Playing League of Legends on macOS is fully supported by Riot Games, and the experience is nearly identical to the Windows version once you have the client installed and your settings dialed in. Whether you have an Intel Mac or a newer Apple Silicon machine, this guide walks you through every step — from verifying your hardware to queuing up for your first match.
What you need before you start
League of Legends is free to play and does not require any purchase to get started. You will need a Riot Games account (free to create), a stable internet connection, and a Mac that meets the minimum hardware requirements. Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) run the game well via Rosetta 2 or natively, depending on the current client build.
How to get League of Legends running on macOS
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Step 1: Check macOS System Requirements
Before downloading, confirm your Mac meets the minimum specs. Open Apple menu > About This Mac to check your macOS version, chip, and RAM. League of Legends requires macOS 10.12 Sierra or later, though macOS 12 Monterey or newer is recommended for the best stability. You will also need at least 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB of free storage, and your GPU must support Apple's Metal graphics API, which covers every Mac made after 2012.
Check Apple menu > About This Mac and compare against these minimum and recommended specs. -
Step 2: Download the Mac Client from the Official Site
Go to the official League of Legends download page and click Download for Mac. This downloads a small installer file (the full game patches in after the first launch). Do not download the client from any third-party site — only use the official Riot Games URL to avoid malware or outdated builds. If you already have a Riot account, you can also find the download link in the client portal at account.riotgames.com.
Click "Download for Mac" on the official site — the installer is free and about 10 MB initially. -
Step 3: Install the Client and Sign In
Open the downloaded .dmg file, then drag the League of Legends app into your Applications folder. Launch the app from Applications (or Spotlight). The first launch triggers a large patch download of several gigabytes, so allow time for this to complete on your connection. macOS may ask you to confirm opening an app from the internet — click Open in the security dialog. Once the client finishes patching, sign in with your Riot Games account. If you do not have one, click Create Account in the client.
Drag the app to Applications, launch it, let it patch, then sign in with your Riot account. -
Step 4: Optimize In-Game Video Settings for Mac
After your first login, open Settings > Video before queuing up. The default graphics preset is sometimes set higher than a Mac's integrated GPU can handle smoothly. For the best frame rate, set Graphics Quality to Medium, Shadow Quality to Low (shadows are the biggest frame-rate cost on Mac), and cap the Frame Rate at 60 FPS if your display is 60 Hz. Use Borderless window mode so you can switch apps without the game losing focus. Apple Silicon Macs generally handle Medium or even High settings at 60+ FPS without issue.
Lowering Shadow Quality and capping the frame rate are the fastest ways to improve performance on Mac. -
Step 5: Learn the HUD and Queue for Your First Match
Select a champion in the client and choose a game mode — Practice Tool is ideal for beginners because it lets you learn mechanics without affecting your record. Once in a match, the HUD works the same on Mac as on Windows: your Health and Mana bars appear at the bottom-center, ability icons (Q, W, E, R) sit beside them, and your item slots are to the right. The mini-map is in the bottom-right corner — keeping an eye on it is one of the most important habits to develop. Use the B key to recall to base, buy items with P, and lock your camera with Y if you prefer it to follow your champion.
The HUD layout is identical on Mac and Windows — mini-map bottom-right, abilities bottom-center.
Tips for Mac players
- Close background apps. Safari, Chrome, and video players all compete for GPU memory. Quit them before launching a match to free up resources.
- Use a wired connection if possible. League of Legends is sensitive to packet loss. An Ethernet adapter (or Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet for Macs without a port) gives a much more stable ping than Wi-Fi.
- Enable "Reduce Transparency" in macOS. Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Display and turn on Reduce Transparency. This lowers GPU load from the macOS UI while the game is running.
- Apple Silicon users: Rosetta 2 installs automatically when needed. You do not need to do anything manually — the client handles it.
- Keep macOS updated. Riot regularly updates the Mac client's Metal renderer, and newer macOS versions often include GPU driver fixes that improve LoL performance.
Troubleshooting common Mac issues
The game says "application is damaged" and won't open
This is a macOS Gatekeeper warning. Right-click (or Control-click) the app in Applications and choose Open, then confirm in the dialog. Alternatively, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway next to the League of Legends entry.
The client patches extremely slowly
Riot's patch servers can be congested right after a major update. Try closing and reopening the client, or patching during off-peak hours. You can also check the Riot Games status page to rule out a server-side issue.
Low FPS even on minimum settings
Make sure your Mac is plugged into power — macOS throttles GPU performance on battery. Also disable V-Sync in the LoL video settings and try setting the Frame Rate Cap to 60 rather than Uncapped, as uncapped can cause thermal throttling on older Intel Macs.
Mouse feels off compared to Windows
macOS applies pointer acceleration by default. In the game, go to Settings > Controls and enable Move Camera with Mouse if it feels sluggish. Some players also use a third-party tool like LinearMouse to disable macOS pointer acceleration system-wide, which gives a more consistent feel.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends available on Mac?
Yes. Riot Games provides an official macOS client that you can download free from leagueoflegends.com. The Mac and Windows clients share the same servers, so you can play with friends on either platform.
Does League of Legends work on Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3)?
Yes. The League of Legends Mac client runs on Apple Silicon Macs, typically via Rosetta 2. Performance is generally strong — M1 and newer chips run the game at 60+ FPS on medium settings without getting hot or loud.
Do I need a Riot account to play League of Legends on Mac?
Yes, a free Riot Games account is required. You can create one at account.riotgames.com or directly in the League of Legends client when you first launch it.
Can I use a controller to play League of Legends on Mac?
League of Legends is designed for mouse and keyboard and does not have built-in controller support. Most players use the standard Mac mouse and keyboard setup. You can remap keys in Settings > Hotkeys if you prefer different bindings.
Is League of Legends free to play on Mac?
Yes, completely. The game is free to download and play. Champions can be unlocked with in-game currency (Blue Essence) earned through playing, or with Riot Points purchased with real money. Cosmetic skins are purely optional and have no effect on gameplay.
Getting started
League of Legends on macOS is a polished, well-supported experience in 2026, and Riot's Metal renderer means even mid-range Macs can run the game at a solid 60 FPS. Follow the steps above to check your specs, grab the official Mac client, tune your video settings, and you will be in your first match within an hour.
