The Hextech Repair Tool is Riot Games' official utility for diagnosing and repairing League of Legends when it refuses to launch, crashes mid-game, shows a black screen, or gets stuck on a patch. It is free, lightweight, and covers most common client problems in a single click — no manual file-digging required.
This guide walks you through downloading the tool, running a repair, and using the optional Network Diagnostics screen if connection problems are the culprit. The whole process usually takes five to fifteen minutes depending on how many files need to be re-downloaded.
What you need before you start
- A Windows 10/11 or macOS 10.15+ computer
- An internet connection (the tool re-downloads missing files)
- Your League of Legends client already installed (or at least partially installed)
- Administrator access — the installer and repair process both require it
How to fix League of Legends with the Hextech Repair Tool
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Step 1: Download the Hextech Repair Tool
Open your browser and go to the official Riot Games Support page for the Hextech Repair Tool. Click the Windows (.exe) link if you are on Windows, or macOS (.dmg) if you are on a Mac. Save the file somewhere easy to find, such as your Downloads folder. Do not download the tool from any third-party site — only the Riot Support page is safe.
Always grab the tool from the official Riot Support page — two builds are available, for Windows and macOS. -
Step 2: Install and launch the tool
On Windows, double-click the .exe file and click through the short Setup Wizard, accepting any administrator permission prompts. On macOS, open the .dmg, drag the app to your Applications folder, then right-click and choose Open the first time you run it (to clear Gatekeeper). After installation, a shortcut appears on your desktop — double-click it to open the Hextech Repair Tool.
Run the installer and double-click the desktop shortcut to open the tool. -
Step 3: Select League of Legends, then click Repair Client
The left sidebar lists every Riot title installed on your machine. Click League of Legends to select it. In the main area you will see three action buttons: Repair Client, Clear Cache, and Full Repair. For most problems — crashes, black screens, stuck patches — start with Repair Client, which scans and re-downloads only the damaged files instead of reinstalling everything from scratch.
Choose League of Legends in the sidebar, then click Repair Client to begin the scan. -
Step 4: Wait for the repair to complete
The tool will automatically stop any running League processes, scan every game file, and re-download anything that is missing or corrupted. A progress ring shows the current percentage and a checklist updates as each phase finishes. Do not close the window during this time. The repair can take anywhere from two minutes on a fast connection to thirty minutes or more if many large files need replacing. When the ring reaches 100% and shows "Complete", you are done.
The tool works through each phase automatically — just leave it running until it finishes. -
Step 5: Run Network Diagnostics if you have connection errors
If League crashes with error codes related to the server connection, or if you suffer frequent disconnects during matches, click Network Diagnostics in the sidebar instead of — or in addition to — the file repair. The tool pings Riot's CDN and game servers, checks DNS resolution, measures packet loss, and flags any firewall or proxy that might be blocking traffic. Rows that return a warning are the ones to focus on: temporarily disable the flagged proxy or VPN, then re-run the test to confirm the connection is clean.
Network Diagnostics shows you exactly which connection check failed and gives you a tip on how to fix it. -
Step 6: Relaunch League of Legends
Once the repair is done, the tool shows a Repair Complete screen with a summary of how many files were fixed and whether the cache was cleared. Click Launch League of Legends — or close the Repair Tool and start the client yourself — and log in. The client should now patch normally and let you into a game. If the same error still appears after one repair cycle, try a Full Repair from the main screen, which resets the entire installation.
Click Launch League of Legends once the repair finishes to verify everything is working.
Tips for a successful repair
- Close all Riot software first. Before running the tool, manually quit the League client and any Vanguard or Riot Client processes in Task Manager. The Repair Tool tries to do this for you, but doing it beforehand prevents access conflicts.
- Run as Administrator. Right-click the Hextech Repair Tool shortcut and choose "Run as administrator" if you see any permission errors during the repair.
- Disable your antivirus temporarily. Overprotective antivirus software occasionally quarantines League files mid-repair. Pause real-time protection for the duration of the scan, then re-enable it once you've relaunched the game.
- Clear Cache before a Full Repair. If Repair Client fails, try Clear Cache first — it removes corrupted temporary files without downloading anything and is much faster. Only escalate to Full Repair if the lighter options don't help.
- Check the Logs Folder. If something goes wrong with the repair itself, the Logs Folder option in the sidebar opens the directory where the tool saves its output — useful if you need to share details with Riot Support.
Troubleshooting
The Hextech Repair Tool itself won't open
Try right-clicking and selecting "Run as administrator". On Windows, also check that your .NET runtime is up to date via Windows Update. On macOS, if the app is blocked, open System Preferences › Security and click "Open Anyway".
The repair finishes but League still crashes
Run a Full Repair from the main screen to reset the entire client. If crashes persist after a full repair, the issue may be hardware-related (outdated GPU drivers, overheating) or a Windows system file problem — run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt.
The repair is stuck at the same percentage for a long time
This usually means a very large file is downloading slowly. Give it at least 20 minutes before concluding it is frozen. If it genuinely appears stuck, cancel, restart the tool, and begin another Repair Client cycle.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Hextech Repair Tool actually do?
It stops running League processes, scans every game file against a known-good checksum, re-downloads any file that is missing or fails the check, and then optionally tests your network connectivity to Riot's servers. It can also clear cached data and flush local settings that may be causing problems.
Will using the Hextech Repair Tool delete my settings or account data?
A standard Repair Client does not touch your in-game settings. A Full Repair may reset some local config files, but your account, rank, champions, and cosmetics all live on Riot's servers and are never affected.
How long does the Hextech Repair Tool take?
A Repair Client scan that finds only a few bad files can complete in two to five minutes. If many files need re-downloading — or if your internet is slow — it can take up to thirty minutes. A Full Repair typically takes longer since it replaces more data.
Does the tool work for Teamfight Tactics and Valorant too?
Yes. The Hextech Repair Tool supports all major Riot titles. Simply select a different game in the left sidebar and the same repair and diagnostics options apply.
Is the Hextech Repair Tool free?
Completely free. It is an official Riot Games utility with no cost, no sign-in required, and no in-app purchases.
Wrapping up
The Hextech Repair Tool is the fastest way to fix most League of Legends client problems without reinstalling the entire game from scratch. Download it from the official Riot Support page, run a Repair Client scan, and in most cases you will be back in the rift within minutes. For connection-related errors, the Network Diagnostics tab is an equally quick way to pinpoint whether a firewall, proxy, or DNS issue is to blame.
