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Use a League of Legends replay when you want to review a match inside the League client; use a video recording when you need footage you can keep and play outside that replay workflow. Replays are tied to Riot’s patch-cycle availability, and since patch 26.20 you can access replays only for matches you played. Riot’s in-client Highlights feature saves clips as video files.
Replay files and video recordings do different jobs
A League replay file, commonly referred to as a .rofl replay, opens through the League client and lets you revisit a match there. Riot says you can download one from the end-of-game screen or Match History; after downloading, the control changes to “Watch Replay” and launches the match in the client. Riot’s Replays FAQ explains the flow.
A video recording is footage saved in a conventional video format. Riot documents an in-client Highlights recorder that saves clips as .webm. Unlike a replay, the video is intended to be viewed as a video file rather than reopened as a match in the client.
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| Your need | Better starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Review a match in the League client | .rofl replay |
It preserves the client replay workflow, but Riot says replay availability lasts for a patch cycle and ends when the client patches. Download and review it promptly. |
| Keep a clip to watch outside the replay workflow | Video recording | Riot’s in-client Highlights recorder produces .webm clips. |
| Access a replay of a match you did not play | Neither method guarantees a replay download | Since patch 26.20, Riot limits replay access to matches you participated in and says third-party replay downloads are no longer available. |
| Create a directed cinematic view | Advanced replay tools | Riot documents Replay API controls and the League Director project’s camera and sequence features. League Director’s instructions specify Windows. |
What changed with replay access in patch 26.20
Riot Games’ Patch 26.20 Notes say that players can access replays only from matches they played in. Other players can no longer download those replays, and third-party apps and sites lose access to replay downloads. Riot also says players can still download and watch their own matches directly in the League client.
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This is a patch-specific access policy, not a general promise that any match can be downloaded as a replay. If your goal is to preserve your own gameplay, use a video recording when you need a file that remains useful outside the client’s replay availability window.
Replay availability and video storage
Replays expire with the patch cycle
Riot’s Replays FAQ says replays last for the length of a patch cycle and expire once the client patches. A replay therefore should not be treated as a dependable long-term video archive. If you want to study a match, download and watch its replay while it remains available; if you want footage to keep beyond that window, save a video clip.
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Highlights use the .webm format
Riot’s FAQ describes the built-in Highlights recorder and identifies its clips as .webm files. The FAQ lists a Windows save location as C:UsersDocumentsLeagueofLegendsHighlights. Client interfaces and paths can vary, so check the current Highlights controls and save location on your system rather than assuming that this Windows path applies to every installation or platform.
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For ordinary match review or a straightforward clip, the League client’s replay and Highlights features are the relevant starting points. More directed capture is possible for users who want camera control or staged sequences:
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- Riot’s League of Legends developer documentation describes Replay API endpoints for playback, rendering, recording, and sequences.
- Riot Games’ League Director repository describes a Windows tool for staging and recording replay videos, including camera control and keyframed sequences.
These are advanced options, not prerequisites for saving a normal gameplay clip. Riot’s documentation does not establish a general quality, file-size, or performance advantage for replay files or video recordings, so those should not be assumed when choosing between them.
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