Playing League of Legends online is completely free — all you need is a Riot Games account and the official desktop client, which you can start downloading directly from your browser in seconds. This guide walks you through every step, from opening the website to throwing ability combos on Summoner's Rift for the first time.
What you need before you start
League of Legends is a live online game that runs through its own dedicated launcher (the Riot Client), not inside a web browser tab. Your browser is used only to reach the official download page and to create your account. Once the small installer runs, it patches the full game automatically. Here is what you need:
- A PC running Windows 10 or later (or macOS 10.14 Mojave or later)
- Around 9–16 GB of free storage space (the client downloads updates in stages)
- A stable internet connection for the initial patch download
- A free Riot Games account — registration takes about two minutes
How to play League of Legends online
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Step 1: Visit the official League of Legends website
Open any web browser and go to leagueoflegends.com. You will land on the official Riot Games page for League of Legends. Look for the Play for Free button in the navigation bar or the hero section of the page — clicking it takes you to account creation and the download flow. Avoid third-party download sites; the official page is the only safe source for the installer.
Head to leagueoflegends.com and click the Play for Free button to begin. -
Step 2: Create a free Riot Games account
League of Legends uses a Riot Games account that works across all Riot titles. Click Create Account and fill in a username, a valid email address, a password, and your date of birth. You will also be asked to choose your region — pick the one closest to you (for example, NA for North America, EUW for Western Europe) because your region determines which servers you play on and cannot be changed without a paid transfer. After submitting, verify your email address using the confirmation link Riot sends you.
Fill in your username, email, password, and region to register your free Riot account. -
Step 3: Download and install the League of Legends client
After registration the site prompts you to download the Riot Client installer (a small executable named something like RiotClientInstalls.exe on Windows). Run it and accept any security prompts. The installer sets up the Riot Client, and then the Riot Client downloads and patches the full League of Legends game in the background — this initial patch can be several gigabytes, so a wired connection speeds things up considerably. You can leave the client open and it will notify you when the patch finishes.
Download the Riot Client installer from the official site and let it patch the full game automatically. -
Step 4: Log in and explore the client
Once the patch is complete, the Riot Client presents a login screen. Enter the username and password you created in Step 2. Inside the client you will see a Play tab in the left sidebar alongside sections for Champions, the Store, your Profile, and Missions. The Play tab is where all the action starts: from here you select a game mode and queue for a match. Take a moment to browse the Store — you will find free champion rotation information there, which tells you which of the 160-plus champions are available to all players that week at no cost.
Log in to the Riot Client, go to the Play tab, and select a game mode such as Summoner's Rift. -
Step 5: Choose a game mode and play your first match
Click Play in the client, then choose a game mode. Summoner's Rift (5v5) is the classic competitive map where two teams of five try to destroy the opposing Nexus. ARAM (All Random All Mid) deals each player a random champion for a single-lane battle — it is a great low-pressure way to learn champions quickly. Arena and rotating game modes offer additional variety. For your very first game, consider Intro Bot (available under Summoner's Rift → VS AI), which pairs you against easy computer opponents so you can get used to movement, abilities, and the shop without pressure. Once in a match, move your champion with right-click, use abilities with Q, W, E, and R, and recall to base with B to buy items and refill health.
In a live game: move with right-click, use Q/W/E/R abilities, monitor teammates on the minimap, and destroy the enemy Nexus to win.
Tips for new players
- Start with free champions. The weekly free rotation gives you access to around 18 champions at no cost, so you can try different roles before spending Blue Essence (the in-game currency earned by playing) on permanent unlocks.
- Play against bots first. The Intro and Beginner AI modes let you practice last-hitting minions, using abilities, and navigating the map before jumping into matches against other people.
- Learn one role at a time. League has five roles: Top, Jungle, Mid, Bot (carry), and Support. Pick one and stick with it for your first dozen games to build consistent habits.
- Check the ping before you queue. Click the network icon in the client to see your latency to each server. High ping can make skill shots feel sluggish, so choose the region with the lowest number.
- Mute freely. If chat becomes distracting, you can mute individual players by clicking the speech-bubble icon next to their name on the scoreboard (Tab key).
Troubleshooting common issues
The client won't download or patch
Check that your firewall or antivirus is not blocking the Riot Client executable. You may need to add an exception for the Riot Games folder. Also make sure you have enough free disk space — the client needs room for the patch files as well as the final installed game.
I can't log in after creating my account
Confirm that you have verified your email address. Riot sends a verification link immediately after registration; check your spam folder if you didn't receive it. Once verified, the login should work straight away.
The game is very slow or laggy
Close background applications that use bandwidth (streaming services, large downloads), switch to a wired ethernet connection if possible, and check that your graphics settings inside the client match your hardware. League of Legends has a "low spec" mode in Settings that reduces visual quality significantly to improve frame rate on older machines.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play League of Legends directly in a web browser?
No — League of Legends is a full desktop game that requires the Riot Client to be installed. Your browser is used only to visit the official site and set up your account; the game itself runs as a native application on your PC or Mac.
Is League of Legends free to play?
Yes. The base game is entirely free — all champions can be unlocked using Blue Essence earned by playing matches. Paid content is limited to cosmetic items such as champion skins, emotes, and profile icons, which have no effect on gameplay.
How long does it take to install League of Legends?
The initial installer is small (under 100 MB) and takes under a minute to run. The game patch that follows is typically 8–16 GB depending on your region and whether assets are already cached, so the full download can take anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours depending on your internet speed.
What is the best game mode for beginners?
Intro Bots on Summoner's Rift is the most forgiving starting point — you play a full game against easy AI opponents with no ranking pressure. ARAM is also popular with newer players because everyone is confined to one lane, reducing the complexity of early map decisions.
Do I need a Riot Games account for every Riot title?
No — one Riot Games account works across all Riot titles, including Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, and Wild Rift. Creating the account for League of Legends automatically gives you access to all of them.
Start your journey on the Rift
Getting into League of Legends online is straightforward: open your browser, head to the official site, grab the free client, and you will be queuing for your first match within the hour. The learning curve is real, but starting with bot games, focusing on one role, and using the free champion rotation gives you a practical foundation before the ranked grind begins. Good luck on the Rift.
