How to Fix LoL Ethernet Not Working in 2026
When LoL ethernet is not working, the cause is usually on your PC, not the cable: an outdated network driver, a broken DNS cache, a damaged Windows network stack, an adapter power-saving setting, or a firewall that blocks League. Check Riot’s server status, then flush DNS, reset Winsock, update the driver and allow League through the firewall. Most wired problems end there.
Why is LoL ethernet not working when the internet works?
Because League uses your connection differently from a browser. Web pages load over standard web ports and forgive a lot; League keeps a constant stream of small UDP packets going to Riot’s game servers, and the Riot Client talks to its own services on specific ports. If anything on the way drops or blocks that traffic, websites still open while League hangs on login, disconnects in champ select or shows “Attempting to reconnect”.
The usual suspects, roughly from most to least common:
- An outdated or buggy network adapter driver, often after a Windows update.
- A stale DNS cache or a DNS server that struggles with Riot’s addresses.
- A damaged Windows network stack (Winsock), which breaks some apps but not others.
- Power-saving settings that let Windows or the adapter cut the link when idle.
- A firewall or security suite that allows the browser but not the Riot Client.
- A router that blocks the game ports, or a bad cable or port.
LoL ethernet not working: what should you check first?
Riot’s servers and the cable. Both take a minute and rule out the cases where nothing on your PC needs changing.
Open Riot’s service status page or our LoL server status checker and look at your region. If there’s maintenance or an incident, wait it out. Then look at the cable: are the lights on the network port blinking? Try another port on the router and, if you have one, another cable. Funny enough, a cable that’s been stepped on for years can still pass web traffic and fail under a game’s steady load. Swap it for a spare Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable before you touch any setting; a new one costs a few dollars.
One more quick check: turn off Wi-Fi while you’re on ethernet. A PC connected both ways can send League traffic over the weaker link without telling you.
Is it your PC or your network?
Find out before changing settings. It takes five minutes and tells you which half of this guide to use.
Plug a different device into the same cable and router port, or connect your PC to a phone hotspot for one game. If League works on the hotspot but not on your home ethernet, the router, cable or provider is the problem, and the PC fixes won’t help much. If League fails on the hotspot too, the problem lives on your PC: driver, firewall, Winsock or a background tool. In practice, this one test saves people from reinstalling Windows for a problem that was sitting in the router all along.
What about other games? If a second online game also drops on ethernet, think network or adapter. Only League? Firewall, DNS or Riot’s services.
How do you fix LoL ethernet not working on Windows?
Work through these in order and test League after each one, because stacking five changes at once means you never learn which one actually fixed it, and that knowledge is useful the next time Windows updates.
Fix 1: Flush DNS and reset the network stack
Open Command Prompt as administrator (search “cmd”, right-click, Run as administrator) and run these commands one by one:
- ipconfig /flushdns
- ipconfig /release
- ipconfig /renew
- netsh winsock reset
- netsh int ip reset
Restart the PC afterwards. To be fair, it looks scary, but these commands are safe. The first three clear old address and DNS data; the last two reset Windows networking to defaults, which fixes a surprising number of “only League is broken” cases.
Fix 2: Update or reinstall the network driver
Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters and find your ethernet adapter (often Realtek, Intel or Killer). Right-click, choose Update driver, or better, download the current driver from the motherboard or laptop maker’s site and install it. If the problem started after an update, Roll Back Driver in the adapter’s properties is worth a try too.
Fix 3: Try a public DNS server
Your provider’s DNS is sometimes slow or flaky. In the adapter’s IPv4 settings, set the DNS servers manually, for example 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google). This doesn’t change your ping to the game server, but it can fix a client that fails to find Riot’s services at all.
Fix 4: Turn off adapter power saving
In Device Manager, open the ethernet adapter’s Properties. On the Power Management tab, untick “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”. On the Advanced tab, if your adapter lists Energy-Efficient Ethernet or Green Ethernet, set it to Disabled. These settings save a little power and, on some adapters, cause short link drops that League notices and a browser doesn’t.
Fix 5: Allow League through the firewall
In Windows Security, open Firewall and network protection, then Allow an app through firewall. Make sure the Riot Client and League of Legends are allowed on private and public networks. If you use a third-party security suite, add the C:\Riot Games folder to its exceptions; some suites have their own firewall that overrides Windows’.
Fix 6: Open Riot’s ports on the router
If everything on the PC is fine, the router may be blocking game traffic. Riot’s port forwarding page (updated June 30, 2026) lists these:
| Service | Ports |
|---|---|
| Game client | 5000-5500 UDP, 7000-8000 UDP |
| Riot Client | 2099 TCP, 5222 TCP, 5223 TCP |
| HTTP and HTTPS | 80 TCP, 443 TCP |
| Spectator mode | 8088 UDP and TCP |
| Game voice | 1024-1074 (50 consecutive ports) |
Every router’s menu is different, and no two brands agree on where anything goes, so check your router maker’s instructions. Restart the router after saving. Honestly, most home routers don’t need this, but it’s the fix when nothing on the PC helps.
Fix 7: Switch off VPNs, proxies and “game boosters”
Anything that reroutes your traffic can break League’s connection while leaving browsing intact. Turn off VPNs, proxy settings and network-tweaking apps, restart, and test without them.
Is LoL ethernet not working, or is it lag?
They feel similar, sure, but they need different fixes. “Not working” means League can’t connect at all, so you’re stuck at login, in reconnect loops or getting thrown out of games entirely. Lag means it connects but plays badly: high ping, spikes, rubber-banding.
For lag, measure first. Our LoL ping test checks your route to each Riot region from the browser, so you can see whether your ping is high all the time or only during games. Steady high ping usually means distance or your provider’s routing; spikes usually point to something on your network, like a download, a cloud backup or another device streaming.
Do USB ethernet adapters cause problems in League?
They can. Laptops without a built-in port often use a USB or USB-C adapter, and those depend on their own drivers and on USB power management. If League drops while the adapter is in use, install the adapter maker’s driver rather than the generic one, plug it straight into the laptop instead of a hub, and turn off USB selective suspend in Windows power options. Cheap adapters vary a lot; if one keeps failing, a different model is often the real fix (we’ve seen this more than once).
LoL ethernet still not working? When to contact Riot Support
When League still can’t connect on ethernet after the fixes above, while other games and apps work. At that point Riot’s support team can look at logs from your client. Mention your region, what happens (login, champ select, in game), and the steps you’ve already tried. If the client doesn’t launch at all rather than failing to connect, our guide to League not opening is the better starting point.
Long story short: when LoL ethernet is not working, go from the outside in. Riot’s servers, the cable, the PC’s network settings, the firewall, then the router. Usually it’s in the first three.
FAQ
Why is LoL ethernet not working when Wi-Fi works?
Usually because of the ethernet adapter itself: an outdated driver, power-saving settings or a firewall rule that only covers the Wi-Fi connection. Update the ethernet driver and check its power and firewall settings.
What ports does League of Legends use?
Per Riot: 5000-5500 and 7000-8000 UDP for the game client, 2099, 5222 and 5223 TCP for the Riot Client, 80 and 443 TCP, 8088 UDP and TCP for spectating, and 1024-1074 for voice.
Does flushing DNS help League connection problems?
It can. Running ipconfig /flushdns clears old DNS data, and resetting Winsock with netsh winsock reset fixes many cases where only League fails to connect.
Can a bad ethernet cable cause League disconnects?
Yes. A damaged cable or port can still load websites but drop under the steady traffic of a game. Try another cable and another router port.
Should I use a public DNS for League?
It can fix a client that fails to reach Riot’s services. Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) and Google (8.8.8.8) are common choices. It does not lower ping to the game server.
Why does League say attempting to reconnect on ethernet?
The game lost contact with the server. Check Riot’s status page, then flush DNS, reset Winsock, update the adapter driver and turn off adapter power saving.
