Downloading the Riot Client is the first thing you need to do before you can play League of Legends — or any other Riot Games title. The Riot Client is a free all-in-one launcher that manages your game installations, keeps everything up to date, and lets you switch between LoL, VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics, and more from a single place. The whole process takes about five minutes, not counting game download time.
What you need before you start
- A Windows 10/11 or macOS 10.14+ PC or laptop
- An internet connection (the installer itself is only about 2 MB; the game client downloads separately)
- Administrator access on the computer so the installer can run
- A free Riot Games account — you can create one during setup if you don't already have one
How to download the Riot Client
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Step 1: Visit the official Riot Games website
Open any web browser and go to the official Riot Client download page at riotgames.com. Always download from the official site to avoid unofficial or modified installers. The page is clean and straightforward, with a prominent download button.
Go to riotgames.com in your browser and navigate to the Riot Client page. -
Step 2: Click "Download for Free"
Click the large Download for Free button. The page automatically detects your operating system and downloads the correct installer for Windows or macOS. A small installer file — around 2 MB — will land in your Downloads folder within seconds. This tiny file handles the full game client download once you run it.
Click Download for Free — the installer file (~2 MB) arrives in your Downloads folder in seconds. -
Step 3: Run the downloaded installer
Find RiotClientInstaller.exe (Windows) or the equivalent macOS package in your Downloads folder and double-click it. Windows may show a User Account Control prompt — click Yes to allow the installation. The installer will extract itself, download the remaining client files from Riot's servers, and set up the Riot Client on your machine. This stage usually takes one to three minutes depending on your internet speed.
Double-click the installer, approve the UAC prompt, and let the progress bar complete. -
Step 4: Sign in or create a Riot account
Once the Riot Client opens for the first time, you'll see the 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 — the process is free and only requires an email address and a date of birth. You can also choose to sign in later if you just want to explore the client first.
Sign in with your existing Riot account, or create a free one on the spot. -
Step 5: Install League of Legends from the library
After signing in, the Riot Client opens to your game library. Find League of Legends (it will show an Install button because the game itself hasn't been downloaded yet — only the launcher). Click Install and choose your preferred install location, then confirm. The client will download and install the full game, which is around 22–24 GB. You can continue using your PC while it downloads in the background.
In My Library, click Install on League of Legends to start the full game download.
Tips and good to know
- The Riot Client stays open in your system tray. You don't need to reopen it manually every time — it runs quietly in the background and launches when you want to play.
- Automatic updates. The client patches League of Legends and all other installed Riot titles automatically before each launch, so you never need to manually download updates.
- One account for everything. A single Riot account gives you access to LoL, VALORANT, TFT, Wild Rift, Legends of Runeterra, and any future Riot games.
- Server region. The Riot Client lets you switch between regional servers. If you move or want to play with friends in a different region, go to Settings and change your region before logging in.
- Reinstalling. If you ever need to reinstall, downloading a fresh installer from the official site and running it over the existing installation is the cleanest approach.
Troubleshooting
The installer won't open or immediately closes
Right-click the installer file and select Run as administrator. Some security software can block unsigned executables — temporarily disabling your antivirus during the install step can help. Re-enable it once the Riot Client has finished installing.
The download is very slow or stalls
Check your internet connection and try pausing and resuming the download inside the Riot Client. Using a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi also helps significantly. If problems persist, Riot's support site has a dedicated network troubleshooting guide.
The Riot Client opens but shows a blank screen
This is usually a graphics driver issue. Update your GPU drivers, then relaunch the client. If the problem continues, try deleting the C:\Riot Games\Riot Client folder and re-running the installer.
I can't find the game in the library after logging in
Make sure you are connected to the internet. Pull-to-refresh or close and reopen the client. If your account is new, the library may take a few seconds to populate after first login.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Riot Client free to download?
Yes, the Riot Client is completely free. League of Legends itself is also free to play — you only spend money if you choose to purchase cosmetic items like champion skins.
Do I need the Riot Client to play League of Legends?
Yes. As of 2023, Riot merged the old League of Legends client into the Riot Client. You can no longer launch LoL without it. Installing the Riot Client is the only supported way to play.
Can I install League of Legends without reinstalling the whole Riot Client?
If the Riot Client is already installed, just open it, go to My Library, and click Install on League of Legends. You don't need to download a new installer.
How much storage does the Riot Client plus League of Legends need?
The Riot Client itself uses under 1 GB. League of Legends requires approximately 22–24 GB of free disk space for a full installation, and that figure grows slightly with each major patch.
Can I have multiple Riot accounts on the same installation?
Yes. The Riot Client lets you add multiple accounts and switch between them from the account menu. Each account keeps its own settings, friends list, and progression.
Wrapping up
Getting the Riot Client up and running takes just five steps: visit riotgames.com, download the installer, run it, sign in to your Riot account, and then install League of Legends from the library. Once it's set up, the client handles all future updates automatically so you can spend more time playing and less time managing files. If you run into trouble, Riot's official support page is the best place to find platform-specific help.
