How To Watch Old League Of Legends Replays

If you’re an avid League of Legends player, you might have had moments where you wanted to revisit past games. Watching old replays is an excellent way to analyze your strategies, review key moments, and spot mistakes. However, how to watch old League replays isn’t always straightforward. With replays only being available for a limited time through the official client, many players wonder if they can access older matches once the in-client replay feature expires. In this guide, we’ll cover the different ways you can revisit your old games, and how to make the most out of your replays.

Table of Contents

1. Accessing Replays Through the League Client

The easiest and most convenient way to watch old League of Legends replays is directly through the League of Legends client. Riot Games offers a built-in feature that allows players to review their recent games, provided the replays are still available. However, this feature comes with certain limitations. Replays are only accessible for a short period, typically around two weeks after the match ends.

How to Find Replays in the Client:

Open the League Client: Launch League of Legends on your computer.
Go to Your Profile: Once in the client, navigate to the profile section by clicking your summoner icon at the top right of the screen.
Access Match History: In the profile menu, select the “Match History” tab. Here, you’ll find a list of your most recent games.
Click on Replay: If the game is still within the replay window, you will see a “Replay” button next to the match. Click it, and the replay will open in the client.

It’s important to note that after a certain time (usually two weeks), these replays will no longer be available. If you want to watch matches that are older than this, you will need to explore other methods for how to watch old League replays.

2. Saving and Accessing Replays on Your Computer

For players who want to keep a permanent archive of their games, manually saving replays is a great option. This ensures you’ll always have access to a particular match, no matter how much time passes. By saving replays to your computer, you can freely watch them at any point in the future, even if they are no longer available in the client.

How to Save and Access Your Replays:

Find Your Replays Folder: Replays are stored locally on your computer. You can locate them in the following directories:
- Windows: C:\Riot Games\League of Legends\Replays
- Mac: /Applications/League of Legends.app/Contents/LoL/Replays
Save the Replay: At the end of each match, you have the option to save the replay. Click the “Save Replay” button after the game finishes.
Watch Saved Replays: To watch the replay, navigate to your Replays folder, double-click the desired replay file, and the League client will automatically open it.

Saving replays ensures you have full control over which games you want to revisit. If you want to know how to watch old League replays far beyond the two-week window, this method is an excellent choice.

3. Using Third-Party Tools

If you missed saving a replay or the official client’s replay feature has expired, there are several third-party tools that can help you access older games. These tools allow you to search for replays by match ID or summoner name, offering an alternative solution for how to watch old League replays.

Popular Third-Party Tools for League Replays:

OP.GG: OP.GG is widely known for its detailed player statistics, but it also provides a replays section. By logging into your OP.GG account, you can find your past games and watch replays of them.
LoL Replays: This tool allows you to download replays directly from the League of Legends servers. By searching for your summoner name or game ID, you can access the replays you’re looking for.

How to Use Third-Party Tools:

Download the Tool: Visit the website of a trusted replay tool like LoL Replays or OP.GG.
Log In: Log into the tool with your Riot Games account or summoner name.
Search for Your Match: Once logged in, search for your desired match. You can do this by entering your summoner name or the specific match ID.
Watch or Download the Replay: After finding your game, you can either stream the replay directly or download it to your computer for later viewing.

Using third-party tools offers a bit more flexibility and can help you find replays that are otherwise unavailable through the League client. However, it’s important to make sure you’re using trustworthy sources to avoid malware or unreliable services.

4. Watching Professional League Replays

If you’re more interested in watching professional League of Legends replays, you have many great options available. Professional games provide valuable insights into high-level play, and analyzing these matches can be a useful way to improve your own gameplay.

How to Access Professional League Replays:

Riot Games’ Official Esports Website: Riot offers replays from major tournaments like LCS, LEC, and LCK directly on their official esports website. You can search for specific matches, view replays, and learn strategies from pro players.
YouTube: Many professional League matches are uploaded to YouTube, either by Riot Games or other esports channels. You can find full series replays or individual games from past tournaments.
Twitch: Live streams and archived games from major tournaments are often available on Twitch. Check the tournament’s official channel to find replays of past matches.

Watching professional replays can be a great way to see how top players approach different situations, which can provide valuable insights to improve your own playstyle.

5. Using Match ID for Specific Replays

In certain situations, you may want to watch a very specific game. Fortunately, every League of Legends match has a unique Match ID attached to it. If you know the match ID, you can use it to search for and watch the replay, even if it’s no longer available in the client.

Steps to Watch Replays Using Match ID:

Obtain the Match ID: After your game, you can find the Match ID in your match history, either on the League client or third-party websites like OP.GG.
Use the Match ID to Find the Replay: Go to websites that support Match ID searches, such as League of Graphs or LoL Match History, and enter the ID.
Watch the Replay: Once the replay is located, you can stream or download it for later viewing.

Using the Match ID method ensures that you can always find specific replays, even if the client no longer stores them.

Conclusion

Knowing how to watch old League replays is essential for improving as a player. Whether you’re reviewing past games through the League client, saving replays to your computer for future use, or utilizing third-party tools to find old matches, there are many ways to revisit your past games. Watching replays is a great way to identify mistakes, study new strategies, and learn from both your wins and losses. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll have all the tools you need to watch and analyze any game, no matter how old it is.