Downloading League of Legends from Riot Games is free and takes just a few minutes once you know the steps. Unlike many games, LoL is not sold on Steam or another third-party launcher — you download and play it exclusively through the Riot Client, Riot Games' official launcher. This guide walks you through every step, from visiting the website to clicking Play for the first time.
What you need before you start
- A Windows 10 / 11 or macOS 10.12+ computer
- At least 16 GB of free storage (the full game is roughly 22 GB)
- A stable internet connection for the download
- A free Riot Games account (you can create one during setup)
How to download League of Legends from Riot
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Step 1: Visit the official Riot Games website
Open your browser and go to riotgames.com. This is the only official source for League of Legends — always download from Riot directly to avoid unofficial or modified clients. On the homepage you can navigate to League of Legends, or go straight to the games section to find a Download button.
Head to riotgames.com — the only official source for the League of Legends download. -
Step 2: Click "Download" to get the Riot Client installer
Find and click the Download button on the League of Legends page (or on the main download page). You will be asked to choose your operating system: select Windows for a PC or macOS for a Mac. The site then downloads a small installer file — typically named RiotClientInstaller.exe (Windows) or LeagueofLegends.dmg (Mac) — which is only a few megabytes. Your browser may ask you to confirm the download; accept it.
Select your operating system to download the correct Riot Client installer. -
Step 3: Run the Riot Client installer
Find the downloaded file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. On Windows, a User Account Control (UAC) prompt may appear asking for permission — click Yes to allow the installation. On Mac, open the DMG and drag the Riot Client to your Applications folder, then launch it. The installer downloads and sets up the Riot Client automatically; the progress bar fills up within a minute or two depending on your connection speed.
Double-click the installer and accept the UAC prompt — the Riot Client sets itself up automatically. -
Step 4: Sign in or create a free Riot account
Once the Riot Client opens, you'll see a login screen. If you already have a Riot account, enter your username and password. If you're new, click "Don't have an account? Create one FREE" to register — you'll need a valid email address and to choose a username. Account creation is completely free and takes about two minutes. After signing in, the client displays all available Riot games.
Sign in with an existing account or register a free Riot account to continue. -
Step 5: Install League of Legends from the Riot Client
Inside the Riot Client, click League of Legends in the left sidebar. The main panel shows the game along with its estimated download size (approximately 22 GB). Click the INSTALL button to begin downloading and installing the game. You can choose a custom install location if you want to save it to a specific drive; otherwise the default is fine. The Riot Client manages the entire download in the background.
Click INSTALL next to League of Legends — the Riot Client handles the full download automatically. -
Step 6: Wait for the download to finish, then click Play
The Riot Client shows a progress bar tracking the download and installation. League of Legends is roughly 22 GB, so the wait depends on your internet speed — anywhere from 10 minutes on a fast connection to an hour or more on slower ones. You don't need to babysit it; the client downloads everything in the background. Once the bar reaches 100%, the PLAY button becomes active — click it to launch League of Legends and jump into your first game.
Watch the progress bar fill up — once it reaches 100%, hit PLAY and the game launches.
Tips for a smooth installation
- Close other downloads. Pausing any active torrents or large downloads frees up bandwidth and lets LoL install faster.
- Use a wired connection if possible. Ethernet is more stable than Wi-Fi for a 22 GB download and reduces the chance of a corrupted patch.
- Don't close the Riot Client mid-download. The progress saves automatically, but always let a patch finish cleanly before quitting.
- Check your firewall. If the installer stalls, make sure your antivirus or Windows Firewall is not blocking the Riot Client from accessing the internet.
- The Riot Client stays in your system tray. After installation it auto-starts with Windows. You can disable this in the client's Settings if preferred.
Troubleshooting common installation problems
The installer won't open or crashes immediately
Right-click the installer file and choose Run as administrator. This gives the installer the elevated permissions it needs. Also temporarily disable real-time antivirus scanning, as some tools mistakenly flag the installer.
The download is stuck or the progress bar is frozen
Try pausing and resuming the download inside the Riot Client settings. If that doesn't help, restart the Riot Client entirely — it will pick up where it left off rather than starting over.
The client says "installation failed" after finishing
Delete the partially downloaded files from the default install folder (usually C:\Riot Games\League of Legends), then uninstall and re-download the Riot Client installer from the official site. On Mac, drag the app to Trash first.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends free to download?
Yes. League of Legends is completely free to download and play. The in-game shop sells cosmetic items like champion skins and emotes, but none of them affect gameplay. You never need to spend money to enjoy the full game.
Can I download League of Legends on Steam?
No. League of Legends is only available through the official Riot Client downloaded from riotgames.com. It is not on Steam, Epic Games Store, or any other third-party launcher.
How much storage does League of Legends need?
The game requires approximately 22 GB of free disk space for a full installation, plus some additional space for future patches. Make sure you have at least 25 GB free before you start.
Can I play League of Legends on Mac?
Yes. Riot Games officially supports macOS. Download the Mac installer from the Riot Games website, and the process is the same as on PC — install the Riot Client, sign in, and install the game.
How long does it take to download League of Legends?
It depends on your internet speed. On a 100 Mbps connection, the 22 GB download typically takes around 30 minutes. On a slower 10 Mbps connection, expect closer to 5 hours. The Riot Client downloads in the background so you can use your computer while you wait.
Ready to play
That's everything you need to download League of Legends from Riot. The process comes down to six simple steps: visit riotgames.com, download the Riot Client installer, run it, sign in or create an account, install League of Legends, and hit Play once it's done. Within an hour (sooner on a fast connection) you'll be queuing for your first match on the Rift.
