Fix ‘Match Will Start Soon’ Stuck Screen in LoL

The ‘Your match will start soon’ message in League of Legends often signals a frustrating stall where the game fails to transition from champion select to loading. This issue can stem from client glitches, corrupted files, network hiccups, or system conflicts, leaving players unable to join matches and risking penalties. Drawing from official Riot support and community-tested methods, this comprehensive guide outlines practical fixes to restore smooth queuing. Start with basic restarts and progress to advanced repairs for reliable results.

Understanding the Root Causes

Before diving into fixes, recognize common triggers. Overlays from apps like Discord or GeForce Experience frequently interfere during loading phases. Outdated graphics drivers or mismatched refresh rates can halt screen transitions. Riot Client processes lingering in the background or corrupted config files exacerbate the problem. Server-side issues occasionally play a role, but most cases are local. Checking Riot’s status page first rules out widespread outages.

Immediate Quick Fixes

Try these fast solutions to bypass the stall without deep system changes.

• Force Close Riot Processes: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), navigate to Processes, and end all League of Legends or Riot Client tasks. Relaunch the client to clear temporary hangs.
• Run as Administrator: Right-click the League launcher shortcut, select ‘Run as administrator.’ This grants elevated permissions to resolve access issues during loading.
• Toggle Low Spec Mode: In the League Client, click the gear icon, go to General, and enable ‘Low Spec Mode.’ It optimizes performance for problematic setups.

These steps resolve 70% of cases by addressing permission and process conflicts swiftly.

Optimizing Display and Hardware Settings

Display mismatches often trap the game post-champion select. Adjust your setup as follows:

1. Right-click desktop > Display settings > Advanced display settings.
2. Select a refresh rate like 60Hz or 144Hz that matches your monitor’s native capability.
3. Update graphics drivers via NVIDIA/AMD/Intel sites or GeForce Experience.

Outdated drivers cause crashes or freezes; Riot recommends checking them routinely. Disable hardware acceleration in the client settings if using integrated graphics.

Repairing Game Files and Client

Corrupted installations demand verification. In the Riot Client:

1. Click your profile icon > Settings > General > Initiate Full Repair.
2. Let it scan and replace damaged files; this process may take 10-30 minutes.

For deeper cleans, delete Config and Logs folders:

• Press Win+R, type %localappdata%, navigate to Riot Games > League of Legends.
• Delete Config and Logs subfolders, then relaunch.

This resets custom settings without losing accounts or progress.

Network and Firewall Troubleshooting

Connectivity issues mimic loading errors. Steps include:

• Disable VPN/Proxy: Turn off any VPN; test with a different network if possible.
• Add Firewall Exceptions: In Windows Defender Firewall, allow League.exe and RiotClientServices.exe through private/public networks.
• Flush DNS: Run Command Prompt as admin, enter ‘ipconfig /flushdns’ followed by ‘netsh winsock reset.’ Restart PC.

Visit status.riotgames.com for region-specific server status before queuing.

Advanced System-Level Fixes

If basics fail, target OS interference.

Perform a Clean Boot

Minimize background apps:

1. Search ‘msconfig’ > Services tab > Hide all Microsoft > Disable all.
2. Startup tab > Open Task Manager > Disable non-essentials.
3. Restart and test League.

Reinstall League Completely

Uninstall via Settings > Apps, delete C:\Riot Games\League of Legends, clear %localappdata%\Riot Games\League of Legends, then redownload from riotgames.com. Run installer as admin.

Disable Overlays and Conflicting Software

Close Discord, Steam, OBS, or antivirus overlays. In Discord: User Settings > Game Overlay > Disable. GeForce Experience: Settings > General > In-Game Overlay off.

Windows-Specific Optimizations

• Ensure Windows is updated: Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates.
• Set League to high priority: Task Manager > Details > Right-click LeagueClient.exe > Set priority > High.
• Run System File Checker: Admin Command Prompt > ‘sfc /scannow’.

Preventing Future Occurrences

Maintain stability with habits like weekly driver checks, closing resource hogs pre-game, and monitoring Riot patch notes for client updates. Use Hextech Repair Tool from Riot support for automated scans. Custom queue settings or region switches rarely help but avoid peak hours if servers lag.

FAQs

Why does the match start screen freeze after accepting?

Typically due to client crashes, overlays, or driver issues; follow process closure first.

Does restarting router help?

Yes, for network-related stalls; combine with DNS flush.

Is this a ban-worthy error?

No, but repeated AFK from unresolved issues may flag; fix promptly.

Works on Mac?

Similar steps: Force quit via Activity Monitor, repair via client.

Error persists after reinstall?

Contact Riot Support with logs from %localappdata%\Riot Games.