How to Fix Unknown Player Error in League of Legends
League of Legends players occasionally encounter the Unknown Player error, which occurs when the client fails to load their profile properly. This error makes your summoner name, friends list, and other profile data completely inaccessible, often leaving you with a blank client screen that prevents normal gameplay.
The Unknown Player error typically appears during client startup. In this article, we'll explore what exactly causes this error and walk through the most effective solutions to fix it and get back to playing League of Legends normally.
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Unknown Player Error Explained
The Unknown Player error occurs when your League of Legends client loses connection with Riot's servers and cannot load your profile data. This connection failure prevents the client from displaying your summoner name, friends list, and other account information, often resulting in a blank screen.
Network instability is the most common cause. Your internet connection might seem fine for other activities, but specific communication with Riot's authentication servers can still fail due to high latency or intermittent connectivity issues.
The error presents differently depending on the underlying cause. Some players see a completely blank client while others experience partial loading with missing features. This variation explains why different solutions work for different cases of the same error.
1. Restart Riot Games Client
The Unknown Player error frequently appears when switching accounts between different regions, such as moving from Europe Nordic & East to Europe West or any other regional server. This account transition can confuse the client's authentication system, leading to this error.
A complete restart of the Riot Games client resolves this issue in most cases. Close both League of Legends and the Riot Client entirely, then check your Task Manager to ensure no related processes are still running in the background. Look for any entries related to Riot Games or League of Legends and end these tasks if they appear.
After confirming complete closure, relaunch the Riot Client normally. The fresh startup allows the client to establish a clean connection with the appropriate regional servers. This process typically takes 30-60 seconds and should restore full access to your profile data.
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2. Change the DNS Settings
DNS configuration problems can prevent your client from connecting properly to Riot's servers. Switching to more reliable DNS servers often resolves these connection issues immediately:
Open Control Panel and navigate to Network and Internet.
Click on Network and Sharing Center.
Select "Change adapter settings" from the left sidebar.
Right-click your active network connection and choose "Properties."
Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click "Properties."
Choose "Use the following DNS server addresses."
Enter 8.8.8.8 as the preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as the alternate (or use 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare).
Click OK to save the changes.
If changing DNS servers doesn't resolve the problem, flush your current DNS cache completely. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run this command:
ipconfig /flushdns
Restart League of Legends after completing either DNS change method. The client will establish new connections using the updated DNS configuration, which typically resolves authentication problems that cause the Unknown Player error.
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3. Repair League of Legends
Corrupted or missing game files can trigger the Unknown Player error. The built-in repair function scans your installation and replaces any damaged files that might interfere with proper client operation.
Launch the Riot Client and sign in to your account.
Click on your profile in the top right corner.
Select "League of Legends" from the left panel.
Click "Repair."
The client will automatically scan your game files and download any missing or corrupted data. This process can take several minutes, depending on your internet connection and the extent of file damage. The repair function targets authentication files, client assets, and core game components that affect profile loading.
4. Account Penalties
Account penalties can cause the Unknown Player error without clear notification. Permanent bans or temporary suspensions sometimes appear as authentication failures instead of explicit penalty messages.
Contact Riot Games support to verify your account status. Submit a ticket through their official support website and ask about any active penalties or restrictions. Support agents can confirm whether the error stems from disciplinary action or technical problems.
Final Words
The Unknown Player error usually resolves through one of these four methods. Start with restarting the Riot Client, as this fixes most cases related to region switching or temporary connection issues. DNS problems require either switching to Google or Cloudflare servers or flushing your current DNS cache.
File corruption needs the built-in repair function to replace damaged game data. Account penalties require contacting Riot support to verify your status, since technical fixes won't work for restricted accounts. Work through these solutions in order until the error disappears. Most players find success with the first two methods, while repair and support contact handle more complex cases.
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