If you’re just dipping your toes into League of Legends for the first time, or you’re tired of being stuck playing only when you’re at your desk, the first question you probably ask is what can I play League of Legends on. Riot Games has expanded support for the game drastically since its launch, so you don’t need a fancy $2,000 gaming rig to jump into a quick ARAM, mess around in Nexus Blitz, or even climb the solo queue ladder. I’ve tested LoL on almost every compatible device over the past 7 years, from beat-up old student laptops to the latest portable handhelds, so I’ll break down every option, plus pros, cons, and easy tweaks to make sure you don’t drop frames right as you’re about to land a game-winning pentakill.
What Can I Play League of Legends On? Core Supported Devices
The most popular and reliable way to play LoL is on a Windows PC, and for good reason. Native support means you get the lowest input lag, the most consistent performance, and access to every game mode, event, and update the second they roll out. Windows 10 64-bit is the minimum required OS for PC play as of 2024, and even devices with 4GB of RAM and integrated graphics can run the game at a stable 60 FPS if you adjust your settings appropriately. Mac users can also play natively now, though performance is a bit less consistent than on Windows, especially on older Intel-based Mac models.
If your PC is too old to run the game, or you don’t have access to a dedicated gaming device, cloud gaming services are a solid alternative. Services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming let you stream the full PC version of LoL to almost any device, as long as you have a stable internet connection. You don’t have to download any game files, and the game runs on the service’s high-end servers, so even a 10-year-old laptop or a cheap Chromebook can handle it. The only catch is you need a download speed of at least 15 Mbps for 720p 60 FPS play, and 25 Mbps or higher for 1080p. Even a small internet blip can cause lag or disconnects, so it’s not ideal for ranked play if your Wi-Fi is spotty.
Portable Options for Playing League of Legends On the Go
You don’t have to be tied to a desk to play LoL anymore. Over the past few years, portable gaming options have exploded in popularity, and most of them support League either natively or via cloud streaming. I’ve spent months testing different portable setups for casual play when I’m traveling or visiting friends, and these are the best options by far:
- Steam Deck: Runs LoL smoothly at medium settings via Proton, with 3-4 hours of battery life per charge. The only downside is it requires a small amount of setup to install the Riot Client, as it doesn’t show up in the Steam store by default. It’s also the most affordable portable option for native LoL play, with used models going for under $300.
- Windows Handhelds (ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go): Native Windows support means no extra setup is needed at all – just download the Riot Client, install LoL, and you’re ready to go. These devices run LoL at max settings at 60+ FPS, and most have larger, higher refresh rate screens than the Steam Deck. The tradeoff is shorter battery life (usually 2-3 hours per charge for LoL) and a much higher price point, with most models starting at $600 or more.
- Cloud Gaming on Mobile/Tablet: No downloads required, and it works on any iOS or Android device with a 5G or stable Wi-Fi connection. You can play with touch controls if you’re just messing around in ARAMs, but you’ll want a Bluetooth controller for any more serious play. Input lag can be a big issue here, especially if you’re on a public Wi-Fi network, so I wouldn’t recommend it for ranked games.
It’s worth noting that Wild Rift, Riot’s mobile-optimized version of League, is a separate game with different champion balances, game modes, and progression. If you want to keep your existing skin collection and ranked progress from the PC version, you’ll need to stick to the options listed above, not Wild Rift.
Factors to Consider When Picking Your LoL Device
If you’re still asking what can I play League of Legends on and aren’t sure which option fits you, start by thinking about how you play the game most often. If you’re a casual player who only logs in a couple times a week to play ARAMs with friends, you don’t need to drop hundreds of dollars on a high-end gaming PC. A cheap laptop or even cloud gaming on your existing tablet will work perfectly fine, and you won’t notice the small performance tradeoffs for casual play.
If you’re serious about climbing the ranked ladder, though, you’ll want to prioritize low input lag and consistent performance above all else. Input lag of under 20ms is non-negotiable if you want to climb ranked divisions consistently – even 10ms of extra lag can be the difference between dodging a skill shot and dying, or landing a perfect combo to win a team fight. That means native PC play is your best bet, followed closely by portable Windows handhelds. Cloud gaming will almost always have higher input lag, no matter how good your internet is, so it’s not ideal for serious ranked play.
Budget is another big factor to keep in mind. You don’t need a dedicated graphics card to run LoL at 60 FPS on low to medium settings – most modern integrated Intel Iris or AMD Radeon graphics can handle it easily. You can pick up a used Windows laptop that runs LoL perfectly for under $300, if you don’t care about playing at max settings or high refresh rates. If you want to play at 144 FPS on max settings for a competitive edge, you’ll need a device with a dedicated graphics card, which will cost closer to $500 or more.
Easy Tweaks to Improve LoL Performance on Any Device
No matter what device you’re playing LoL on, there are a few simple tweaks you can make to get smoother performance and lower input lag, no expensive upgrades required. I use these tweaks on all my devices, and they’ve saved me from more lag-related losses than I can count.
First, close all background apps before you launch the game. Browsers with 20 open tabs, Discord, streaming services, and other running apps eat up RAM and CPU power that could be used for LoL. If you’re on a low-end device, closing these can boost your FPS by 20% or more immediately. You should also make sure your device is plugged in if you’re playing on a laptop or portable handheld – most devices throttle performance heavily when running on battery to save power, which can cause stutters and frame drops mid-game.
In the LoL client and in-game settings, there are a few quick changes you can make to get better performance too. Enabling "Low Spec Mode" in the LoL client settings can boost FPS by 30% or more on older devices by turning off unnecessary animations and visual effects in the client. In-game, turn off shadow quality and anti-aliasing first – these are the two settings that have the biggest impact on FPS with the least noticeable visual difference. If you’re still getting frame drops, turn down character quality and effect quality next, and keep your resolution set to your device’s native resolution for the best clarity.
If you’re playing via cloud gaming, connect to a 5GHz Wi-Fi network instead of a 2.4GHz one, or use a wired ethernet connection if possible. 2.4GHz Wi-Fi has more interference and slower speeds, which can cause input lag and stutters mid-game. You should also pick the cloud server that’s closest to your physical location to cut down on input lag as much as possible. If you’re playing on a portable device, investing in a small portable router for travel can make a huge difference in cloud gaming performance when you’re on public Wi-Fi.
At the end of the day, the answer to what can I play League of Legends on depends entirely on your play style, budget, and how often you play away from home. You don’t need a fancy, expensive setup to have fun playing with friends, and even the most basic compatible device can run the game well enough for casual play. If you’re serious about climbing ranked, though, a native Windows PC with a stable internet connection will always be the most reliable, lowest lag option. Test out a few different setups if you can, to find what works best for how you like to play, and don’t waste money on upgrades you don’t actually need.