Nothing kills the vibe in a heated League of Legends match like skyrocketing high CPU usage. ๐ฉ Your frames drop, the game stutters, and you're left feeding while your PC screams for mercy. But don't rage-quit yet! This guide delivers proven fixes for League of Legends high CPU usage that gamers swear by. We'll slash that CPU load, reclaim smooth 144+ FPS, and get you back to dominating Summoner's Rift. Ready to penta? Let's dive in! โญ
Why Does League of Legends High CPU Usage Happen? Quick Diagnosis
LoL isn't the greediest game, but high CPU usage in League of Legends spikes from sneaky culprits. Common triggers:
- Outdated drivers or bloated background apps hogging cores.
- High in-game settings taxing single-thread performance.
- Overlays from Discord, NVIDIA, or MSI Afterburner interfering.
- Thermal throttling from dust bunnies or poor airflow. ๐ฅ
- Windows power plans capping performance.
Spot it? Task Manager shows LoL eating 80-100% CPU while FPS tanks. Fix time! Follow these steps in order for max impact. ๐
๐ง Top 10 Fixes for League of Legends High CPU Usage โ Step-by-Step
Start simple, escalate if needed. Most gamers see 30-50% CPU drops instantly. Test after each!
1๏ธโฃ Update Graphics Drivers โ The #1 Culprit Killer
Old drivers = CPU nightmare. NVIDIA/AMD/Intel updates optimize LoL cores.
- Download GeForce Experience (NVIDIA), Adrenalin (AMD), or Intel Arc Control.
- Scan for updates โ install the latest Game Ready drivers.
- Restart PC and launch LoL. Boom, CPU usage down 20% average!
2๏ธโฃ Lower In-Game Graphics Settings for CPU Relief
Crank shadows and effects? They're CPU vampires.
| Setting | Recommended | CPU Savings |
| Shadows | Low/Off | High โญ |
| Anti-Aliasing | Off/2x | Medium |
| Character Quality | Medium | Low |
| Effects/Environment | Medium | Medium |
| Frame Rate Cap | Unlimited/Match your monitor | Bonus FPS |
Hit Esc > Video > Apply. FPS soars, CPU chills. Pro tip: Enable "Low Spec Mode" in client settings.
3๏ธโฃ Close Background CPU Hogs with Task Manager
Chrome tabs? 10+? Kill 'em!
- Ctrl+Shift+Esc > Processes tab.
- End Discord overlay, browsers, antivirus scans.
- Bonus: Disable startup apps via Task Manager > Startup.
Reclaim 15-30% CPU instantly. Your rig will thank you! ๐
4๏ธโฃ Run Riot's Hextech Repair Tool โ Official Magic
Riot's free fixer scans files, resets configs.
- Download from Riot Support.
- Run as admin > Full Repair (takes 10 mins).
- Launch LoL โ corrupted files gone, CPU stable.
5๏ธโฃ Disable Overlays and V-Sync Nightmares
Discord/NVIDIA overlays spike CPU.
- Discord: Settings > Overlay > Off.
- NVIDIA: GeForce > Alt+Z > Off.
- In LoL: Video > V-Sync Off, Vertical Sync Off.
6๏ธโฃ Set LoL to High CPU Priority
Windows favors other apps? Flip it!
- Launch LoL > Alt+Tab to desktop.
- Task Manager > Details > LeagueClient.exe > Right-click > Set Priority > High.
- Confirm each launch or use a batch script (Google "LoL high priority script").
7๏ธโฃ Tweak Windows Power Plan for Gaming Beast Mode
Battery saver? Noob move.
- Search "Power Options" > High Performance plan.
- Advanced > Processor Power > Min/Max 100%.
8๏ธโฃ Clean Dust & Monitor Temps โ Prevent Throttling
Hot CPU throttles to protect itself.
- Use compressed air on fans/heatsink.
- HWMonitor: Keep under 85ยฐC.
- Reapply thermal paste if ancient rig.
9๏ธโฃ Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Windows 10/11 glitch.
- Right-click LoL shortcut > Properties > Compatibility > Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- Run as admin too.
๐ Advanced: BIOS Tweaks & Reinstall
Still high? Enable XMP for RAM, update BIOS. Last resort: Uninstall/reinstall LoL via client.
Bonus Tips to Keep League of Legends CPU Usage Low Forever
- Cap FPS at 144 to avoid spikes.
- Use a cooling pad for laptops. โ๏ธ
- MSI Afterburner for monitoring โ but disable overlay!
- Upgrade? Ryzen 5000+ or Intel 12th gen shreds LoL.
Implement these, and League of Legends high CPU usage becomes history. Gamers report 40-60% drops, buttery gameplay. Test in Practice Tool first โ climb those ranks! Got more issues? Drop a comment below. GLHF! ๐ฎโจ