You can change your League of Legends summoner name through the client, but it costs 1,300 Riot Points and takes effect when ready
Open the League of Legends client on your computer, log in to your account, and look for your summoner name in the top right corner. Click on it, then select "Change Summoner Name" from the dropdown menu. The system will show you the cost (1,300 Riot Points, which is roughly $10 USD, though prices vary by region) and let you type in your new name before you confirm the purchase. Once you pay, your old name becomes available for other players to claim after a short cooldown period, and your new name takes effect right away.
The name you choose must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens, and cannot match another player's current summoner name. Riot's system blocks names that violate their Code of Conduct — anything hateful, sexually explicit, or impersonating a real person or public figure will be rejected before you can complete the purchase.
Key Takeaways
- Change your summoner name directly in the League client by clicking your name in the top right corner and selecting the change option.
- The change costs 1,300 Riot Points and takes effect when ready after you complete the purchase.
- Your new name must be 3 to 16 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens.
- Riot blocks names that violate the Code of Conduct, so offensive or impersonating names will be rejected at checkout.
- Your old summoner name becomes available for other players after a cooldown period, but you cannot reclaim it yourself.
Where to find the summoner name change option
Launch the League of Legends client and log in with your account credentials. In the top right corner of the client window, you will see your current summoner name displayed next to your profile icon. Click directly on your summoner name — not the icon, but the text itself.
A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Look for "Change Summoner Name" in that menu and click it. This opens a dialog box that shows your current name, the cost of the change, and a text field where you can enter your new name. You do not need to navigate to a website or contact support — the entire process happens inside the client.
What names are allowed and what gets blocked
Your new summoner name must follow these technical rules: it has to be between 3 and 16 characters long, and it can only contain letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), spaces, and hyphens. Names with special characters like underscores, periods, or symbols will be rejected when you try to submit them.
Beyond the technical rules, Riot's system automatically blocks names that violate the League of Legends Code of Conduct. This includes names that are hateful or discriminatory, sexually explicit, impersonating a real person or celebrity, or promoting illegal activity. If you try to submit a blocked name, the system will tell you it is unavailable and ask you to choose something else. You will not be charged Riot Points if the name is rejected — the purchase only goes through after you confirm a valid name.
Names that are already taken by another active player will also show as unavailable. If you see a name you want is taken, you cannot reserve it or get on a waitlist — you have to choose a different name or wait to see if that player changes their name later.
How much it costs and what payment methods work
Changing your summoner name costs 1,300 Riot Points. In the United States, 1,300 Riot Points costs approximately $10 USD, but the exact price in your region depends on your local currency and Riot's regional pricing. You can check the exact cost in your region by opening the change dialog — it will display the price before you confirm the purchase.
You pay with whatever payment method is linked to your Riot account. This can be a credit card, debit card, PayPal, or a regional payment option depending on where you live. If you do not have Riot Points in your account balance, you will be prompted to buy them before the name change goes through. Riot Points purchased for a name change cannot be refunded if you change your mind after the purchase completes.
What happens to your old name after you change it
When you change your summoner name, your old name does not disappear when ready. Instead, it enters a cooldown period where no one can claim it — this protects your old name from being taken by someone else right away. After the cooldown ends (the exact length varies, but is typically a few weeks), your old name becomes available for any other player to use.
You cannot reclaim your old summoner name yourself, even if it becomes available again. If you want to go back to a previous name, you would have to wait for another player to claim it and then change their name away from it — which is not a reliable way to recover an old name. For this reason, think carefully about whether you want to keep a name before you change away from it.
Changing your name does not affect your account or rank
Your summoner name is purely cosmetic — it is what other players see when they play against you or look you up, but it has no connection to your account security, your rank, or your match history. When you change your name, all your previous games, your rank, your skins, and your champions stay exactly the same. Other players can still find your old match history by searching for your account, even though your name has changed.
If you are trying to hide your account or start fresh in terms of rank, changing your summoner name alone will not do that. Your account ID (a number behind the scenes) stays the same, so anyone who knows your old name can still look up your stats. If you need to hide your account from specific people, you would need to adjust your privacy settings in your Riot account, not just your summoner name.
What to do if the name change does not go through
If you try to change your name and the purchase fails, check that your payment method is valid and has enough funds. If your card was declined, try a different payment method or contact your bank to make sure there are no blocks on Riot's payment processor.
If the name you chose is rejected as unavailable, it means either another player already has it, it violates the Code of Conduct, or it does not meet the technical requirements (wrong length, forbidden characters). Try a different name and check that it is 3 to 16 characters with only letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens.
If you complete the purchase but your name does not change in the client, try logging out and logging back in. The change should take effect when ready, but sometimes the client needs to refresh. If it still has not changed after you log back in, contact Riot Support through the support website and provide your account name and the date you made the purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my summoner name more than once?
Yes, you can change your name as many times as you want, as long as you pay 1,300 Riot Points each time. There is no limit on how often you can change it, but each change costs the same amount. Some players change their names multiple times per year, while others keep the same name for years.
What if someone else takes my old name after I change it?
Once the cooldown period ends, your old name is available for any player to claim. If someone else takes it, you cannot get it back unless they change their name away from it later. You can only change to a name that is currently unclaimed, so you cannot force another player to give up your old name.
Does changing my name affect my rank or match history?
No. Your rank, wins, losses, and all your match history stay attached to your account regardless of what name you use. Other players can still look up your old games by searching for your account, even though your summoner name has changed.
Can I change my name to something that was my old name from years ago?
Only if no one else is currently using it. If another player claimed your old name after you changed away from it, you cannot change back to it unless they change their name first. You cannot reserve or request a name — you can only change to names that are currently available.
What if I want to change my name but do not have Riot Points?
You will need to purchase Riot Points before you can complete the name change. The system will prompt you to buy them when you try to confirm your new name. You can buy Riot Points through the client using any payment method linked to your Riot account.