Hey, fellow Summoner! ๐ค Nothing kills the hype before a ranked climb like the dreaded League of Legends "Access Denied" error during patching. You're geared up for that pentakill streak, but bam โ patching stalls with "Access Denied." Don't rage quit yet! This guide delivers quick, reliable fixes to smash this bug and launch you back into the game. We've tested these on the latest patches, so let's dive in and reclaim your Rift dominance. ๐
Why Does League of Legends "Access Denied" When Patching Happen? ๐
This pesky error pops up when the Riot Client can't write or access patch files. Common culprits include:
- ๐ Antivirus or firewall blocking Riot processes.
- ๐ก๏ธ Insufficient folder permissions on your League of Legends directory.
- ๐ VPN or proxy interference.
- ๐ Corrupted lockfiles or incomplete prior patches.
- โ๏ธ Windows UAC (User Account Control) restrictions.
Pro tip: Most fixes take under 5 minutes. Start with the simplest and escalate if needed. Ready to patch like a pro? Let's fix it! โญ
๐ Step-by-Step: How to Fix League of Legends "Access Denied" When Patching
1๏ธโฃ Run Riot Client as Administrator (Quickest Win! โก)
The #1 fix for League of Legends patching Access Denied. Right-click the Riot Client shortcut (usually on desktop or in Start Menu) > Run as administrator. Then retry patching.
Make it permanent: Right-click shortcut > Properties > Compatibility tab > Check "Run this program as an administrator." Boom โ elevated privileges granted! ๐
2๏ธโฃ Tame Your Antivirus & Firewall ๐ก๏ธ
Antivirus loves to "protect" you from Riot by denying access. Here's the drill:
- Temporarily disable real-time protection (e.g., Windows Defender, Norton, Avast).
- Add exceptions for:
C:\Riot Games\League of Legends and C:\Riot Games\Riot Client.
- Whitelist Riot Client executables: RiotClientServices.exe, LeagueClient.exe.
After patching, re-enable protection. If you're on Windows Firewall, go to Windows Security > Firewall > Allow an app > Add Riot folders.
3๏ธโฃ Fix Folder Permissions & Delete Lockfiles ๐ง
Windows might be gatekeeping your League of Legends folder. Time to take control:
- Navigate to
C:\Riot Games\League of Legends (or your install path).
- Right-click folder > Properties > Security > Edit > Select your user > Full control โ.
- Delete these files/folders if present:
lockfile, Logs\, PatcherVersion, Config\.
Launch Riot Client as admin and repair via the gear icon > Repair. Patches will redownload cleanly!
4๏ธโฃ Disable VPN & Check Network ๐
VPNs can spoof your location, triggering Access Denied. Turn it off, restart your router, and flush DNS: Open CMD as admin > ipconfig /flushdns. Test on a wired connection if Wi-Fi acts up.
5๏ธโฃ Use Hextech Repair Tool (Nuclear Option ๐ฅ)
For stubborn cases, Riot's official savior:
- Download from Riot Support.
- Run as admin > Select League of Legends > Full Repair.
This scans and fixes corrupted files without full reinstall. Genius! ๐ง
Quick Comparison Table: Best Fixes for League of Legends Access Denied Patching ๐
| Fix Method |
Time Needed |
Success Rate |
Difficulty |
| Run as Admin |
1 min |
90% |
๐ข Easy |
| Antivirus Exception |
2-3 min |
85% |
๐ก Medium |
| Folder Permissions |
3 min |
80% |
๐ก Medium |
| Hextech Repair |
10-20 min |
99% |
๐ข Easy |
Prevent Future LoL Patching Errors โ Pro Tips! ๐
Stay ahead of the curve:
- โญ Always update Riot Client and Windows.
- ๐ค Create a dedicated Windows user for gaming (less UAC drama).
- ๐พ Keep 20GB free space for patches.
- ๐ Schedule auto-patches during off-peak hours.
If nothing works, submit a ticket at Riot Support with your logs from League of Legends\Logs. They'll hook you up! ๐
You're Back in Action โ Time to Climb! ๐ฎ
Congrats, Summoner! Your League of Legends "Access Denied" When Patching nightmare is over. Drop a glhf in chat next game and share this fix if it saved your session. What's your go-to champ post-fix? Comment below and let's queue up. GGWP! ๐
Optimized for the latest Riot Client updates โ game on without interruptions!