Installing League of Legends is free and takes less than 30 minutes on most broadband connections. You download a small installer from the official Riot Games website, let it pull down the full client, create a free Riot account, and you're ready to play. This guide walks through every step, from opening the browser to your first match.
What you need before you start
- A Windows PC or Mac — Windows 10 or later / macOS 10.14 Mojave or later are the officially supported versions.
- At least 16 GB of free disk space — the game and its patches expand over time, so more is better.
- A broadband internet connection — the initial download is roughly 7–9 GB.
- Administrator rights on the machine — the installer needs permission to write to the Program Files folder.
How to install League of Legends step by step
-
Step 1: Visit the official League of Legends website
Open your browser and go to the official League of Legends website. Look for the Download for Free or Play Now button on the homepage. The site automatically detects your operating system and offers the correct installer — Windows users get an
.exefile, Mac users get a.dmgdisk image. Click the download button and save the file somewhere easy to find, such as your Desktop or Downloads folder.
Click the Download Now button on leagueoflegends.com — the site picks the right installer for your OS automatically. -
Step 2: Run the installer
Find the downloaded file (LeagueInstaller.exe on Windows or League of Legends.dmg on Mac) and double-click it. On Windows, a User Account Control prompt will appear asking if you want to allow the app to make changes — click Yes. On Mac, open the mounted disk image and drag the League of Legends icon into your Applications folder. The installer itself is small and completes in seconds; the heavy lifting happens in the next step.
Double-click the downloaded installer, then click Yes on the User Account Control dialog to let it run. -
Step 3: Let the client download and patch the game files
Once the installer runs, the League of Legends client opens and begins downloading the full game — roughly 7–9 GB of data. A progress bar shows how far along you are. This is the longest part of the process; on a typical home broadband connection it takes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Leave the client open and let the download finish. Do not close or restart your computer during this stage, as it can corrupt the download and force you to start over.
The client downloads all game assets automatically — keep the window open until the progress bar reaches 100%. -
Step 4: Sign in or create a free Riot account
When the download finishes, the client switches to a login screen. If you already have a Riot Games account (used for Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, or other Riot titles), enter your username and password here. If you are new, click Create Account — you only need a valid email address, and the account is completely free. After verifying your email you will be taken straight back to the client and logged in.
Sign in with your Riot account, or click Create Account to register for free with just an email address. -
Step 5: Click Play and start your first game
You are now on the League of Legends home screen. Click the large Play button at the top of the client. A game-mode selector lets you choose between Classic (Summoner's Rift), ARAM (all-random all-mid), or rotating modes. For your very first game, consider starting with the Tutorial (found under the Practice section) or a beginner Co-op vs. AI match — both help you learn the basics without the pressure of a live PvP queue.
Hit the Play button, pick a game mode, and queue up — your first match of League of Legends is moments away.
Helpful tips for new players
- Play the tutorial first. League of Legends has a learning curve. The built-in tutorial teaches movement, abilities, last-hitting minions, and the basics of objectives — time well spent before heading into PvP.
- Start with a simple champion. Riot marks certain champions as beginner-friendly (Ashe, Garen, Master Yi, Annie). These have straightforward kits and are a good fit for your first few games.
- Keep the client up to date. The client patches automatically before each session. You may see a short patch download at launch — just wait for it to complete before clicking Play.
- Check minimum specs if the game runs slowly. If performance is poor, lower the graphics settings inside the game under Settings > Video. Dropping to "Very Low" quality can dramatically improve frame rates on older hardware.
- Free champion rotation. A pool of around 20 champions rotates every week and is free for all players. You don't need to spend anything to start playing a wide variety of characters.
Troubleshooting common installation problems
The installer won't open or immediately closes
Make sure your antivirus software isn't blocking the file. Right-click the installer and choose "Run as administrator" to bypass permission issues. You can also temporarily disable real-time scanning while the installer runs, then re-enable it.
The download is stuck or fails partway through
Check your internet connection, then try pausing and resuming the download inside the client. If it continues to fail, restart the client. In rare cases, deleting the partial download files and restarting from scratch resolves the issue — the client stores these files in your League of Legends install folder.
The game won't launch after installation
Update your graphics drivers and make sure DirectX is up to date on Windows. On Mac, confirm you're running a supported macOS version. Running the built-in repair tool (Settings gear in the client > Initiate Full Repair) fixes most launch issues caused by corrupted files.
I can't log in after creating my account
Check your inbox (and spam folder) for a verification email from Riot Games and confirm your address. Passwords are case-sensitive, so double-check Caps Lock. If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login screen to reset it.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends free to download and play?
Yes. League of Legends is completely free to download and play. Purchases are optional and mostly cosmetic — skins, emotes, and champion bundles. All game modes and the majority of champions can be unlocked with in-game currency earned by playing.
How big is the League of Legends download?
The initial download is roughly 7–9 GB, but the installed client with all game files typically sits between 12 and 20 GB depending on your region and which patch you install. Riot releases patches approximately every two weeks, each adding a small additional download.
Can I install League of Legends on Mac?
Yes. League of Legends has a native macOS client. Download the .dmg installer from the official website, drag the app to your Applications folder, and follow the same steps as Windows. macOS 10.14 Mojave or later is required.
Do I need to create a new account, or can I use an existing Riot account?
One Riot account works across all Riot Games titles — League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and more. If you already play any Riot game, log in with the same credentials.
How long does it take to install League of Legends?
The small initial installer finishes in under a minute. The full client download — roughly 7–9 GB — typically takes 10 to 30 minutes on a standard broadband connection. Very fast or very slow connections will see times outside that range.
Ready to play
Installing League of Legends is a straightforward five-step process: download the installer from the official site, run it, wait for the client to pull down the game files, sign in or create your free Riot account, and hit Play. The whole thing takes under half an hour. For full system requirements and the latest patch notes, check the official Riot Games support page.
