Yes, you can change your Riot Games username, but only once every 90 days
Riot Games lets you change the username associated with your account through the official Riot client or website. The change takes effect when ready, but you cannot change it again for 90 days after you do. If you have played League of Legends, Valorant, or any other Riot game, your new username will appear across all of them at once — there is no way to use different names in different games on the same account.
The process itself takes about five minutes and costs nothing. You do not need to contact support unless something goes wrong, and you do not need to change your email address or password to change your username.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your username once every 90 days through the Riot client or your account settings on the Riot website.
- Your new username appears when ready across every Riot game you play on that account.
- Certain usernames are blocked — Riot reserves names that are offensive, impersonate staff, or match existing pro player names.
- If you change your username, your old one becomes available for someone else to claim after a short period.
- You cannot undo a username change, so choose carefully before you confirm.
How to change your username through the Riot client
Open the Riot client on your computer and log in. Click your account name or profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Account" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your account settings page in your web browser.
Look for the section labeled "Username" and click the pencil icon or "Edit" button next to it. Type your new username in the text field. Riot will tell you when ready whether the name is available — if it is taken or blocked, you will see a red message and cannot proceed. If it is available, the message will turn green.
Click "Save" or "Confirm" to lock in the change. You will see a confirmation that your username has been updated. The new name appears in the client and in all your games within seconds.
How to change your username through the Riot website
Go to account.riotgames.com and log in with your email and password. Click "Account" in the left sidebar, then find the "Username" section on the main panel. Click the edit icon next to your current username.
Type your new username and wait for the availability check to complete. If the name is available, a green checkmark appears. If it is taken or blocked, you will see an error message. Once you see the green checkmark, click "Save" to confirm the change.
Your new username takes effect when ready across all Riot games. You do not need to log out and back in — the change is live as soon as you save it.
Usernames Riot blocks and why
Riot maintains a list of usernames that cannot be claimed by anyone. These include names that contain slurs or hate speech, names that impersonate Riot staff members or support accounts, and names of professional esports players in League of Legends and Valorant. If you try to use a blocked name, you will see a message saying the username is unavailable.
Riot also blocks usernames that are too similar to existing ones — for example, if someone has "Shadowblade", you cannot claim "Shadowblade1" or "ShadowBlade" with a capital B. The system checks for these conflicts automatically when you type.
If you believe a username is blocked in error, you can contact Riot support through their help portal, though they rarely override these decisions for competitive or safety reasons.
What happens to your old username after you change it
When you change your username, your old one does not stay reserved for you. After a waiting period — usually 30 to 90 days, though Riot does not publish the exact timeline — your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim. This means someone could take your former name and use it in games or on their profile.
If you want to reclaim an old username later, you would have to wait for the 90-day cooldown to pass, then hope no one else has claimed it in the meantime. There is no way to lock or reserve a username you are not currently using.
The 90-day waiting period between changes
Once you change your username, you cannot change it again for 90 days. This limit applies to your account, not to individual games — if you change your name in Valorant, you cannot change it again in League of Legends until the 90 days have passed. The timer starts the moment you confirm the change, not when you first click edit.
If you try to change your username before the 90 days are up, the edit button will be grayed out or you will see a message telling you when you can change it next. There is no way to speed up this timer or pay to bypass it.
Why you cannot undo a username change
Riot does not offer an undo button for username changes. Once you confirm, the change is permanent and when ready. This is why it is important to type carefully and think about the name before you save — you cannot go back and fix a typo or change your mind five minutes later.
If you made a mistake, your only option is to wait 90 days and then change it to something else. You cannot revert to your old username unless someone else claims it first and then you wait for it to become available again, which is unlikely and unpredictable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my username affect my rank or match history?
No. Your rank, wins, losses, and all match history stay exactly the same. Only the name displayed above your character changes. Anyone looking at your profile will see your new username, but all your statistics and achievements remain tied to your account.
Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?
No. Riot only allows letters, numbers, and underscores. Spaces, hyphens, periods, and special characters like @ or # are not permitted. If you try to use them, the system will reject the username as invalid.
What if someone else took the username I want?
You cannot claim it unless that person changes their name or their account is deleted. There is no waiting list or reservation system. Your only option is to choose a different name or try again later if the person eventually abandons the account.
Do I need to change my password after changing my username?
No. Your password is separate from your username and does not need to be updated. Your login email address also stays the same — you still use your email to log into the Riot client, regardless of what your in-game username is.
Will my friends still see me in their friends list after I change my name?
Yes. Your friends list is tied to your account, not your username. Everyone on your friends list will see your new username, but you will still appear in their list and they can still message and play with you.