Downloading League of Legends on PC is free and takes only a few minutes once you know the right steps. You visit the official site, grab the small Riot Client installer, run it, and the launcher handles everything else — no separate store or subscription required. This guide walks you through the whole process on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Before you start
Make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a 2 GHz dual-core processor, 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended), and at least 16 GB of free disk space for the full game install. A broadband internet connection is required both to download and to play. If your machine is a few years old it will almost certainly run the game fine — League of Legends is deliberately light on system resources.
How to download League of Legends on PC
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Step 1: Visit the Official League of Legends Website
Open any browser and go to leagueoflegends.com. You will see a prominent Play for Free or Download button on the homepage. Always use the official site rather than a third-party mirror to avoid unofficial or modified files.
The official League of Legends homepage — click Play for Free or Download to continue. -
Step 2: Create or Sign In to a Riot Games Account
League of Legends requires a free Riot Games account. If you already have one (for Valorant, TFT, or any other Riot game), you can sign in with the same credentials. If you're new, click Create Account, fill in a username, a valid email address, a password, and your date of birth, then confirm your email. The whole sign-up takes under two minutes.
One Riot account gives you access to all Riot games including League, TFT, and Valorant. -
Step 3: Download the Riot Client Installer
After signing in, click the Download button on the League of Legends page. Your browser will download a small file called RiotClientInstaller.exe (roughly 70–80 MB). This is not the full game — it is the Riot Client launcher, which will then download and keep all your Riot games up to date. When prompted, click Run or Save and open the file from your Downloads folder.
The browser downloads a small RiotClientInstaller.exe — this is the launcher, not the full game. -
Step 4: Run the Installer and Wait for It to Finish
Double-click RiotClientInstaller.exe in your Downloads folder. If Windows asks for permission, click Yes to allow it. The setup window will appear and begin installing the Riot Client in a matter of seconds. A progress bar will fill and the launcher will open automatically once it is done — you do not need to click anything extra during this stage.
The Riot Client installer is fast — it finishes in under a minute and opens automatically. -
Step 5: Launch the Riot Client and Install League of Legends
Once the Riot Client opens, sign in with your Riot Games account. In the left sidebar you will see icons for each Riot game. Click League of Legends, then click the large Install button. The client will download the full game — around 22 GB — directly to your PC. Once the download and patching are complete, the button changes to Play and you are ready to jump in.
Select League of Legends in the Riot Client sidebar and wait for the full game download to finish.
Tips for a faster and smoother install
- Use a wired connection. Ethernet is significantly faster and more stable than Wi-Fi when downloading the full game client, which is around 22 GB.
- Pause or close background downloads. Other apps or game clients downloading at the same time can slow your League install considerably.
- Choose your install folder carefully. The Riot Client lets you change the install location during setup. If your C: drive is tight on space, pick a secondary drive with at least 25 GB free to allow for future patches.
- Let Windows Defender finish scanning. During installation, your antivirus may briefly slow things down as it scans new files. This is normal and will resolve itself without any action on your part.
- Pick your region correctly. The Riot Client may ask which server region to connect to. Choose the one closest to you — North America, EUW, EUNE, Korea, etc. — since this determines your ping in matches. You can change region later from within the client settings.
Troubleshooting common issues
The installer won't open or shows an error
Right-click RiotClientInstaller.exe and choose Run as administrator. If your antivirus blocked or deleted the file, add an exception and re-download from the official site. Make sure you are running Windows 10 version 1903 or later, since older Windows versions are no longer supported.
The download is stuck or very slow
Open the Riot Client settings (the gear icon) and check Patch Settings — you can set a download speed limit that may have been configured too low. Restart the client and your router if the progress bar has not moved for more than five minutes.
The game won't launch after installation
Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. Open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and select Update driver. Then restart your PC and try launching League again from the Riot Client.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends free to download?
Yes. League of Legends is completely free to download and play. The game earns revenue through optional cosmetic purchases — skins, champions, and other items — but none of these are required to play or progress.
How big is the League of Legends download on PC?
The initial Riot Client installer is about 75 MB, but the full game client is approximately 22 GB. Make sure you have at least 25 GB of free disk space to allow room for patches after the initial install.
Can I use an existing Riot account to play League of Legends?
Yes. One Riot Games account works across all Riot titles — League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, Valorant, and Wild Rift. If you already have an account for any of these games, use the same login details to access League.
Is the Riot Client required, or can I download League of Legends directly?
The Riot Client is required. It serves as the launcher, updater, and account manager for all Riot games. League of Legends cannot be launched without it.
How long does it take to download League of Legends?
Download time depends on your internet speed. On a 100 Mbps connection, the full 22 GB game takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes. On a slower 20 Mbps line it can take two to three hours. The client continues downloading in the background so you can minimize it while you wait.
Start playing today
Getting League of Legends on your PC is straightforward: head to the official site, create a free Riot account, download the small installer, run it, and let the Riot Client handle the rest. Once the game finishes patching, click Play and you will land in the client where you can jump into practice mode, complete the new-player tutorial, or dive straight into a real match. Good luck on the Rift.
