Downloading League of Legends on a MacBook takes under ten minutes and the process is straightforward: grab the Riot Client installer from the official site, run it, sign in, and let the game download through the client. This guide walks you through every step so you can start playing LoL on macOS right away.
Before you start: what you need
- A MacBook running macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later (macOS Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia all work)
- At least 22 GB of free storage for the full game installation
- 4 GB of RAM minimum (8 GB recommended for smooth gameplay)
- A stable broadband internet connection
- A free Riot Games account (you can create one during setup)
Apple Silicon MacBooks (M1, M2, M3, M4) are fully supported via the native macOS client, so no Rosetta workaround is needed.
How to download League of Legends on a MacBook
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Step 1: Check your system requirements
Before downloading, confirm your Mac meets the minimum specs. Open the Apple menu and click About This Mac to see your macOS version, processor, and RAM. League of Legends requires macOS 10.13 or newer, at least 4 GB of RAM, and roughly 22 GB of free disk space. Most MacBooks released in the last several years easily exceed these requirements.
Verify that your MacBook meets the macOS version, RAM, and storage requirements before downloading. -
Step 2: Visit the official League of Legends website
Open Safari or your preferred browser and go to leagueoflegends.com. Click the Play for Free button in the main hero banner. This takes you to the download page where you can select your operating system. Only download LoL from the official Riot Games site — avoid third-party sources.
Click "Play for Free" on the official leagueoflegends.com homepage to reach the download page. -
Step 3: Download the Riot Client installer for macOS
On the download page, make sure macOS is selected as your platform, then click Download for macOS. This downloads a file called RiotClientInstaller.dmg — it is a small file around 90 MB. Your browser will save it to your Downloads folder. The actual game files (about 22 GB) download later through the Riot Client itself.
Select macOS and click the download button — the installer DMG is only around 90 MB. -
Step 4: Open the DMG and run the installer
Go to your Downloads folder and double-click RiotClientInstaller.dmg to mount it. A Finder window opens showing the Riot Client Installer icon. Double-click the installer icon to start setup. macOS may ask you to confirm opening an app from the internet — click Open to proceed. The installer then copies the Riot Client to your Applications folder automatically.
Double-click the installer icon inside the DMG to launch setup — no drag-and-drop required. -
Step 5: Sign in or create a Riot account
Once the Riot Client opens, you will see a sign-in screen. If you already have a Riot account, enter your username and password and click Sign In. If you are new to Riot Games, click Create Account — registration is free and takes about two minutes. You will need a valid email address to verify the account.
Sign in with an existing Riot account or create a free one — you need an account to play. -
Step 6: Download League of Legends and launch
After signing in, the Riot Client shows a library of Riot games. Click League of Legends in the left sidebar. The client will automatically begin downloading and patching the game — this is the large 22 GB download, so it may take anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours depending on your internet speed. Once the download bar reaches 100%, the Play button becomes active. Click it to launch League of Legends and start your first match.
The Riot Client handles the full LoL download — click Play once the progress bar reaches 100%.
Tips for a smooth installation
- Keep your Mac plugged in. The initial download is large. Running it on battery risks the download being interrupted if your Mac sleeps.
- Allow through Security & Privacy. If macOS blocks the installer, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway next to the Riot Client entry.
- Close other apps during download. Giving the Riot Client maximum bandwidth speeds up the installation significantly.
- Region selection. When creating your account, choose the region closest to you (NA, EUW, EUNE, etc.) for the best in-game latency.
- M-chip Macs run LoL natively. You do not need to enable Rosetta — the macOS Riot Client runs natively on Apple Silicon.
Troubleshooting common issues
macOS says the installer cannot be opened
Right-click (or Control-click) the DMG file and choose Open instead of double-clicking. Alternatively, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. This overrides the Gatekeeper check for apps downloaded from the internet.
The download is very slow or keeps stopping
Try pausing and resuming the download in the Riot Client. If the problem persists, check if a firewall or VPN is throttling the connection. The Riot Client uses specific ports — temporarily disabling a VPN often resolves slow download speeds.
The Riot Client crashes on launch
Make sure your macOS is up to date. Also try uninstalling and reinstalling the Riot Client. On Apple Silicon Macs, ensure you are running the latest version of the client, as older versions had compatibility issues.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends free to download on Mac?
Yes. League of Legends is completely free to download and play. The Riot Client installer, the game itself, and all champions available through in-game progression cost nothing. Cosmetic items like skins can be purchased optionally.
How much storage does League of Legends need on Mac?
The full installation requires approximately 22 GB of free disk space. Make sure you have at least this much available before starting the download, plus a few extra gigabytes for future patches.
Does League of Legends work on Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4)?
Yes. Riot Games released a native macOS client that runs on Apple Silicon without Rosetta. Performance on M-series chips is generally excellent, often better than on many Intel configurations.
Can I transfer my PC account to Mac?
Your Riot account works across all platforms. Just sign in to the Riot Client on your MacBook with the same credentials, select your region, and all your champions, skins, and ranked history will be there.
What macOS version do I need for League of Legends?
League of Legends requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later. Running a more recent version of macOS such as Ventura or Sonoma is recommended for the best compatibility and performance.
You are ready to play
Getting League of Legends running on a MacBook is a quick process: check your specs, download the official Riot Client installer, run it, sign in, and let the client handle the rest. Once the 22 GB game download finishes, click Play and you are in the Rift. If you run into any issues during installation, the troubleshooting tips above cover the most common macOS hiccups.
