Can You Play League of Legends on Linux or Steam Deck?

League of Legends on Linux

League doesn't run on Linux, because of Vanguard.

Riot supports Windows and macOS only. Since April 2024 Vanguard has to verify a Windows kernel, and Linux can't offer one.

What does run it

A Windows PC or an Apple silicon Mac. Two compact picks that clear Riot's spec:

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Mini PC

Desk setup

Beelink EQR7

Ryzen 7 7735HS, Radeon 680M integrated. Specs: Beelink

A palm-sized Windows 11 Pro desktop on integrated graphics, which Riot's spec allows.

✓RAM 24GB Riot: 4GB
✓SSD 1TB Riot: 16GB SSD
✓Windows 11 Pro Riot: retail Windows

Mini PC

See this mini PC on Amazon

Gaming laptop

Entry pick

ASUS TUF Gaming A15

FA506NC: Ryzen 5 7535HS, RTX 3050 4GB. Specs: ASUS

Dedicated NVIDIA graphics and a 144Hz screen, with a free memory slot on the 8GB model.

✓Video memory 4GB Riot: 2GB
✓RAM 8GB or 16GB Riot: 4GB
✓SSD 512GB Riot: 16GB SSD

Already have the PC? Dual boot

Keep Secure Boot on
Some Linux installs switch it off. Vanguard then stops at VAN 9003.
Install League on the Windows drive
Anywhere else gets VAN RESTRICTION 3.

Routes that don't work

Proton and Lutris

Both are Wine underneath. Riot says that setup can't meet Vanguard's driver requirements.

Virtual machines

Riot treats a VM as a cheating risk: a cheat on the host could read the game unseen.

Steam Deck on SteamOS

Riot names SteamOS (and Bazzite) as unsupported. Only real Windows passing Vanguard's checks works.

Chromebooks

ChromeOS isn't Windows or macOS, so it's outside Riot's support too.

What Riot said about Linux

Riot's April 2024 developer post on Vanguard: Linux gives it no way to verify boot state or kernel modules, and differences between distributions make that harder. The same post counted just over 800 Linux players the day before, and lists tighter VM prevention as part of the rollout.

More on running League

Can I run League?Riot's specs, computers that run it, and a checker FPS drops and stutterHeat first, then Riot's settings League on a MacMacBook Air and Mac mini picks, plus Riot's Mac spec Best laptop for LeagueThree tiers, a cooling pad and gear, checked against Riot's spec

Sources: Minimum and Recommended System Requirements (League of Legends), /dev: Vanguard x LoL and Vanguard Security Requirements, all from Riot Games. Riot's guidance is paraphrased here, not copied; checked October 1, 2026.