If you’re here, chances are you’re trying to fix lag in League of Legends, and honestly, you’re not the only one.
Few things are more frustrating than missing a skill shot or getting caught out in a team fight because your game stuttered for half a second. Lag not only ruins the fun but can also cost you games, LP, and sometimes even your sanity.
Let’s break it down together. Whether you’re dealing with random spikes, constant delay, or just that annoying feeling of sluggishness, this guide will help you troubleshoot and (hopefully) solve the problem once and for all.
7 Ways to Fix Lag in League of Legends
Let’s start with the core methods that have helped a ton of players stabilize their gameplay. These aren’t just generic internet tips. Each one is tuned specifically for improving your League of Legends experience.
1. Use a Wired Connection
This is a big one. If you’re still gaming on Wi-Fi, even a “good” wireless connection can be unstable. Wired Ethernet is simply more reliable and consistent. It can significantly reduce ping spikes and packet loss.
2. Close Background Apps
Streaming videos, running downloads, or even syncing your cloud storage in the background can eat up bandwidth or hog system resources. Before you launch League, shut down any unnecessary apps like:
- YouTube or Twitch
- Torrent clients
- File backup tools (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive)
- Web browsers with tons of tabs open
3. Use NoPing
NoPing is a service designed to optimize your route to League of Legends’ servers. Sometimes, the normal path your internet provider uses isn’t the fastest. NoPing reroutes your data through a better, more direct path.
Here’s how to use NoPing to fix lag in League of Legends:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can try it for free)
- Open NoPing and search for League of Legends inside the software
- Once you find League of Legends, click on it and, on the next screen, select “Choose automatic” or “Choose manual” and click “Continue”. We recommend choosing automatic, as NoPing’s technology analyzes all routes on a global scale and automatically selects the best option for you.
- On the next screen, click on “Optimize Game”.
- And that’s it, you can start playing LoL with optimized ping!
You can test different servers within NoPing to see which gives you the lowest latency.
4. Update Your Network Drivers
Outdated network drivers can cause all kinds of connectivity issues. Head to your motherboard or network adapter manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers. It might seem minor, but this can have a surprisingly big impact.
5. Restart Your Router and Modem
A classic fix, but one that actually works more often than not. Rebooting your network hardware can refresh your connection to your ISP and resolve temporary routing issues.
Unplug both your router and modem, wait around 30 seconds, then plug them back in.
6. Change Your DNS Settings
Sometimes your DNS (Domain Name System) provider isn’t the most efficient. You can try switching to a public DNS like Google (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) to potentially reduce latency and improve response times when connecting to Riot’s servers.
7. Try Playing on a Different Server (If Possible)
This one’s not for everyone, but if you’re playing on a server that’s geographically distant from you, you might experience naturally higher ping. Consider switching to a closer server if your account and region allow it.
Game Settings to Fix Lag in League of Legends
Now let’s talk in-game settings. While many players immediately think of “internet issues” when they feel lag, sometimes the real problem is on your end—specifically, your PC struggling to keep up.
Here are a few settings to tweak inside League that might help:
Lower Your Graphics Settings
If your PC isn’t the strongest, running the game on high settings can cause frame drops. Go to:
Settings > Video > Graphics Quality
Set everything to Low or Medium, and disable features like:
- Shadows
- Anti-aliasing
- Character inking
- VSync (if your frame rate is already struggling)
Source: Prosettings
Enable Low Spec Mode
Riot offers a built-in “Low Spec Mode” that turns off client animations and extra visual effects. You’ll find this option under:
Settings > General > Enable Low Spec Mode
It makes the client feel snappier and could reduce stuttering when loading into games.
Lock Your Frame Rate
If your FPS is fluctuating wildly, it can feel like lag. Try setting your frame rate cap to match your monitor’s refresh rate or slightly below it. This can reduce micro-stutters.
Go to:
Settings > Video > Frame Rate Cap
Set it to 60 FPS (or whatever suits your monitor and hardware best).
What Causes Lag in League of Legends?
Before we jump to conclusions, let’s take a second to understand what might be causing the issue. Lag in League of Legends typically comes from two categories: network lag (high ping) and performance lag (low FPS or stuttering).
Network Lag (Ping-Related)
This is when your internet connection isn’t stable or fast enough to communicate with the Riot servers in real-time. The result? Delay in movement, skills registering late, rubber-banding, or disconnects.
Common causes include:
- Weak or distant Wi-Fi signals
- ISP routing issues
- Playing on distant servers
- Congested home networks (too many devices using bandwidth)
- Background downloads or updates
Performance Lag (Hardware-Related)
This happens when your PC struggles to run the game smoothly, resulting in choppy visuals, input delay, or frame drops.
Common causes include:
- Low-end graphics cards or CPUs
- Overheating components
- Too many background applications
- Outdated drivers or OS updates
- Running the game on ultra settings
Understanding what kind of lag you’re dealing with will help you apply the right fix.
FAQ
Why is my ping high in League of Legends but fine in other games?
Every game uses different servers and network infrastructures. It’s possible your ISP routes League traffic inefficiently, or Riot’s server for your region is located farther than those of other games.
Is League of Legends more sensitive to lag than other games?
Kind of. Because it’s a fast-paced, competitive game with lots of real-time decision-making, even small amounts of lag feel very noticeable—especially in ranked. Other slower-paced games might not show these issues as clearly.
Can I play League of Legends on Wi-Fi?
Yes, but it’s not ideal. Wi-Fi introduces more chances for interference and packet loss, which leads to ping spikes or rubber-banding. If you must use Wi-Fi, try to be close to the router and use the 5GHz band.
Does FPS affect ping?
No, FPS (frames per second) and ping are two different things. FPS is about how your hardware performs, while ping is about your internet connection. However, both can create what feels like “lag,” so it’s easy to confuse them.
How much ping is too much for League of Legends?
Anything under 60ms is generally good. Between 60–100ms is playable, but not ideal. Above 100ms, you’ll start noticing delays, and at 150ms or more, competitive play becomes very difficult. At 200ms+, some abilities become almost unusable.
Why does my game freeze randomly mid-match?
This could be caused by several things: overheating, background apps running, low system memory, or driver issues. Check your hardware temperature, close any unnecessary programs, and make sure your graphics drivers are up to date.
Can Riot support help with lag?
Yes! Riot actually offers a tool called the Hextech Repair Tool, which can scan for common issues and generate logs that support can use to diagnose connection or performance problems. It’s worth trying if none of the steps above help.
Lag in League of Legends can be a real buzzkill, especially if you’re grinding ranked or trying to enjoy a good ARAM with friends. But the good news is that most lag issues have a solution.
To solve all your network problems with League of Legends, use NoPing! Download now and test it for free!
