Short answer: Riot's official spec table lists 16GB of Free Storage Space for League of Legends (LoL), HDD at Min Specs and SSD at Rec Specs. A separate Riot Support article, though, says a typical install should take about 35 to 40GB at the time the article was written. The spec page was last updated on September 22, 2026, the install-size article on September 15, 2026, and everything here was checked on September 28, 2026. That same article adds that the client grows naturally as new patches land, but it should not drastically exceed that range. Below you will find how to combine the two documents, the full Min and Rec spec table, a cleanup order for when the install folder balloons, and a checklist for your own PC. If you also plan to record your matches, running a recorder next to the game needs extra headroom, so see our recommended specs for game recording as well.
Official LoL Min Specs and Rec Specs (Windows and Mac, updated Sept 22, 2026)
| Item | Min Specs | Rec Specs |
|---|---|---|
| OS Versions | Win 10 (Build 19041+), Win 11 (TPM 2.0 must be enabled) / Retail versions only / x64 | Win 11 (TPM 2.0 must be enabled) / x64 |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-530 / AMD A6-3650 (ARM: Not supported) | Intel Core i5-8250 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (ARM: Not supported) |
| GPU | GeForce 400 Series / AMD HD 6570 / Intel HD 4600 | NVidia GeForce 560 / AMD Radeon HD 6950 / Intel UHD 630 |
| GPU Features and VRAM | DX11-Level Hardware / 1GB VRAM | DX11-Level Hardware / 2GB VRAM |
| RAM | 2GB | 4GB |
| Free Storage Space | 16GB HDD | 16GB SSD |
| Recommended GFX Setting and Resolution | Low / 1024x768 | High / 1920x1080 |
| macOS (same hardware for Min and Rec) | Apple M1 / Metal-capable GPU / 8GB Unified Memory / 40GB Available Storage / macOS 12 / 1680x1050 / GFX Low | Same hardware as Min Specs / GFX High |
Bottom line: plan for about 35 to 40GB, not 16GB
The 16GB figure sits under a label called Free Storage Space, while the Riot article that actually discusses install size says about 35 to 40GB. Because two official documents give different numbers, the safer plan for a fresh install or a drive cleanup is to budget for the larger one, about 35 to 40GB. On top of that, Riot's Full Client Repair Failed article says you need at least 8GB of free space for League to repair and patch properly. Adding these together is our own reading of two documents, not a single number Riot publishes. The Rec Specs column lists an SSD, so installing on an SSD matches Riot's recommendation. On a Mac, Min and Rec Specs list the same hardware (only the recommended graphics setting differs, Low vs High) and call for 40GB of available storage. If game recordings will share the same drive, free space shrinks quickly, so it is worth reading how to reduce game recording file size before you start.
Shrinking League of Legends: what to check when the install gets too big
- 1Check free space on the install drive — Open This PC in File Explorer and look at the remaining space on the drive that holds League (the default folder is C:\Riot Games). For a new install, aim for about 35 to 40GB; for an existing one, make sure at least 8GB stays free for patching and repair. If you are short, clear other files first so a patch does not stall halfway.
- 2Measure the League of Legends folder — Right-click the install folder (default C:\Riot Games\League of Legends) and open Properties to see its size. Riot's article cites complaints such as a client using 50GB or more of an SSD, being 15GB larger than it should be, or 30GB bigger than a friend's install, as examples of the excess caching problem. If you land around 35 to 40GB, you are inside Riot's stated range and do not need to delete anything.
- 3Fully exit League — Close both the game and the client so League is completely shut down. Riot lists a full exit as the first condition of the fix, so avoid touching the folder while a window is merely minimized.
- 4Delete webcache inside Saved — Inside the install folder, open the Saved folder and delete the webcache folder. Riot describes this as the fix for a known issue, resolved during summer 2026, that made some installs cache too many files. Stick to that one folder and do not remove anything else by guesswork.
- 5Submit a ticket if it is still too large — If the folder is still far too big after webcache is gone, Riot's article says to submit a ticket to Riot Support. Including the drive space and folder size you noted in the earlier steps makes the situation much easier to explain.
- 6If patching or repair fails, check the 8GB and the drive — When a full client repair or a patch fails, first confirm there is at least 8GB free. If space is fine and it still fails, Riot recommends scanning the drive for errors with chkdsk.
Checklist: does your PC meet the LoL requirements?
- Opened the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (Start, type dxdiag) and read the DirectX version on the System tab
- Graphics hardware supports DirectX 11 feature level 11_0 (required since patch 25.21; without it the Play button is greyed out and a pop-up asks you to update your hardware)
- On Windows 10, the build is 19041 or later (otherwise error VAN 9004 asks you to update the OS)
- On Windows 11, TPM 2.0 is enabled
- Windows is a retail version, not Enterprise or Server, and the OS is x64 (ARM is not supported)
- CPU, GPU, and RAM are at or above the Min Specs in the table (at least 2GB RAM and 1GB VRAM)
- Riot Vanguard is running (if you disabled it, restart the PC before playing)
- The install drive has about 35 to 40GB free, with at least 8GB left over after installing for patches and repair
Recording LoL too? Budget recording space separately
If you run a recorder alongside the game, you need room for recordings on top of the install itself. DOR is a free Windows app that detects League automatically, records the full match to mp4, and creates automatic highlight clips for moments like kills. NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoding is the default, game audio and your mic are recorded together, and everything lands in the in-app library. Full-match recordings take up drive space separately from the game folder, so it pays to check free space on your League drive and wherever recordings are saved as two different questions. In the library, the trim tool lets you cut just the part you need and export it at 16:9, 9:16, or 1:1, or share it as a dor.gg link. See the League of Legends game hub for what is supported, and how to record League of Legends for the step-by-step setup.
Official sources (checked September 28, 2026)
Figures in this guide come from Riot Support pages checked on September 28, 2026, and specs or install size can change with patches. The Min and Rec Specs are on Minimum and Recommended System Requirements (League of Legends), the typical install size and the webcache fix are on League of Legends Takes Too Much Space, and the 8GB repair and patch minimum is on Full Client Repair Failed. The Vanguard requirement comes from Riot's Vanguard FAQ, replay retention from the Replays FAQ, and the patcher switch from the New League Patcher article. To check your DirectX version and Windows build, follow the Microsoft support guides linked from Riot's requirements page. The macOS version follows the English page linked here (macOS 12); some localized Riot pages still list macOS 11.
