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Use a League of Legends replay when you want to revisit a match in the League client; use a video recording when you need footage saved in a standard video format for later viewing or sharing. Replays are tied to Riot’s patch-cycle availability rules, while a video is the better fit for keeping a clip outside the replay workflow.
Replay file or video: what is the difference?
A League replay file, commonly identified by the .rofl extension, is played through the League client. It lets you return to a match using the client’s replay workflow, rather than giving you a conventional video file. Riot says you can download a replay from the end-of-game screen or Match History; after downloading, the control changes to “Watch Replay.” Riot’s Replays FAQ explains the flow.
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A video recording is footage saved as a video file. Riot’s FAQ documents an in-client Highlights recorder that saves clips in .webm format. That makes a recording the more suitable option when your goal is to keep or share footage outside the League replay player.
Choose based on what you need to do
| Your goal | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Review a match in the League client | .rofl replay |
It retains the client replay workflow, but Riot says replays last only for the length of a patch cycle and expire when the client patches. |
| Keep a clip as a video for later or share it outside the client | Video recording | Riot documents Highlights saved as .webm video files. |
| Get a replay of a match you did not play in | Do not count on a replay download | Starting with patch 26.20, Riot limits replay access to matches you participated in and says third-party replay downloads are removed. |
| Create a directed, cinematic replay view | Advanced replay tools | Riot documents Replay API controls and the League Director project, which supports camera control and sequenced capture. |
How long does a replay remain available?
Riot’s Replays FAQ says a replay is available for the length of a patch cycle and expires when the client patches. That makes a replay useful for timely review, but not a dependable long-term video archive. If you want to keep a particular moment beyond the replay’s availability window, save it as a video while you can still access the match.
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What changed with patch 26.20?
Riot’s October 2026 League of Legends Patch 26.20 Notes state that replay access is now limited to matches a player participated in. Riot says, “Other players will no longer be able to download your replays, and third-party apps & sites will lose access to replay downloads entirely.” Riot also says players can still download and watch their own matches directly in the League client.
This change matters if you previously relied on a third-party app or site to fetch another player’s replay: that is no longer a supported route under the patch 26.20 policy. For your own match, use the League client’s replay controls.
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Saving a video with League Highlights
Riot’s FAQ describes an in-client recorder for Highlights and identifies the saved format as .webm. The FAQ lists a Windows save location as C:Users\DocumentsLeagueofLegendsHighlights. Because client interfaces and locations can vary or change, check the current client UI and your device’s settings before relying on a particular path.
When advanced replay tools make sense
For ordinary clips, you do not need a separate replay production tool. For more controlled camera work, Riot’s League of Legends Replay API documentation describes playback, rendering, recording, and sequence endpoints.
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Riot Games’ League Director repository describes a Windows tool for staging and recording replay videos, including camera control and keyframed sequences. This is an advanced option for directed footage, not a requirement for a basic Highlight.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the available evidence does not establish
Riot’s cited documentation does not provide a direct benchmark comparing replay files and video recordings for image quality, file size, or performance impact. Those factors can depend on settings and recording conditions, so there is no evidence-based universal winner on those measures. Choose by workflow: client-based match review, long-term video storage, access to a particular match, or directed camera control.
Quick Recap
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