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1. Synchronize the Windows clock
Start here, before changing DNS or firewall settings. An incorrect clock can prevent League from validating server certificate timestamps and may affect login, the Store, and matches.
- Press Windows key + R, type
cmd, and select OK. - Run these commands one at a time:
net start w32time
w32tm /resyncIf Windows reports insufficient permissions, open Command Prompt from the Start menu, right-click it, choose Run as administrator, and run the commands again. Restart League after the clock synchronizes.
2. Flush DNS
A stale or incorrect DNS result can stop the Riot Client from finding the servers it needs. To clear the local DNS cache:
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- Search Windows for Command Prompt.
- Right-click the result and select Run as administrator.
- Enter:
ipconfig /flushdnsPress Enter, wait for the confirmation message, and restart the computer. Then open the Riot Client and try again.
3. Test a public DNS resolver
Use this step when the launcher cannot resolve Riot server aliases or patches will not download. Riot notes that this type of resolver failure can occur more often outside the United States. Public DNS is not a universal fix for high in-game ping: it can help with name resolution and patch downloads, but it does not generally shorten the physical network route to a game server.
Riot’s documented public DNS addresses are:
Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4On current Windows versions, open Settings > Network & internet, select your active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, open its DNS settings, and change DNS assignment to Manual. Enable IPv4, enter the two addresses above, save the change, and restart the Riot Client.
If your Windows build does not expose that layout, use the legacy Control Panel route:
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- Select Change adapter settings.
- Right-click the active adapter and choose Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then choose Properties.
- Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
- Enter
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4, select OK, and close the remaining windows.
Do not use old Windows 8 or Windows XP instructions as evidence that those operating systems are currently supported. The Control Panel path is simply a fallback interface for configuring DNS.
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4. Check the Windows hosts file
Only change this file when name resolution is suspected—for example, if DNS flushing and a different DNS resolver have not helped. A manually edited hosts file can send a Riot address to the wrong location.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
%WinDir%System32DriversEtcand press Enter. - Make a backup copy of the file named
hosts. - Rename the backup to
hosts.old. - Open the original
hostsfile with a text editor launched using Run as administrator.
Review the file for custom Riot or League entries. Do not delete unrelated entries without understanding them. If the file has been modified to redirect Riot domains, restore it to a normal Windows hosts configuration, save it, and restart Windows. Keep the hosts.old backup until League connects normally.
5. Disable Killer Network’s Advanced Stream Detect
Some systems using Killer networking software display the specific login message “you may be offline” even though other applications have internet access.
- Open Killer Network Suite, Killer Network Manager, or Killer Control Center, depending on the installed version.
- Open Settings.
- Clear Enable Advanced Stream Detect.
- Close the Killer utility completely.
- Relaunch the League Client.
6. Add every Riot executable to your antivirus exclusions
Security software may block the client, the game process, or Vanguard. Adding only LeagueClient.exe is incomplete for the current Riot Client and Vanguard installation. In your antivirus settings, add exclusions for these default paths:
C:Riot GamesLeague of LegendsLeagueClient.exe
C:Riot GamesLeague of LegendsLeagueClientUx.exe
C:Riot GamesLeague of LegendsLeagueClientUxRenderer.exe
C:Riot GamesLeague of LegendsGameLeague of Legends.exe
C:Riot GamesRiot ClientRiotClientServices.exe
C:Program FilesRiot Vanguardvgc.exe
C:Program FilesRiot Vanguardvgm.exeThese are default locations. If you installed League or Vanguard elsewhere, browse to the actual files rather than creating exclusions for paths that do not exist.
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After adding the exclusions, check compatibility settings on every executable in the list:
- Right-click the executable and select Properties.
- Open the Compatibility tab.
- Clear the compatibility checkboxes.
- Select Apply, then OK.
In particular, do not assume that Run this program as an administrator fixes connection problems. Riot’s current guidance for the Windows “cannot access the specified device, path, or file” error is to open Properties > Compatibility, clear Run this program as an administrator, and select Apply > OK.
If exclusions do not solve the problem, temporarily disable the third-party antivirus as a diagnostic test. This is not a permanent recommendation. Riot advises keeping Windows Defender enabled while testing so the computer is not left unprotected. Re-enable the third-party antivirus after the test.
7. Repair VAN 9002 through Exploit Protection
VAN 9002 normally indicates that Windows Exploit Protection is disabled or has custom settings that Vanguard does not accept. It is not simply a server-outage message.
- Open Start and search for
exploit protection. - Select Exploit protection.
- Open the System settings tab.
- Set each of the following to Use default:
| Exploit Protection setting | Required value |
|---|---|
| Control flow guard (CFG) | Use default |
| Data Execution Prevention (DEP) | Use default |
| Force randomization for images (Mandatory ASLR) | Use default |
| Randomized memory allocation (Bottom up ASLR) | Use default |
| High entropy ASLR | Use default |
| Validate exception chains (SEHOP) | Use default |
| Validate heap integrity | Use default |
Next, open Program settings. Remove custom entries associated with Riot Games, Riot Vanguard, or Riot titles:
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- Excellent Anti-interference: The ethernet cable comes with 4 shielded foiled twisted pairs (F/FTP), pure copper core and gold-plated RJ45 connector, reducing interference, noise and crosstalk, making network speed faster and more stable
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- Select a Riot-related entry.
- Expand it if necessary.
- Select Remove.
- Repeat for every Riot-related entry.
Windows may display “This change requires you to restart your device.” Finish the changes first, then restart. The restart is required before testing League again.
8. Collect logs instead of repeating random fixes
If the client still cannot connect after the targeted repairs above, use Riot’s Riot Repair Tool (RRT). It gathers the logs needed for a support ticket and is the official escalation route for persistent client or connection failures.
For the legacy client-patcher issue, League’s default Windows logs are in:
C:Riot GamesLeague of LegendsLogsCompress the LeagueClient Logs folder and attach it to a Riot support ticket under I am having technical issues.
On macOS, right-click the League of Legends client icon and select Show Original. Open Contents/LoL/Logs, compress the LeagueClient Logs folder, and attach it to the ticket.
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Which fix matches the symptom?
| Symptom | Most relevant step |
|---|---|
| Login, Store, or match validation fails with a clock or certificate-related symptom | Synchronize Windows time |
| Launcher cannot find servers or patches will not download | Flush DNS, then test public DNS |
| “You may be offline” with Killer software installed | Disable Advanced Stream Detect |
| Client crashes or never launches after an update | Add all Riot/Vanguard exclusions and clear Compatibility settings |
| VAN 9002 | Restore Exploit Protection defaults and remove Riot custom entries |
| Nothing changes after the local repairs | Run Riot Repair Tool and submit the logs |
FAQ
Does changing DNS reduce League of Legends ping?
Usually, no. Public DNS can repair name-resolution failures and patch-download problems, but it is not a general latency fix. Test it when the launcher cannot resolve Riot server aliases, not simply because your in-game ping is high.
Should I run League of Legends as administrator?
Not as a universal connection fix. For Riot’s “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file” guidance, clear Run this program as an administrator under the executable’s Properties > Compatibility tab, then select Apply and OK.
What files should I exclude from antivirus scanning?
Riot’s documented set includes LeagueClient.exe, LeagueClientUx.exe, LeagueClientUxRenderer.exe, League of Legends.exe, RiotClientServices.exe, and Vanguard’s vgc.exe and vgm.exe. Use the actual installation paths if they differ from the defaults.
Why does League show VAN 9002?
Riot says VAN 9002 normally means Windows Exploit Protection is disabled or has incompatible custom entries. Set the listed System settings to Use default, remove Riot-related custom Program settings, and restart Windows.
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Use the Riot Repair Tool to gather logs. For the legacy patcher issue, compress the LeagueClient Logs folder from C:Riot GamesLeague of LegendsLogs on Windows, or Contents/LoL/Logs inside the League application bundle on macOS.
The Bottom Line
Use a narrow sequence: synchronize the clock, flush DNS, test Riot’s public DNS only for resolver failures, inspect the hosts file when name resolution is suspicious, and disable Killer Advanced Stream Detect if its offline message applies. For launch failures, exclude the complete Riot and Vanguard executable set and clear Compatibility settings. For VAN 9002, restore Exploit Protection defaults and restart. If none of those changes works, stop modifying Windows settings and send Riot Repair Tool logs with a support ticket.
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