Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located at C:\Program Files\Riot Games\Riot Client\Crash Reporter\riot-crash-reporter.exe
Warning
Most users see a single instance
Crash reports spawn when a Riot game crash occurs; multiple instances may appear temporarily during report submission
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can disable crash reporting from Riot Client settings or Windows startup options
What is riot-crash-reporter.exe?
riot-crash-reporter.exe is Riot Games’ lightweight crash reporting utility. It watches Riot titles for crashes, gathers diagnostic logs, memory dumps, and performance metrics, and securely uploads anonymized reports to Riot’s servers to help engineers diagnose failures, reproduce conditions, and improve stability across games.
It runs as a separate process triggered by crash events or manual submissions, records crash data, stack traces, and relevant system state, and transmits results over encrypted channels to Riot’s backend for analysis while minimizing user impact.
Quick Fact: Riot’s crash reporter helps reduce investigation time by automatically correlating crash data across titles and client versions.
Types of Riot Crash Reporter Activity
- Crash Collection: Gathers logs, stack traces, and memory dumps at the moment of a crash
- Data Anonymization: Removes personal identifiers before upload to protect user privacy
- Secure Transmission: Uploads reports over TLS to Riot telemetry endpoints
- Diagnostics Aggregation: Aggregates data for engineers to identify common failure patterns
- User Feedback Loop: Integrates with Riot Client to request user consent for data collection when applicable
- Status Monitoring: Monitors its own health and reports crashes of the reporter itself
Is riot-crash-reporter Safe?
Yes, riot-crash-reporter.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Riot Games downloaded from official sources (riotgames.com or via the Riot Client).
Is riot-crash-reporter.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real riot-crash-reporter.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may mimic names; verify the file path and digital signature.
How to Tell if riot-crash-reporter.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Riot Games\Riot Client\Crash Reporter\riot-crash-reporter.exe or within the Riot Client install folder.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Riot Games, Inc." as the signer.
- Process Path:: In Task Manager, verify the riot-crash-reporter.exe path matches the installation directory.
- Network Behavior:: Normal operation uses encrypted traffic to Riot telemetry servers; anomalous outbound connections to unknown domains is suspicious.
Red Flags: If riot-crash-reporter.exe is located outside the Riot install path, lacks a valid signature, or runs when Riot games are not installed, scan for malware and quarantine suspicious files.
Why Is riot-crash-reporter.exe Running on My PC?
riot-crash-reporter.exe runs to capture and upload crash data for Riot titles, providing engineers with actionable diagnostics while minimizing impact on gameplay during normal use.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Game Crashes: A Riot game crash has occurred and the reporter is collecting a dump and logs for submission.
- Background Diagnostics: The reporter runs in the background to monitor for crash events and to prepare reports for offline submission when connected.
- Opt-in Telemetry: If telemetry is enabled, the reporter aggregates crash statistics and sends anonymized data to Riot.
- Riot Client Integration: Tresents with the Riot Client; may start alongside the client to ensure crash reports are captured immediately.
- Startup/Background Service: Can be configured to launch with Windows or the Riot Client to ensure crash reporting is available after restarts.
Can I Disable or Remove riot-crash-reporter.exe?
Yes, you can disable riot-crash-reporter.exe. It is safe to disable crash reporting if you prefer not to share diagnostics.
How to Stop riot-crash-reporter
- End Reporter Process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → Processes → riot-crash-reporter.exe → End Task
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Riot Crash Reporter
- Change Riot Client Settings: Riot Client → Settings → Diagnostics/Telemetry → Turn off crash reporting
- Uninstall: Windows Settings → Apps → Riot Client → Uninstall (note: this may remove Riot Client and games)
- Firewall Control: Block outbound traffic to Riot telemetry endpoints if you want to prevent report submission
How to Uninstall Riot Crash Reporter
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Riot Client → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Riot Client → Uninstall
- ✔ If you only want to remove the reporter, consider disabling in Riot Client and removing the crash reporter folder under C:\Program Files\Riot Games\Riot Client\Crash Reporter
Common Problems: Crash Reporter Issues and Fixes
If riot-crash-reporter.exe acts up, use these targeted checks to resolve typical crash-reporting related problems.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Reporter uses excessive CPU after a crash: Restart Riot Client and the reporter; ensure you have the latest Riot Client; disable optional crash reporting temporarily to confirm behavior
- Crash reports fail to upload: Check network connectivity, firewall rules, and ensure Riot telemetry endpoints are not blocked; verify that crash reporting is enabled
- Reporter not launching with game: Repair or reinstall Riot Client to restore crash reporter components; verify installation integrity
- Antivirus flags riot-crash-reporter.exe: Whitleist the Riot Client directory in antivirus; ensure the file is from Riot Games and signed
- Missing crash logs: Look for logs in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Riot Games\Crash Reports; ensure write permissions are granted
- Privacy concerns: Review Riot Client settings under Diagnostics to limit data collection; disable crash telemetry if desired
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Riot Client and navigate to Settings → Diagnostics → Disable crash reporting
3. Restart Riot Client to apply changes
4. Update to the latest Riot Client release
5. If issues persist, run a repair via Riot Client
6. Check firewall and antivirus exceptions for Riot Client and crash reporter
Frequently Asked Questions
What is riot-crash-reporter.exe?
It is Riot Games' crash reporting tool that collects crash data from Riot titles, anonymizes it, and uploads it for analysis to improve stability.
Is riot-crash-reporter.exe safe to run on my PC?
Yes, when obtained from official Riot channels and located in the Riot install path. Verify digital signatures and avoid unknown sources.
Does riot-crash-reporter.exe collect personal information?
Reports are designed to be anonymized and exclude most personal data; you can adjust telemetry settings in the Riot Client if privacy is a concern.
How do I disable riot-crash-reporter.exe?
Disable crash reporting in Riot Client settings, disable startup entry in Task Manager, or uninstall Riot Client if you do not use Riot titles.
Where are crash reports stored on disk?
Crash reports are stored under %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Riot Games\Crash Reports; you can review or delete files from that directory.
Can I uninstall riot-crash-reporter.exe separately from Riot Client?
Typically it is installed as part of the Riot Client package; you can disable or uninstall the entire Riot Client if you no longer use Riot titles.