
If your PC has strong hardware but League still feels choppy, avoid using an unlimited frame rate. An uncapped FPS setting can make the GPU work harder than necessary, creating extra heat, fan noise, and inconsistent frame times. For example, if you use a 144Hz monitor and your PC jumps between 180 and 260 FPS, capping at 144 or 165 FPS may feel smoother than leaving it uncapped.
You can also reduce visual clutter by disabling extras that do not help performance or gameplay focus. In the Interface settings, lowering HUD scale slightly may improve visibility, though it will not usually raise FPS much. Avoid third-party tools that claim to modify League’s graphics files or unlock hidden performance modes, as they can break the game installation or create account security risks. Stick to the settings Riot provides inside the game, then restart League after making major changes so the new configuration loads cleanly.
Update GPU Drivers and Windows Settings
Outdated graphics drivers and pending Windows updates can reduce performance in League of Legends, cause stutters, or create compatibility issues after a game patch. Before changing advanced settings, make sure your PC is running stable, official software from your hardware manufacturer. Avoid third-party “driver updater” tools, as they can install the wrong package or bundle unwanted software.
For your GPU driver, use the official app or website for your graphics card brand. NVIDIA users can use GeForce Experience or download drivers from NVIDIA’s support site. AMD users can use AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. Intel integrated graphics users should use Intel Driver & Support Assistant or the PC manufacturer’s support page, especially on laptops. If League of Legends started performing worse immediately after a driver update, consider using the manufacturer’s rollback option or installing the previous stable driver version.
- NVIDIA: Open GeForce Experience, go to Drivers, then install the latest Game Ready Driver. Choose a clean installation if you have recurring graphical issues.
- AMD: Open AMD Software, check for updates, and install the recommended driver rather than an optional beta driver if you want maximum stability.
- Intel: Use Intel Driver & Support Assistant or your laptop maker’s driver page to avoid mismatched integrated graphics drivers.
After updating your GPU driver, restart your PC before testing League again. A restart clears old driver components from memory and helps Windows apply the new display configuration correctly. Then launch a Practice Tool match and watch FPS during minion waves, camera movement, and team-fight-like effects. This gives a more useful result than checking FPS only in the client or loading screen.
Windows updates can also affect game performance, especially updates related to DirectX, security, chipset behavior, and display handling. Open Settings > Windows Update, install available updates, and restart when prompted. If your system offers optional driver updates, be selective: graphics drivers are usually better installed from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or your laptop manufacturer. Optional chipset, network, or firmware updates can help on some systems, but only install updates that match your exact device model.
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Next, check Windows graphics settings for League of Legends. Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics, add the League executable if it is not listed, and set it to High performance. On laptops with both integrated and dedicated graphics, this can help ensure the game uses the stronger GPU instead of the power-saving chip. You may need to add the actual game executable from the Riot Games installation folder, not just the Riot Client shortcut.
If you use Windows 10 or Windows 11, keep display options simple while troubleshooting. Use your monitor’s native resolution and refresh rate under Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. If your monitor supports 144 Hz or higher, confirm Windows is actually set to that refresh rate. Higher refresh rate does not create more FPS by itself, but it allows you to see smoother motion when your PC is already producing enough frames.
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Finally, avoid registry edits, unofficial “FPS boost” scripts, modified game files, or tools that claim to bypass Riot’s systems. These can break the game, reduce system stability, or create account security risks. Official drivers, normal Windows settings, and Riot-approved configuration changes are the safest path to better FPS without risking your installation or account.
Close Background Apps and Reduce System Load
League of Legends is not the most demanding PC game, but it is sensitive to sudden CPU, RAM, disk, and network spikes. A browser with many tabs, a game launcher updating in the background, cloud sync, or recording software can cause FPS drops even if your average frame rate looks fine. Before launching a match, reduce unnecessary system load so your PC can keep more resources available for the League client and the in-game process.
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Start with the apps you can see on the taskbar and in the system tray. Close web browsers, video players, music apps you are not using, RGB control panels, extra launchers, torrent clients, and cloud storage tools that are actively syncing files. If you use Discord or another voice app, keep it open only if needed, and disable features such as animated overlays, high-quality screen sharing, or hardware acceleration if they cause stutter on your system.
Use Task Manager to Find Resource-Heavy Processes
Windows Task Manager is the safest place to check what is consuming resources. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open the Processes tab, and sort by CPU, Memory, Disk, or GPU. Look for nonessential apps using a large percentage of resources while League is running. Select the app and choose End task only if you recognize it and know it is not a Windows security, driver, or system process.
- Browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera can use several gigabytes of RAM with many tabs open.
- Game launchers: Steam, Epic Games Launcher, Battle.net, and Xbox can download updates in the background.
- Recording and streaming tools: OBS, Medal, Outplayed, GeForce Experience recording, and similar apps can reduce FPS depending on settings.
- Cloud sync: OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox may cause disk usage spikes when syncing large files.
- Peripheral software: Mouse, keyboard, headset, and RGB utilities sometimes run overlays or background services you may not need during gameplay.
Limit Startup Apps Before They Become a Problem
If the same apps keep running every time you boot your PC, disable them from startup instead of closing them manually before every game. In Task Manager, go to the Startup apps tab, review the list, and disable nonessential programs such as launchers, chat apps, updaters, and utility panels. Avoid disabling anything from Microsoft, your GPU vendor, audio driver, touchpad driver, or security software unless you are certain what it does.
Overlays are another common source of stutter. Turn off overlays you do not use, including the Xbox Game Bar overlay, Discord overlay, Steam overlay, Ubisoft Connect overlay, NVIDIA overlay, AMD overlay, and capture highlights features. You do not need to uninstall these programs; simply disabling their overlay or instant replay functions can reduce GPU load and prevent conflicts with League’s fullscreen or borderless modes.
Keep Security and Stability Intact
Do not use “FPS booster” tools, registry cleaners, script packs, or programs that claim to modify League for better performance. They can break Windows settings, interfere with Riot’s anti-cheat systems, or create account and security risks. Stick to normal Windows controls, official driver software, and in-game settings. Also avoid ending random background services just because they use a small amount of memory; forcing critical services to close can cause crashes, audio issues, input problems, or network instability.
After reducing background load, test performance in the Practice Tool or a custom game before queueing for ranked. Watch whether FPS stays steadier during minion waves, team fights, and camera movement. The goal is not only a higher peak FPS, but fewer drops and a more consistent frame time, which makes League feel smoother and more responsive during actual fights.
Adjust Power, Game Mode, and Graphics Preferences
After reducing background load, the next step is to make sure Windows is giving League of Legends enough system resources while you play. Power plans, Game Mode, and per-app graphics settings can affect CPU boost behavior, GPU selection, and how aggressively Windows prioritizes the game. These changes are safe, reversible, and do not involve third-party tools or anything that could affect your Riot account security.
Set a performance-focused power mode
On laptops especially, Windows may limit CPU and GPU performance to save battery, which can cause lower FPS or sudden drops during team fights. Plug your laptop into power first, then open Settings > System > Power & battery. Under Power mode, choose Best performance or the highest-performance option available. On Windows 10, you may need to open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options and select High performance.
If you use a gaming laptop with manufacturer software such as Lenovo Vantage, Armoury Crate, MSI Center, Alienware Command Center, or OMEN Gaming Hub, check that it is not set to a silent, eco, or battery-saving profile. A balanced profile is fine for daily use, but for ranked sessions or long play sessions, a performance mode can help stabilize FPS. Avoid changing advanced voltage, clock, or fan settings unless you know exactly what they do, since unstable tuning can cause crashes rather than better performance.
Use Windows Game Mode
Windows Game Mode is designed to prioritize games and reduce interruptions from background system tasks. To enable it, go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and turn Game Mode on. For most modern PCs, this is beneficial or neutral for League of Legends. If you notice unusual stuttering immediately after enabling it, you can turn it off again and compare FPS in the Practice Tool using the same graphics settings.
- Enable Game Mode: helps Windows prioritize game performance during play.
- Disable unnecessary overlays: Xbox Game Bar capture, Discord overlay, GeForce Experience overlay, and similar features can add overhead on weaker systems.
- Avoid recording in the background: features like “Record what happened” can reduce FPS, especially on older CPUs or GPUs.
Choose the correct GPU for League of Legends
If your PC or laptop has both integrated graphics and a dedicated GPU, make sure League of Legends uses the stronger graphics processor. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics. Add the League executable if it is not listed, then select it and choose Options. Pick High performance, which should correspond to your dedicated NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel Arc GPU. League usually does not need a powerful GPU to run, but using integrated graphics by mistake can still lead to lower FPS, worse frame pacing, and extra strain on shared system memory.
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You can also check your GPU control panel. In NVIDIA Control Panel, open Manage 3D settings and set the preferred graphics processor for League to the high-performance NVIDIA processor if that option appears. In AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, review the Gaming profile and avoid forcing heavy visual features globally. Keep settings practical: let the game handle anti-aliasing and visual quality, and avoid driver-level enhancements that increase GPU load without improving competitive clarity.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOnce these settings are adjusted, restart the Riot Client and League of Legends, then test FPS again in the Practice Tool or a normal match. Try to compare in similar conditions: same resolution, same in-game video settings, and similar camera movement. If FPS improves but the system becomes louder or warmer, that is expected with higher performance modes, but sustained high temperatures should be handled with cooling and hardware checks rather than pushing the system harder.
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If League of Legends starts smoothly but loses FPS after several minutes, your PC may be throttling because of heat, slow storage, limited RAM, or an older CPU/GPU. LoL is not the most demanding game, but it still depends on stable CPU clocks, responsive storage, and enough memory for Windows, the Riot Client, Discord, browser tabs, and the game itself. Hardware checks are especially useful when FPS drops happen during team fights, after long sessions, or when the laptop fan becomes very loud.
Check temperatures and reduce thermal throttling
Overheating can force your processor or graphics card to run slower, which directly lowers FPS. Use a trusted monitoring tool such as HWiNFO, MSI Afterburner, or your laptop manufacturer’s utility to check CPU and GPU temperatures while playing a custom game or Practice Tool session. As a general target, keeping the CPU and GPU under the mid-80°C range during gameplay helps avoid heavy throttling on many systems, though exact limits vary by model.
- Clean dust from vents and fans: Shut the PC down, unplug it, and use compressed air to clear intake and exhaust vents. For desktops, clean dust filters and make sure case fans are spinning properly.
- Improve airflow: Keep the desktop case away from walls and carpets. For laptops, play on a hard, flat surface instead of a bed or blanket.
- Use a laptop cooling pad: This can help thin gaming laptops maintain steadier clocks during longer matches.
- Replace old thermal paste: If your PC is several years old and temperatures are unusually high, fresh thermal paste can help, but only attempt this if you are comfortable opening the device or have a repair shop do it.
Free up and improve storage performance
League of Legends can stutter if Windows is struggling with a nearly full or slow drive. Keep at least 15-20% of your system drive free so Windows has room for updates, shader caches, temporary files, and virtual memory. Uninstall games and apps you no longer use, empty the Recycle Bin, and move large recordings or screenshots to another drive. If League is installed on an old hard drive, moving it to an SSD can reduce loading delays and help prevent hitching when files are accessed in the background.
| Possible bottleneck | Common symptom in LoL | Safe fix |
|---|---|---|
| Overheating CPU or GPU | FPS starts high, then drops after a few minutes | Clean vents, improve airflow, check fan operation |
| Slow or full storage drive | Stutters, longer loading, delayed asset access | Free space, use an SSD, keep Windows cleanup tools enabled |
| Low RAM | FPS dips when Discord, browser, or overlays are open | Close extra apps or upgrade to 16GB if supported |
| Weak integrated graphics | Low FPS even on reduced settings | Lower resolution, use Performance Mode, consider hardware upgrade |
Identify CPU, GPU, and RAM limits
Use Task Manager’s Performance tab while League is running to see what is maxed out. If the CPU is near 100% while the GPU is low, reduce background tasks and lower settings that affect scene complexity, such as shadows and character quality. If the GPU is maxed out, reduce resolution, enable the lowest practical graphics settings, and avoid high refresh-rate targets your hardware cannot hold. If memory usage is very high, close browsers, launchers, screen recorders, and chat apps before queueing.
For older PCs, a small hardware upgrade can be more effective than endless setting changes. Moving from an HDD to an SSD, upgrading from 8GB to 16GB of RAM, or using a dedicated GPU instead of integrated graphics can noticeably improve smoothness. Avoid unofficial “FPS booster” tools, registry packs, modified game files, or anything that asks for your Riot account details. Stick to hardware maintenance, official drivers, Windows settings, and in-game options to improve performance without risking your system or account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best League of Legends settings for higher FPS?
For the biggest FPS boost, lower Shadows to Off, set Character Quality and Environment Quality to Low or Medium, disable Anti-Aliasing, and turn off Wait for Vertical Sync. Keep the resolution at your monitor’s native resolution if possible, but lowering it can help on very weak PCs. Also try setting the frame rate cap to match your monitor refresh rate, such as 60, 120, or 144 FPS, to reduce unnecessary GPU load.
Why does League of Legends suddenly have low FPS when it used to run fine?
Sudden FPS drops are often caused by driver updates, Windows updates, background apps, overheating, or corrupted game settings. Check Task Manager for apps using high CPU, memory, or disk, then update your GPU driver and restart your PC. If the issue started after changing settings, reset League’s video settings and test again in Practice Tool.
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Yes, especially if your current driver is outdated, corrupted, or not optimized for recent Windows changes. Download drivers directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel instead of using random driver tools. If performance gets worse after an update, use the driver rollback option or install a stable older version from the GPU manufacturer’s website.
Does closing background apps make a big difference for League of Legends FPS?
It can make a noticeable difference on PCs with limited RAM, older CPUs, or slow storage. Close browsers with many tabs, game launchers, recording software, RGB utilities, and cloud sync apps before playing. You should also disable unnecessary startup apps in Task Manager so they do not consume resources every time Windows boots.
What should I upgrade first if League of Legends still has low FPS?
If your PC has 4GB to 8GB of RAM and struggles with background apps, upgrading to 16GB RAM is often the most practical first step. If the game stutters during loading or when Windows is busy, moving League and Windows to an SSD can help smooth responsiveness. For very old PCs, the CPU and integrated graphics may be the main limit, so check your CPU and GPU usage while playing before buying parts.
Bottom Line
Boosting FPS in League of Legends usually comes down to a few safe habits: lower the right in-game settings, keep your GPU drivers updated, close unnecessary background apps, and make sure Windows is set up for performance while you play. Start with the simple tweaks first, then test your FPS after each change so you know what actually helps your PC.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf performance is still unstable, check temperatures, storage health, and hardware limits before making bigger upgrades. Avoid risky third-party “FPS boosters” or account-related tools, and stick to trusted settings and maintenance steps for smoother games without putting your system or account at risk.
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