How To Change Language On LoL Emails and In-Game

Ever wished you could understand those cryptic League of Legends emails or dive deeper into the lore with a different language pack? While Riot doesn't directly offer a language setting specifically for emails, understanding how to change language in the game itself can be a stepping stone. Plus, there are indirect ways to influence the language you see in support communications.
At a glance:

While you can't directly change the language of LoL emails, you can influence it via account region settings and support ticket preferences.
Learn how to change the in-game text and audio language to fully immerse yourself.
Discover the official and "unofficial" methods to alter the game's language if your region restricts it.
Understand the limitations Riot faces with voiceover language packs and future plans.
Maximize your language learning opportunities by playing LoL in a new language.

Why Change Your Language Settings in LoL?

Changing your language in League of Legends goes beyond mere preference. It's about:

Immersion: Experience the game's story, character dialogues, and item descriptions in a completely new way.
Language Learning: Turn your gaming sessions into a fun language practice tool.
Accessibility: Ensure you understand all aspects of the game, especially helpful if you've moved regions or have friends who prefer a different language.
Technical Troubleshooting: Sometimes, switching languages can resolve text or audio glitches within the game.

Understanding Language Options: Emails vs. In-Game

It's crucial to distinguish between the language settings for your Riot account (which influences email language) and the in-game language. Riot accounts are tied to regions, and these regions typically have a default language.
Emails: The language of your LoL-related emails (account updates, security alerts, promotional offers) is generally linked to the region your Riot account is associated with. While there’s no explicit setting to change email language, contacting Riot Support and specifying your preferred language might influence future communications.
In-Game: This refers to the text displayed in the client, in-game text, and (optionally) the voiceovers. You can directly control this, as we'll explore below.

Changing the Riot Client Language

The Riot Client language affects the menus, buttons, and general interface outside of a game. This is the easiest language setting to modify.

Log Out: Ensure you're logged out of your Riot account in the client.
Settings Icon: Look for the profile icon (usually a silhouette or your chosen avatar) in the top-right corner. Click it, then select "Settings."
Riot Client Language: Find the "Riot Client Language" dropdown menu.
Choose Your Language: Select your preferred language from the list. The client will likely restart to apply the changes.

Changing In-Game Language: Official Method

Riot offers a streamlined method for changing the in-game language through the client.

Open Riot Client Settings: Access the Riot Client settings as detailed above.
League of Legends Tab: Look for a "League of Legends" tab on the left-hand side of the settings menu.
Preferred Language: Select your desired language from the provided dropdown.
Repair Button: A "Repair" button might appear after selecting your language. Click this to download the necessary language files.
Log In: Once the repair process is complete, log into the game. The new language should be active.
Important: The languages available to you depend on your region. EUW (Europe West), for example, typically offers English, German, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Changing In-Game Language: The "Unofficial" (but effective) Method

If your desired language isn't available through the official method (perhaps you’re in NA but want to play with Korean voiceovers), you can try modifying the game files. Be aware that this method isn't officially supported by Riot.

Close the Riot Client: Completely close the client, ensuring it's not running in the background.
Locate the Configuration File: Navigate to your League of Legends installation directory. This is usually C:\Riot Games\League of Legends. Go to the Config folder.
Edit LeagueClientSettings.yaml: Find the file named LeagueClientSettings.yaml. Right-click and open it with a text editor like Notepad.
Find the "Locale" Line: Look for the line that starts with "locale:".
Change the Locale Code: Replace the existing locale code with the code for your desired language (see the table below).
Save the File: Save the changes you made to the LeagueClientSettings.yaml file.
Create a Shortcut: Find the LeagueClient.exe file in your League of Legends directory. Right-click and create a shortcut on your desktop.
Modify the Shortcut: Right-click the newly created shortcut and select "Properties."
Edit the "Target" Field: In the "Target" field, add --locale=xxxx (replace xxxx with the correct locale code) after the existing text, including a space.
Apply Changes: Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Launch the Game: Launch League of Legends using this new shortcut.
Language Locale Codes:
| Language | Locale |
| -------------------- | -------- |
| Chinese | zh_CN |
| English (Australian) | en_AU |
| English (British) | en_GB |
| English (USA) | en_US |
| French | fr_FR |
| German | de_DE |
| Greek | el_GR |
| Hungarian | hu_HU |
| Italian | it_IT |
| Japanese | ja_JP |
| Korean | ko_KR |
| Polish | pl_PL |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | pt_BR |
| Romanian | ro_RO |
| Russian | ru_RU |
| Spanish (Latin America) | es_MX |
| Spanish (Spain) | es_ES |
| Taiwanese | zh_TW |
| Turkish | tr_TR |
Example: To play in Japanese, you'd add --locale=ja_JP to the end of the "Target" field in the shortcut's properties.

The VoiceOver Limitation

Riot has acknowledged that providing full language customization, especially concerning in-game voiceovers, is a technical challenge. The primary issue is the sheer size of the audio files. Storing multiple voiceover packs significantly increases the game's storage requirements. While Riot is working on improving language options, full voiceover customization may remain limited.

Influencing Email Language: Region and Support

Remember, there is no explicit setting to change the language of LoL emails directly. However, here are a few ways to influence it:

Account Region: Your Riot account is tied to a specific region. Ensure that your account is associated with the region where your preferred language is dominant. (Note: Transferring regions may incur costs and restrictions).
Contact Support: When contacting Riot Support, clearly state your preferred language. While they might not be able to guarantee email communication in that language, it increases the likelihood.
Language in Ticket: When submitting a support ticket, write your request in your preferred language. This signals to the support team your language preference.

Practical Playbook: Getting Started Now

Here's a quick start to changing your League of Legends language and influencing email communication:

Assess Your Goal: Do you want to change the in-game language for immersion, learning, or accessibility?
Client Language First: Start by changing the Riot Client language through the settings menu.
In-Game Language: If your desired language is available, change it through the in-game settings. Otherwise, use the "unofficial" method. Change League's language easily to gain a broad understanding of how to change your in-game language.
Test and Troubleshoot: Launch the game and ensure the language has changed correctly. If not, double-check your settings and locale codes.
Influence Email Language: If you need to contact Riot Support, specify your preferred language in your request.

Quick Answers: FAQs

Q: Why can't I find my language in the in-game settings?
A: Your region might restrict the available languages. Try the "unofficial" method for unsupported languages.
Q: Will changing the language affect my ping?
A: No, changing the language should not affect your ping. Ping is related to your connection to the game server, not the language settings.
Q: Is it safe to modify the game files?
A: While the "unofficial" method is widely used, it's not officially supported by Riot. Proceed with caution and ensure you follow the instructions carefully. Always back up your files before making changes.
Q: How do I revert to the original language if something goes wrong?
A: Simply change the locale code back to your original language's code (e.g., en_US for English) in the LeagueClientSettings.yaml file and remove the --locale=xxxx from the shortcut's target field.
Q: Will Riot ever fully support voiceover language changes?
A: Riot is aware of the demand, but the technical challenges (storage space) are significant. While they're exploring options, full support is not guaranteed.

Take Control of Your League Experience

While changing the language of LoL emails directly isn't possible, understanding how to manipulate the in-game language settings gives you significant control over your League of Legends experience. Whether you're a seasoned player seeking a fresh perspective or a language enthusiast eager to learn, mastering these settings can enhance your gameplay in unexpected ways. Experiment, explore, and find the language that resonates with you.