How to Download and Install the League of Legends Client
League of Legends is a free-to-play MOBA developed by Riot Games, and one of the most played PC games in the world. Getting it running is straightforward, the game is available on both Windows and Mac, and downloading it takes just a few steps through the Riot Client, Riot's unified launcher for all its titles.
That said, first-time players sometimes run into minor hiccups during installation, from account setup to the initial patch download, which can reach around 16–20 GB depending on your region. In this article, we'll explore how to download and install the League of Legends client on both Windows and Mac, step by step.
How to Download and Install the League of Legends Client
League of Legends is downloaded through the Riot Client, which is the launcher for all Riot Games titles. Here's how to get it set up:
Go to the official League of Legends website and select your region.
Click “Play Now” and create a Riot Games account, or log in if you already have one. If you're new to the game, you can find a full walkthrough on how to create a League of Legends account before getting started.
Download the installer file (Install League of Legends.exe on Windows, or the .dmg file on Mac).
Open the installer and follow the on-screen prompts.
The Riot Client will install first. Once it's open, select League of Legends and click Install.
On Windows, Riot Vanguard, the game's anti-cheat software, will also install at this stage. Your PC will need to restart before the game launches for the first time.
After the restart, open the Riot Client, log in, and click Play. The client may still need to download a final patch before you can get into a match.
On Mac, the process is slightly simpler since Vanguard doesn't apply. Just drag the app into your Applications folder and let the client patch from there.
Also Read: All League of Legends Champions by Release Date
System Requirements
It's worth checking if your PC or Mac can run the game. League of Legends isn't particularly demanding, but older hardware can still run into problems if it falls below the minimum specs. Riot also dropped support for 32-bit Windows systems in April 2023, so Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) is a hard requirement.
Component | Windows (Minimum) | Windows (Recommended) | Mac (Minimum) | Mac (Recommended) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CPU | Intel Core i3-530 / AMD A6-3650 | Intel Core i5-8250 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel Core i5-750 / Apple M1 | Intel Core i5-3300 / Apple M1 |
GPU | GeForce 400 Series / AMD HD 6570 / Intel HD 4600 | NVidia GeForce 560 / AMD Radeon HD 6950 / Intel UHD 630 | Any Metal-compatible GPU | AMD Radeon HD 6950 / Intel UHD 630 |
VRAM | 1 GB | 2 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB |
RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB |
Storage | 16 GB HDD | 16 GB SSD | 12 GB HDD | 16 GB SSD |
OS | Windows 10 (Build 19041+) / Windows 11 | Windows 11 (TPM 2.0 enabled) | macOS 10.15 | macOS 11 |
Resolution | 1024x768 | 1920x1080 | 1024x768 | 1920x1080 |
Storage is also something to plan for ahead of time. The initial installer is small, but the full client takes up considerably more space once it finishes patching. You can check out how big League of Legends actually is before you start to make sure you have enough room on your drive.
Also Read: Rarest League of Legends Skins and How To Get Them
Common Installation Issues and How to Fix Them
Most installations go through without problems, but there are a few issues that come up regularly. Here's what to do if you hit a snag.
Download speed drops to near zero — This usually happens when the Riot Client is writing files to your disk rather than actively downloading. Give it around 15 minutes. If it's still stuck, pause and resume the download from within the client.
"We couldn't install a required dependency" — This error usually indicates a Vanguard issue. Reinstall Vanguard and try again.
"Vanguard not initialized" — This means Vanguard didn't start correctly after your restart. Check your system tray for the Vanguard icon. If it's not there, go to Add or Remove Programs, uninstall Vanguard only (not League), and relaunch the Riot Client to let it reinstall automatically.
Mac: "Unidentified Developer" warning — Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and scroll down to find the blocked application. Click Allow Anyway and relaunch the installer.
If none of these fix your issue, Riot's support page has a detailed knowledge base covering most error codes and installation failures.
Also Read: Complete League of Legends Patch Schedule
Final Words
Downloading and installing League of Legends is straightforward once you know what to expect. Create your Riot account, grab the installer from the official site, and let the client handle the rest. If you run into any issues during installation, the troubleshooting steps above cover the most common ones. From there, you're ready to jump into Summoner's Rift.
“ Mustafa Atteya has been writing about gaming and esports since 2023, specializing in competitive game content and player improvement guides. At 24, he brings both hands-on gaming experience and professional SEO writing expertise to the GameBoost team.”
