For many League of Legends players, few things are more frustrating than seeing the dreaded BugSplat error. Mid-match or even before loading in, the client suddenly crashes, leaving nothing but a BugSplat report window behind. While Riot Games has long worked to improve client stability, BugSplat remains a recurring issue—and it usually points to conflicts between software, hardware, and the game itself.
Common Causes of Bug Splat Errors
BugSplat occurs when the game encounters an unrecoverable error it can’t recover from.
Several common culprits stand out:
- Conflicts with Antivirus or Security Software
Patch 25.15 introduced new crashes for players whose antivirus mistakenly flagged League’s processes. In many cases, adding exceptions in antivirus settings or temporarily disabling third-party tools fixes the issue. - Corrupted or Missing Files
Failed updates, interrupted downloads, or broken registry entries often lead to BugSplat crashes. Riot’s repair tool within the client or a full reinstall usually resolves these corrupted file problems. - Outdated Graphics Drivers
One of the most frequent triggers is running League on outdated GPU drivers. Updating NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel drivers—and even Windows itself—can drastically improve stability. - Overlays and Background Programs
Popular apps like Discord overlays, MSI Afterburner, or firewall utilities sometimes conflict with League’s processes. Disabling overlays and shutting down unnecessary background software before launching the game often prevents crashes.
Preventing and Fixing Bug Splat
Players can troubleshoot BugSplat errors systematically:
- Update everything: Windows, GPU drivers, and the Riot client.
- Whitelist League in antivirus and firewall settings to avoid false flags.
- Disable overlays and background apps before playing.
- Run as Administrator: League often performs more smoothly with elevated permissions.
- Clear Riot’s config and logs folders in the installation directory to remove outdated settings.
- Clean reinstall both League and Riot Vanguard if issues persist.
For stubborn cases, Riot recommends submitting crash logs to support for further diagnosis—especially when hardware conflicts or deeper software issues are involved.
A Persistent Challenge
Despite improvements to the client, BugSplat remains a flashpoint in the community. Reddit threads, Discord channels, and YouTube guides regularly circulate with new fixes after patches. For many, the error is a reminder that even the world’s most popular MOBA is still bound by the complexity of PC hardware and software interactions.
For now, the best approach is a mix of vigilance and troubleshooting—keeping systems updated, monitoring patch notes, and knowing how to respond when BugSplat inevitably strikes. Because in League of Legends, nothing is worse than losing a ranked game you never even got to play.
Written by:
Christian