How to Install or Move League of Legends to Drive D or E

To install League of Legends on drive D: or E:, choose that drive before the Riot Client begins downloading the game. For an existing installation, a clean uninstall and reinstall is the most reliable way to change drives because Riot does not provide a dependable one-click “Move” command for every client version.

The older Garena installation method is no longer current for League of Legends regions that migrated to Riot accounts. Use Riot’s official client and do not copy instructions that ask you to download Garena.

Before changing the installation drive

• Open File Explorer > This PC and confirm the destination drive has comfortable free space for the current game, patches, and temporary update files.
• Prefer an internal SSD formatted for Windows. An external drive can disconnect, change drive letters, or load slowly.
• Create a simple folder such as D:Riot Games or E:GamesRiot. Avoid unusual symbols and deeply nested paths.
• Remember that moving the game does not move every Riot or Windows component. Riot Client data, logs, and Riot Vanguard may still use the system drive.

If the only problem is a nearly full C: drive, first identify what is using the space. TipsMake’s guide to checking large files with WizTree can help, but do not delete Riot folders manually while the client is running.

Install League of Legends directly on drive D or E

1. Download the installer from the official League of Legends website.
2. Run the installer and sign in with the correct Riot account and region.
3. Before selecting Install, open the installation-location or advanced option shown by the current installer.
4. Choose the folder on the secondary drive, for example D:Riot GamesLeague of Legends.
5. Confirm that the displayed path begins with the intended drive letter, then start the download.
6. Leave the Riot Client open until installation and patching finish.
7. Restart Windows if Riot Vanguard or the client requests it, then launch a Practice Tool match to test the installation.

The Riot Client interface changes periodically. The important check is the path shown before the main download begins; moving the small installer file to D: does not automatically put the game there.

Move an existing League installation: safest method

A clean reinstall avoids stale shortcuts, broken patch manifests, and a client that still points to the old folder.

1. Close League of Legends.
2. Right-click the Riot icon in the Windows notification area and exit the Riot Client. Open Task Manager and confirm no Riot or League process is still using game files.
3. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find League of Legends, and choose Uninstall. If the current Riot Client provides an Uninstall option for the game, that is also appropriate.
4. Download or reopen the official Riot installer.
5. Select a new folder on D: or E: before installing.
6. Wait for the client to download and verify the game.
7. Launch the game and enter Practice Tool before removing any old leftover folder.

For the Windows removal screens, see three ways to uninstall applications in Windows 11. Riot’s official uninstall and reinstall guidance should take priority if its steps change.

Optional method that may avoid a full download

This method can save bandwidth, but it is less reliable because the Riot Client may reject or repatch copied files. Keep the original until the new copy works.

1. Exit every Riot and League process.
2. Copy—do not cut—the existing League of Legends folder to the new drive.
3. Start a new League installation and select the parent folder on the new drive.
4. If the client recognizes existing files, let it scan, repair, and patch them. If it starts a complete download or reports a path error, stop and use the clean reinstall method.
5. Launch a match from the new installation.
6. Open Task Manager, right-click the running League process, and choose Open file location to verify that it is using D: or E:.
7. Only after successful testing should you uninstall or delete the old game copy.

Do not edit Riot configuration files, registry paths, junctions, or symbolic links unless you are prepared to reverse them. Those workarounds can break after a patch and are unnecessary when a clean reinstall is available.

What happens to Riot Vanguard?

League of Legends requires Riot Vanguard on Windows. Vanguard is a system-level component with its own installation and service; selecting D: for the game does not necessarily relocate it. Leave Vanguard installed unless Riot Support specifically asks you to remove it. If it is reinstalled, Windows may require a restart before League will launch.

Troubleshooting

The installer still uses C:

• Cancel before the large download starts and reopen the installer.
• Look for the install-location control on the initial game installation screen, not in the download folder.
• Confirm the destination is writable and has a stable drive letter.
• Run the official installer with an administrator account if Windows permissions block the selected folder.

The Riot Client shows Install instead of Play

The client has not recognized the copied folder. Point a new installation at the correct parent folder if the interface allows it and let the client verify the files. If verification does not begin, use the clean reinstall method.

Patching fails after the move

Check free space on both the destination and system drives, because patching may create temporary files. Remove any read-only attribute or restrictive permissions from the new game folder, then use the client’s repair function. Do not download DLL files or a “fixed client” from an unofficial site.

The game launches from the old drive

Delete old desktop and taskbar shortcuts, then create a new shortcut from the Riot Client. Verify the running process location before deleting the old copy.

After installation

Keep free space available on the destination drive so updates can be unpacked. Moving League to another partition on the same physical disk saves C: space, but it is not a backup and does not protect the game from a disk failure.

If League starts but displays a black screen, use TipsMake’s League black-screen troubleshooting guide. For low frame rates after the move, see how to improve League of Legends FPS; changing drives alone does not fix CPU or GPU limits.