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What is compatibility mode in League of Legends?
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Hamza Rashid
Gamer
08 Jun 2025
Posted On
Despite League of Legends [1] having a team of developers working around the clock to ensure things are running smoothly, some issues inevitably get through the cracks. While most issues are easily fixable, some may require players to use compatibility mode.
Compatibility mode is a feature in operating systems that lets you run older applications more smoothly. Some players may have to use this feature with League of Legends when they face lingering issues and want to reduce crashes while improving the overall stability.
Without further ado, here’s what to know about compatibility mode and how it can be used to improve League of Legends.
What is compatibility mode?
Compatibility mode is a feature in operating systems like Windows and macOS that lets you run older applications more smoothly. When it’s turned on, the system changes a few settings to make the app work like it’s running on an earlier version of the OS, which can fix issues with outdated software.
League of Legends is built to run on modern versions of Windows and gets regular updates to stay compatible. Because of that, it usually doesn’t need compatibility mode. Turning it on can sometimes cause issues, such as turning off newer performance features or affecting how the game handles graphics and memory.
How does compatibility mode help with League of Legends?
League of Legends generally runs without a problem, so you usually won’t need to mess around with compatibility mode. However, it’s worth looking into when you face those frustrating, lingering issues, especially after a significant Windows update. These major updates can sometimes mess with your game’s performance. In those specific cases, many League of Legends players have discovered that turning on compatibility mode can improve stability and reduce annoying crashes.
How to enable compatibility mode on Windows?
You can enable or disable compatibility mode for League of Legends through its Properties dialog in Windows, like this:
To start, track down the LoL executable or your game’s shortcut. That’s usually C:RiotGamesLeague of LegendsGameLeague of Legends.exe, but if you’ve got a shortcut on your desktop, that’s an easy way too.
Next, right-click on that .exe or shortcut and click the ‘Properties’ option
Once inside the Properties window, you’ll want to click the ‘Compatibility’ tab.
Toggling Compatibility mode:
If you need to disable compatibility mode, make sure ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’ is unchecked. It’s also a good idea to turn off ‘Run as administrator’ if it’s selected. In some cases where crashes are a problem, Riot’s support team has suggested clearing every checkbox under this tab.
If you want to enable compatibility mode, check ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’ and select your preferred version of Windows. This prompts Windows to mimic that older operating system when running LoL.
After setting things up, click Apply and OK to save your changes. Then, you’ll want to restart the League client (or your computer) and test how the game runs.
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How does compatibility mode affect LoL?
Potential benefits of using compatibility mode for League of Legends. In those rare situations, using compatibility mode can work surprisingly well as a fix when you’re running into issues. For example, some players on Windows 11 found that setting LoL to run in Windows 7 or 8 compatibility mode significantly cut down on crashes and freezes. Essentially, this trick makes the game think it’s running on an older, supported operating system, which can help bypass certain driver or OS quirks that might be causing instability.
However, it’s important to know that compatibility mode harms League’s performance and stability for many players. Riot’s official troubleshooting guides often list it as a reason for crashes, with some articles even explicitly calling these settings ‘culprits’ that should be cleared. The issue is that running LoL under an emulated older OS can prevent the game from using modern optimizations and create extra processing work. Players often find that their frame rates become unstable or don’t improve at all.
FAQs
What is Windows Compatibility Mode, and should I use it for League of Legends?
Windows Compatibility Mode is a Windows feature that lets you run older programs as if they were running on an earlier version of Windows. Some players try using this mode if League of Legends has trouble launching or crashes. However, Riot Games does not officially recommend running League in Compatibility Mode unless you are specifically troubleshooting. In most cases, running the game normally on a supported version of Windows (Windows 10 or 11) offers better performance and stability.
Can Compatibility Mode fix League of Legends launch issues?
In some rare cases, Compatibility Mode may help if League is not launching due to system conflicts or older hardware drivers. Setting the game to run in Compatibility Mode for Windows 7 or 8 can sometimes resolve startup problems. That said, it's more of a temporary workaround than a permanent fix, and players should also check for outdated graphics drivers, corrupted game files, or administrative permission issues first.
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