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League of Legends on Mac: 2024 Installation & Optimization

Last Updated: October 31, 2025

League of Legends running smoothly on a MacBook Pro.

The age-old myth that Macs can't be serious gaming machines is shattered by Riot Games' global phenomenon, League of Legends. Far from being a clunky port, the world's most popular MOBA offers a first-class, native experience on macOS, empowering Apple users to climb the ranks on Summoner's Rift. Whether you're wielding a feather-light MacBook Air with an M3 chip or a powerhouse Mac Studio, diving into the action is seamless.

This definitive guide provides everything you need to download, install, and optimize League of Legends on your Mac for a competitive, high-performance experience.

A True Native Mac Experience

Yes, League of Legends is fully and natively supported on Mac. Riot Games maintains a dedicated macOS client, which means you don't need to mess with cumbersome workarounds like Boot Camp or Parallels. The game is built to run directly on macOS, ensuring optimal stability, performance, and compatibility.

Crucially, the Mac client receives every patch, champion release, and seasonal update simultaneously with the Windows version. You'll never be a second-class citizen or left waiting on patch day. While the game does not yet have a version built specifically for Apple Silicon architecture, it runs flawlessly on M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips via Apple's highly efficient Rosetta 2 translation layer, often outperforming older Intel-based Macs.

League of Legends: Mac System Requirements (2024)

Before downloading, it's essential to confirm your Mac is ready for the Rift. League of Legends is famously well-optimized, but meeting these specifications is key to a smooth gameplay experience.

Minimum System Requirements:

  • OS: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or higher
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-750 or any Apple Silicon Chip (M1, M2, M3, M4)
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • GPU: AMD HD 6570 or Intel HD 4600 Integrated Graphics
  • Storage: 16 GB of available space

Recommended System Requirements:

  • OS: macOS 12 (Monterey) or higher
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-3300 or any Apple Silicon Chip (M1, M2, M3, M4)
  • RAM: 4 GB or more
  • GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6950, NVIDIA GeForce GT 560, or Intel UHD 630 Integrated Graphics
  • Storage: 16 GB of available space (SSD strongly recommended for faster load times)

Step-by-Step: How to Download and Install LoL on Mac

Getting League of Legends running on your Mac is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for a clean installation.

  1. Visit the Official Website: Open your web browser and navigate to the official League of Legends signup/download page.
  2. Create an Account & Download: If you don't have one, create a free Riot Games account. The website will automatically detect you're on a Mac and provide the correct installer. Click the download button to get the .dmg file.
  3. Mount the DMG and Install: Locate the downloaded .dmg file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. A window will appear with the League of Legends icon and a shortcut to your Applications folder.
  4. Install the Application: Drag the League of Legends icon into the Applications folder alias. This installs the Riot Client launcher on your system. You can now close the window and eject the "League of Legends" volume from your Finder sidebar or desktop.
  5. Launch and Patch: Go to your Applications folder and open League of Legends. The Riot Client will launch, ask for login credentials, and then begin downloading the full game. This is the largest part of the installation and its duration will depend on your internet speed.
  6. Log In and Play: Once the download and patching process is complete, the "Play" button will light up. Log in with your Riot account, and you're ready to queue up for your first match.

Optimizing Performance on Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4)

If you're playing on a modern Mac with an Apple Silicon chip, you're set for an exceptional experience. The Rosetta 2 translation technology is so efficient that the performance penalty is negligible. In fact, even base-model MacBook Airs can run League of Legends at high frame rates.

For the best results, start with the game's video settings on "Medium" or "High" and ensure the resolution is set to your display's native setting or a scaled equivalent. Most M-series chips can easily maintain a stable 60+ FPS, often pushing well over 100 FPS, even in intense team fights. For the smoothest gameplay, cap your frame rate in the settings to match your display's refresh rate (e.g., 60 FPS for standard displays, 120 FPS for ProMotion displays).

Common Troubleshooting for Mac Players

Even the smoothest installation can hit a snag. Here are fixes for common issues:

  • "Unidentified Developer" Warning: If macOS blocks the installation, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down and you will see a notice about "League of Legends.app" being blocked. Click "Open Anyway" to grant it permission.
  • Installation is Stuck: Check that you have a stable internet connection and at least 16 GB of free disk space. If it remains frozen, try restarting the Riot Client. A full system restart can also resolve stubborn issues.
  • Firewall or VPN Issues: Make sure your macOS firewall or any third-party security software is not blocking the Riot Client or League of Legends. You may need to add them as exceptions in your settings. VPNs can also sometimes cause connection problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you play League of Legends on a MacBook?

Yes, absolutely. League of Legends is fully supported on all modern Mac computers, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini, as long as they meet the minimum system requirements.

Is League of Legends free to download on Mac?

Yes, just like its Windows counterpart, League of Legends is 100% free-to-play on macOS. A Riot Games account is also free to create.

Does League of Legends run well on Macs with M1, M2, or M3 chips?

Yes, performance is excellent. Thanks to Rosetta 2, the game runs smoothly and efficiently on Apple Silicon Macs, often delivering high, stable frame rates that exceed the performance of older, comparable Intel-based models.

Is there a native Apple Silicon version of League of Legends?

As of 2024, there is not a version of the game compiled specifically for Apple Silicon's ARM architecture. The game runs via the Rosetta 2 translation layer, but the performance is so strong that most players will not notice a difference.

How much storage space does League of Legends take on Mac?

While the initial download is smaller, you should ensure you have at least 16 GB of free storage space for the full game client and future patches. An SSD is highly recommended for faster loading into matches.