League of Legends RADS Error Code: How to Fix It

Easy 15-45 minutes Medium Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
RADS
Brand
Popular Games
Product Type
game
Severity
Medium
DIY Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Fix Time
15-45 minutes
The RADS error in League of Legends means the game's legacy patcher (Riot Application Deployment System) has failed to launch or update the client correctly. This usually happens due to corrupted game files, permission issues, antivirus interference, or leftover processes blocking the patcher. The good news is that this error is almost always fixable with a few straightforward software steps — no hardware work required.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code RADS

  1. Restart the League of Legends Client

  2. Run the Launcher as Administrator

    Only run software as administrator if you trust the source. League of Legends from the official Riot Games website is safe to run this way.

  3. Temporarily Disable Antivirus or Firewall

    Re-enable your antivirus and firewall immediately after testing. Do not browse the internet or run other programs while your security software is disabled.

  4. Delete the RADS Folder and Re-patch

    Only delete the RADS folder — deleting other folders may require a full reinstall. Back up any custom configuration files you may have saved before proceeding.

  5. Check and Free Up Disk Space

  6. Flush DNS and Reset Network Settings

    Resetting Winsock may temporarily affect other network applications. A system restart after this step is required for changes to take effect.

  7. Reinstall League of Legends

    A reinstall will remove all locally stored settings and custom configurations. Your account data, rank, and purchased content are stored on Riot's servers and will not be lost.
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When to Call a Professional

If you have completed all steps including a full reinstall and the RADS error still appears, the issue may be caused by a corrupted Windows system file, a deep network configuration problem, or a conflict with enterprise-level security software. In these cases, contact Riot Games Player Support directly at support.riotgames.com and submit a ticket with your system specs and the exact error message. If you are on a work or school network, your IT administrator may need to whitelist Riot Games servers or adjust firewall rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the RADS error mean in League of Legends?
RADS stands for Riot Application Deployment System, which is the legacy patching system used to update League of Legends. When you see a RADS error, it means the patcher failed to initialize, download updates, or write files correctly. This is usually caused by corrupted files, antivirus blocking, permission issues, or lack of disk space.
Will I lose my account or purchased content if I delete the RADS folder?
No. Your League of Legends account, rank, champions, skins, and all purchased content are stored on Riot Games' servers, not on your local computer. Deleting the RADS folder or even fully reinstalling the game will not affect your account in any way.
Why does the RADS error keep coming back after I fix it?
If the RADS error returns repeatedly, the most likely culprits are antivirus software that keeps re-blocking patcher files, a drive with failing sectors causing recurring file corruption, or a network issue that prevents proper patching. Add the League of Legends folder to your antivirus whitelist and run a disk health check using Windows' built-in CHKDSK tool to rule out drive problems.
Does the RADS error mean my game is hacked or infected with malware?
Not necessarily. The RADS error is a common technical glitch related to the patcher and is usually caused by software conflicts or file corruption, not malware. However, if your antivirus flags specific League of Legends files as threats, run a full system scan to be safe, and make sure you downloaded League of Legends only from the official Riot Games website.
Is the RADS patcher still used in modern League of Legends?
The RADS system is considered a legacy patcher and has been largely replaced by the newer Riot Client system. If you are seeing RADS-related errors on a current installation, it may indicate your client did not migrate properly. A full reinstall using the latest installer from the official Riot Games website should replace the old RADS system with the current client infrastructure.

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