League of Legends Language: How To Change Game Text?

For the bigger picture and full context, make sure you read our main guide on How To Change League Of Legends Language In The Game.
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Ever wanted to hear Yasuo yell in Japanese or strategize with your team in Spanish? Changing the League of Legends language setting can add a fresh layer of immersion to your gameplay. It's not just about aesthetics; some players even use different languages to improve their game!
At a glance:

• Discover the various ways to change your League of Legends language, directly in the client or through file modifications.
• Learn how to troubleshoot common issues like saving configuration files or experiencing lag after changing languages.
• Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of gaming in a different language to decide if it's right for you.
• Get quick fixes if the newest Riot Client language changing option isn't working.

Why Change Your League of Legends Language? A Summoner's Perspective

There's a good reason why so many players dive into experimenting with the 'league of legends language' settings. It's about more than just hearing different voice lines. Many change the language of League of Legends to enhance their gaming experience in a variety of ways.

• Immersion: Hearing champions speak in their "native" tongue can heighten immersion. Imagine playing Irelia with voice lines in Ionian (which, in this case, is Japanese).
• Learning: Some players use the game to passively learn a new language. While it's not Duolingo, repeated exposure can help pick up vocabulary related to gaming.
• Strategic advantage (maybe): Some believe using a specific language can help them focus or trigger a different mindset. This is more of a placebo effect, but hey, if it works, it works!
• Friendship: Playing with friends who speak a different language? Syncing your game language can make coordination easier.
  Whatever your reason, changing the language is a customizable experience. But how do you do it?

Methods to Master: Changing Your League of Legends Language

Riot Games offers several avenues to tailor your League of Legends experience to your preferred language. Let's explore the most common and up-to-date methods.

1. The Streamlined In-Client Approach

The easiest and recommended approach is directly through the Riot Client. This method is the most user-friendly and less prone to errors.
Steps:

1. Open the Riot Client (but do not log in).
2. Locate the profile icon in the top-right corner and click "Settings" (the gear icon).
3. In the "Riot Client Language" dropdown, select your desired language. This changes the client language (menus, news, etc.).
4. To change the in-game language, select "League of Legends" on the left side, choose the preferred language from that dropdown, and press the "Repair" button. This will download the necessary language files.
   Example: Let's say you want the client in French but the game in Korean. You'd select "French" in the "Riot Client Language" dropdown and "Korean" under the "League of Legends" language option.

2. Game Shortcut: The Targeted Tweak

This method involves modifying the game's shortcut to force a specific language. It's a bit more technical but can be useful if the in-client options aren't behaving.
Steps:

1. Completely close the League of Legends client.
2. Right-click on your League of Legends desktop shortcut and select "Properties."
3. In the "Shortcut" tab, find the "Target" field. This is the full path to the game's executable.
4. Crucially, add --locale=xx_XX at the very end of the existing text in the "Target" field. Replace xx_XX with the correct language code (e.g., es_ES for Spanish, ja_JP for Japanese). Make sure there's a space before the --locale command!
5. Click "Apply" and then "OK."
6. Launch the game using the modified shortcut.
   Example: Your target field might look something like this: "C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\LeagueClient.exe" --locale=de_DE

3. Configuration File Editing: For the Technically Inclined

This method involves directly editing the LeagueClientSettings.yaml file. It offers the most control but also carries the highest risk if done incorrectly.
Steps:

1. Open your League of Legends installation directory (usually C:\Riot Games\League of Legends).
2. Navigate to the Config folder.
3. Open the LeagueClientSettings.yaml file with a text editor like Notepad or VS Code.
4. Find the line that starts with locale:.
5. Change the language code after the colon to your desired value.
6. Save the changes to the file and close it.
   Important Notes:

• Backup: Before editing, create a backup of the LeagueClientSettings.yaml file in case something goes wrong.
• Proper Formatting: YAML is sensitive to indentation. Ensure the indentation of the locale: line remains consistent with the surrounding lines.
  Example: If the line currently reads locale: en_US, and you want to switch to French, change it to locale: fr_FR.

4. Mac Users: A Scripting Solution

Changing the 'league of legends language' on macOS often requires a slightly different approach due to the way applications are structured.
Steps:

1. Open Automator (search for it in Spotlight).
2. Choose "Application" as the document type.
3. Drag the "Run Shell Script" action from the Library to the workflow area.
4. In the "Run Shell Script" action, set the "Pass input as" dropdown to "to stdin".
5. Enter the following command, replacing en_US with your desired language code:
   bash
   open /Applications/League\ of\ Legends.app/Contents/LoL/LeagueClient.app --args --locale=en_US
6. Save the application (e.g., "LoL Japanese").
7. Run the created application to launch the game in the specified language.

Language Codes: Your Rosetta Stone for League

To successfully change your language, you need the correct language code. Here's a mini-table to get you started:

Troubleshooting Common Language Change Issues

Changing your League of Legends language doesn't always go smoothly. Here are some common problems and their solutions.

• Cannot Save Changes to LeagueClientSettings.yaml: The file might be set to "read-only." Right-click the file, select "Properties," and uncheck the "Read-only" box.
• Game Crashing After Language Change: Ensure the language pack is fully downloaded before launching a game. A corrupted download can cause crashes. Reinstall the language pack through the Riot Client.
• High Ping/Lag: Sometimes, downloading a large language pack can temporarily increase ping. If this persists, consider switching back to a language closer to your region's servers or lowering your graphic settings.
• Voice Lines Not Changing: Voice lines are sometimes tied to server region, so simply changing language may not address it if the voice assets aren't supported on the server. You can change VO language in the settings menu.
  If you've exhausted these troubleshooting steps and still face issues, contacting Riot Support is your best bet.

Weighing the Pros and Cons: Is a New League of Legends Language Right for You?

Changing your League of Legends language isn't a decision to be taken lightly. Consider these potential advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:

• Enhanced Immersion: As mentioned, hearing champions speak in different languages can dramatically improve immersion.
• Potential Language Learning: Subconscious exposure to new vocabulary and sentence structures.
• Breaks Monotony: A simple change can refresh the game and make it feel new again.
  Cons:
• Communication Barriers: If you can't understand the in-game text or voice lines, crucial information can be missed, especially during high-pressure situations.
• Client Navigation Issues: If you cannot read the selected language you might have issues finding particular options in the Client UI.
• Potential Confusion: If you're used to specific item names or ability descriptions in one language, switching can cause temporary confusion.
  Before diving in, consider your goals and tolerance for potential challenges. Need to change the language? Learn how to change language

Quick Answers About League of Legends Language

Q: Will changing the language affect my ping?
A: Potentially, but usually only temporarily. Downloading a new language pack might cause a brief spike in ping. However, if the language servers are geographically distant from your location, it could lead to a consistently higher ping.
Q: Can I change the language back if I don’t like it?
A: Absolutely! You can revert to your original language using any of the methods described above.
Q: Does everyone in my party need to have the same language setting?
A: No, your language settings are independent. You can play with friends who have different language settings without any issues.
Q: Can I change the announcer voice separately from the champion voices?
A: No, the announcer voice is tied to the overall game language setting.

Concrete Takeaways: Your League of Legends Language Playbook

Ready to put your newfound knowledge into action? Here's a quick-start guide:

1. Easiest Route (Recommended): Use the Riot Client's language settings (profile icon -> Settings).
2. Advanced (If Client Fails): Modify the game shortcut with the --locale=xx_XX command.
3. Caution (Tech Savvy Only): Edit the LeagueClientSettings.yaml file, after backing it up.
   If you're unsure, stick to the Riot Client settings. It's the safest and most reliable method.
   Experiment. Learn. And most importantly, have fun customizing your League of Legends experience!