League of Legends is a free download from Riot Games for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac, but it has no iPhone version; on iPhone, Riot's separate mobile game League of Legends: Wild Rift is the official alternative.
On this page
This page covers the official installers, the Windows and Mac requirements, the Vanguard and TPM 2.0 checks, fixes for slow or failed downloads and patches, and a clean reinstall.
Which League of Legends download do you need?
Riot supports League of Legends only on Windows and macOS. Match your device below; every row that can play uses the same Riot download page.
| Your device | What to download | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 PC | Download for Windows | TPM 2.0 must be enabled |
| Windows 10 PC | Download for Windows | Needs Build 19041 or later, retail editions only |
| Mac with Apple silicon | Download Mac Installer | Apple M1 or newer, macOS 12 or later |
| Intel Mac | Download Mac Installer | Still playable, but Riot focuses support on Apple silicon |
| iPhone or iPad | League of Legends: Wild Rift on the App Store | A separate mobile game, not the PC version |
| Windows on ARM laptop | No supported download | Riot lists ARM processors as not supported |
| Linux, SteamOS or Bazzite | No supported download | Riot does not support other operating systems |
| Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo console | No console version | Riot supports League of Legends only on Windows and macOS |
Download League of Legends for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac
Both installers come from Riot's own download page, and both are free.
- League of Legends for Windows (Riot Games): select Download for Windows; needs 16GB of free storage
- League of Legends for Mac (Riot Games): select Download Mac Installer; needs 40GB of available storage
The link opens the North America version of Riot's download page. The site language can be changed from the dropdown menu in the upper-right corner.
How to install League of Legends on Windows 11 and 10
- Open the official download page and select Download for Windows.
- Right-click the downloaded installer, select Run as Administrator, and follow the prompts to install.
- Let the Riot Client download and install League of Legends. The default game folder is C:\Riot Games\League of Legends.
- Restart the PC if the client reports a Vanguard error. Riot Vanguard, Riot's game security software, must be running whenever the League Client is open, and it starts with Windows.
- Check that it worked: the red Riot Vanguard icon shows in the Windows system tray, and a Custom Game started by yourself loads into a match.
Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0 enabled, and Windows 10 needs Build 19041 or later. Without them, Vanguard stops the game with error VAN 9001 or VAN 9004, covered in the fixes below.
League of Legends system requirements and storage space
These are Riot's current minimum and recommended specs. Since patch 25.21, Windows needs DirectX 11 feature level 11_0 hardware and a Mac needs Metal; without it, the Play button is greyed out.
| Spec | Windows minimum | Windows recommended | Mac (minimum and recommended) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i3-530 or AMD A6-3650 | Intel Core i5-8250 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | Apple M1 |
| GPU | GeForce 400 Series, AMD HD 6570 or Intel HD 4600 | GeForce 560, Radeon HD 6950 or Intel UHD 630 | Metal-capable GPU |
| Video memory | 1GB | 2GB | 8GB unified memory, shared |
| RAM | 2GB | 4GB | 8GB unified memory, shared |
| Free storage | 16GB HDD | 16GB SSD | 40GB |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Build 19041+ or Windows 11 with TPM 2.0 | Windows 11 with TPM 2.0 | macOS 12 |
| Architecture | x64 (ARM not supported) | x64 (ARM not supported) | Apple silicon; Intel Macs play with limited support |
| Resolution | 1024×768, Low settings | 1920×1080, High settings | 1680×1050, Low to High settings |
Enterprise and Server editions of Windows are not supported. Plan for the free storage in the table: 16GB on Windows and 40GB on a Mac.
Can you download League of Legends on Mac?
Yes. Riot supports League of Legends on macOS, downloaded with Download Mac Installer from the same official page. Riot's Mac spec is an Apple M1 chip, a Metal-capable GPU, 8GB of unified memory, macOS 12 and 40GB of available storage. Intel Macs can still play, but Riot says support is focused on Apple silicon and Intel-only issues may not be investigated.
The Mac app installs to /Applications/League of Legends.app and needs an administrator account. Without admin rights, installing and patching can fail; turn on Allow user to administer this computer for your account in Users & Groups, then relaunch League.
Is League of Legends on iPhone or Android?
There is no iPhone or Android version of League of Legends. Riot's mobile game is League of Legends: Wild Rift, a separate 5v5 MOBA built from the ground up for mobile, with faster matches and 80+ champions, many adapted from the PC game.
- League of Legends: Wild Rift on the App Store (1.1 GB): iPhone and iPad; free with in-app purchases; requires iOS 15.0 or later
On Android, get Wild Rift through the official site at wildrift.leagueoflegends.com, where Riot offers it free to play.
Fix League of Legends not downloading or installing
League of Legends won't download or install
An out-of-date operating system or an installer running without administrator rights.
- Install every pending update from Windows Update, or from Software Update on a Mac, and restart.
- On Windows, right-click the installer, open the compatibility tab, check Run this program as an Administrator, then select Apply and OK.
- On a Mac, confirm your account is an administrator in Users & Groups.
- Run the installer again from the official download page.
League of Legends downloading so slow
A wireless connection, other traffic on the same line, or a VPN in the path.
- Switch to a wired Ethernet connection. Riot says this can significantly improve download speed.
- Pause other active downloads, such as Steam, and close file-sharing programs and HD video streams.
- Turn off any VPN or proxy. Riot says they cause connection issues it cannot resolve.
- On Windows, reset Winsock: type cmd in Start, right-click Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, enter netsh winsock reset, then restart the PC.
- On Windows 10, stop Windows Update from uploading to other PCs with the Delivery Optimization setting.
- Check Riot's server status page for your region.
Patching failed with error code 004
The Riot Client lacks the permissions, storage space or network access it needs to download and install the update.
- Fully close the Riot Client, including from the system tray, then reopen it and patch again.
- Restart the PC.
- Run the Riot Client as administrator.
- Free space on the drive where League of Legends is installed, then restart the Riot Client.
- Make sure your firewall allows the Riot Client to reach Riot's servers.
- If the error remains, uninstall and reinstall League of Legends using the steps below.
League of Legends repair failed
Too little free disk space, a League process still running, or a failing drive.
- Free at least 8GB on the install drive. League needs it to repair and patch.
- Restart the computer and run the repair again.
- Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc, or Activity Monitor on a Mac, and end any League of Legends or other Riot Games-related process. On a shared PC, make sure no other user has League running.
- Check the drive for errors with chkdsk on Windows or First Aid in Disk Utility on a Mac.
- Download the Riot Repair Tool for Windows or Mac, running it as administrator on Windows. It can re-patch or reinstall League automatically and collect logs for a support ticket.
The Play button is greyed out after the download
The graphics hardware lacks DirectX 11 feature level 11_0, or Metal on a Mac, required since patch 25.21.
- Check what your graphics adapter supports with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
- Update the graphics driver from the manufacturer's support site.
- If the hardware is below DirectX 11 level, Riot's pop-up asks you to update your hardware; League will not play on that computer.
Error VAN 9001 or VAN 9004 when launching
Vanguard needs TPM 2.0 on Windows 11 (VAN 9001) and Windows 10 Build 19041 or later (VAN 9004).
- For VAN 9001, follow the TPM 2.0 steps linked from Riot's VAN 9001 page, then launch the game again.
- For VAN 9004, install the updates offered in Windows Update until Windows 10 reaches Build 19041 or later.
- Restart the PC, since Vanguard starts with Windows.
- Look up any other VAN code on Riot's Vanguard error codes page.
League of Legends client stuck on a black or loading screen
Missing administrator rights, or an overlay app such as Discord, OBS or Steam interfering.
- Right-click the game shortcut, select Properties, open the compatibility tab and check Run this program as an Administrator.
- Exit overlay apps and try a Custom Game.
- If it still hangs, perform a clean boot: run msconfig, check Hide all Microsoft services on the Services tab, select Disable All, do the same on the Startup tab, then restart. If you also play VALORANT, leave the vgc service checked.
- Undo the clean boot in msconfig once League works again.
How to uninstall League of Legends
A clean removal and fresh download can solve client problems that settings changes do not. Remove the folders as well as the app.
- On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps, and uninstall League of Legends.
- Delete the Riot Games folder, by default C:\Riot Games, and empty the Recycle Bin.
- Type %localappdata% into the File Explorer address bar. Delete the Riot Games folder if League is your only Riot game, or only the League of Legends folder inside it if you have others.
- Restart the PC, download the installer again from the official page and run it as administrator.
- On a Mac, drag League of Legends from Applications to the Trash, then also trash Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/Riot Games, empty the Trash and download the Mac installer again.
Riot Vanguard is removed automatically only when every game that needs it is gone. If VALORANT is still installed, Vanguard stays; remove it separately from the Riot Vanguard tray icon under Advanced > Uninstall Vanguard, or from Add or Remove programs.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends download free?
Yes. The installer from Riot's official download page is free, and Riot offers the game under Play for free. Login rewards start on day one with your choice of a Marksman champion, plus a 3-day XP boost and a Hextech Chest.
Is League of Legends safe to download?
Yes, from Riot's own page. The game installs Riot Vanguard, game security software with a kernel mode driver that Riot says has been through external security audits. You can see it running from its system tray icon and exit or uninstall it there.
Can I download League of Legends on my laptop?
Yes, if the laptop runs Windows 10 Build 19041 or later or Windows 11 on an x64 processor, or is a Mac with an Apple M1 or newer chip and macOS 12. Windows laptops with ARM processors and Linux laptops are not supported.
Where can I download League of Legends?
From Riot's official download page, which offers Download for Windows and Download Mac Installer. No console store carries the game, and the iPhone app Riot publishes is the separate mobile game League of Legends: Wild Rift.
Can you play League of Legends on Xbox or PlayStation?
No. Riot supports League of Legends only on Windows and macOS, so there is no Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch version. On a phone, Riot's separate game League of Legends: Wild Rift is the official option.
Why can't I download League of Legends?
The causes Riot lists are an outdated operating system, missing administrator rights, too little disk space and network problems. Update Windows or macOS, run the installer as administrator, keep at least 16GB free on Windows, and turn off any VPN before trying again.
Why does League of Legends download so slow?
A wireless connection is a common reason; Riot says switching to wired Ethernet can significantly improve download speed. Also pause downloads in apps such as Steam, close video streams, turn off any VPN or proxy, and check Riot's server status page for your region.
How do I repair League of Legends files?
Run the Riot Repair Tool, as administrator on Windows; it can re-patch or fully reinstall League. If a repair fails, free at least 8GB of disk space, restart, close every League process and check the drive with chkdsk before repairing again.
Do I need Vanguard to play League of Legends?
Yes. Riot Vanguard must be active whenever the League Client is open, including for Teamfight Tactics on PC. Riot brought it to League after a security breach in early 2023. If you exit it, restart the computer before League will run again.
How do I play League of Legends after the download?
Summoner's Rift is the most popular mode: two teams of five champions try to destroy the enemy Nexus. Pick one of five positions, top lane, jungle, mid lane, bot lane or support. Abilities sit on Q, W, E and R, summoner spells on D and F.
Which champion should a new player pick?
Riot's official quiz matches a champion to your playstyle and unlocks a free starter champion. League sorts champions into six types: assassins, fighters, mages, marksmen, supports and tanks. Day one login rewards also let you choose a Marksman: Tristana, Caitlyn or Ezreal.
