League of Legends runs natively on a Mac: the official download page offers a dedicated Mac installer right next to the Windows version. Riot does, however, build its Mac support around Apple M1 and newer chips, and Intel Macs are now only tolerated. This guide covers the macOS requirements, Apple Silicon versus Intel, why the game needs Metal and the two macOS settings Riot recommends turning off before you play. Everything here is valid for patch 26.20 as of 20 October 2026.
Does League of Legends run on Mac?
Yes. The official download page has two buttons: “Download for Windows” and “Download Mac Installer”. The macOS version comes straight from Riot, so you don’t need any Windows compatibility tool or a second operating system.
Only two systems are officially supported: Windows and macOS. Linux, SteamOS, Bazzite and similar systems are not supported, and Riot won’t help with problems on them. Downloading, installing and launching the game for the first time is covered step by step in our download and install guide, so we won’t repeat it here.
LoL Mac requirements
Riot lists a minimum and a recommended macOS setup with identical hardware. The only difference is the graphics preset LoL expects: Low on the minimum spec, High on the recommended one. Here is the overview from Riot’s requirements page (updated 22 September 2026):
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M1 | Apple M1 |
| Graphics | Metal-capable GPU | Metal-capable GPU |
| Memory | 8 GB unified memory | 8 GB unified memory |
| Free storage | 40 GB | 40 GB |
| OS | macOS 12 | macOS 12 |
| Resolution | 1680×1050 | 1680×1050 |
| Graphics setting | Low | High |
For comparison, Riot’s Windows minimum is an Intel Core i3-530 or AMD FX-4100 with 2 GB of RAM, and the recommendation is a Core i5-8250 or Ryzen 3 1200 with 4 GB of RAM. Windows needs 16 GB of free space, a Mac 40 GB. The full Windows requirements, including graphics cards and TPM 2.0, are in our installation guide.
Apple Silicon or an Intel Mac?
Apple Silicon means Apple’s own chips, the M1 and newer. Those are what Riot’s requirements are built around: both the minimum and the recommended spec say Apple M1.
You can keep playing League of Legends on an Intel Mac. Riot does state clearly, though, that its support focuses on Apple Silicon. If troubleshooting shows that a problem is specific to Intel, it may not be investigated or fixed. In practice: the game can run on an Intel Mac, but if you hit a bug that only shows up on Intel, don’t count on Riot fixing it.
Metal: why the Play button can be greyed out
Since patch 25.21, LoL on Mac requires a graphics chip that supports Metal, the Mac counterpart to DirectX 11 on Windows. If your Mac doesn’t have it, the Play button in the client stays greyed out and you can’t start the game. In the requirements table, that’s the “Metal-capable GPU” row.
If the game won’t start for another reason, check our overview of launch errors. How Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat works is covered in a separate article on Vanguard.
What to turn off in macOS before playing
In its optimal settings for Mac players, Riot names two macOS features that interfere with the game client and recommends disabling them before you play. Menu names are given exactly as Riot writes them.
Hot Corners
Hot Corners trigger an action, such as the screensaver or the desktop, when you move the cursor into a corner of the screen. Riot says they’re known to cause issues with the game client and recommends turning them off before a match.
- Click the Apple menu in the top left and open System Preferences.
- Choose Desktop & Screen Saver, then Screen Saver.
- Click Hot Corners and switch the corners off.
Shake mouse pointer to locate
This feature enlarges the cursor when you shake the mouse so you can spot it quickly. According to Riot, it makes the client’s performance drop or freeze for a moment.
- Open the Apple menu, then System Preferences.
- Choose Accessibility and then Display in the left-hand panel.
- Uncheck “Shake mouse pointer to locate”.
Low FPS and a slow client on Mac
If the game doesn’t run smoothly on your Mac, Riot suggests these steps:
- Check that your Mac meets the requirements in the table above.
- Update macOS to the latest available version (Apple menu → Software Update).
- Lower the in-game graphics settings.
- Close apps you don’t need. Activity Monitor shows which ones use the most resources.
A slow client, the window where you pick a mode and a champion, is a separate problem. For that, Riot recommends:
- Low Spec mode: the cog in the top right of the client → Enable Low Spec Mode.
- The default window size of 1280×720, restored with the Restore Defaults button in settings.
- A wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, since a weak connection slows the client down, especially in champion select.
- Close Client During Game if your FPS only drops once the match is running.
If your problem isn’t FPS but delay and stutter caused by your connection, that’s a different topic, covered in our ping and lag guide. Once the game is running, our list of the best beginner champions helps with your first pick.
Join our Discord to ask other players how LoL runs on their Macs or to find people to play with: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
Yes. Riot offers its own Mac installer (Download Mac Installer) on the official download page, and the game runs natively on macOS. Only Windows and macOS are officially supported.
You can keep playing on one, but Riot’s support focuses on Apple Silicon. Problems that only affect Intel Macs may not be investigated or fixed.
An Apple M1 chip, a Metal-capable GPU, 8 GB of unified memory, 40 GB of free storage and macOS 12. The recommended setup is the same, it just expects the High graphics preset instead of Low.
Since patch 25.21, LoL on Mac requires a Metal-capable GPU. If your Mac doesn’t have one, the Play button stays greyed out and the game won’t start.
Not officially. Riot only supports Windows and macOS and won’t help with problems on Linux, SteamOS or Bazzite.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are waiting in our League of Legends hub.