Where to change your username

You change your Riot account username through the Riot Games website, not through the game client itself. Go to account.riotgames.com, sign in with your email and password, and look for the account settings section. The username field is labeled "Riot ID" and sits near the top of your account details page.

Your Riot ID is different from your in-game name in Valorant or League of Legends. The Riot ID is what appears across all Riot games and what people use to add you as a friend. Your in-game name is what shows above your character during matches and can be changed separately through each game's settings.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Riot ID on account.riotgames.com under account settings, not in the game client.
  • Riot IDs can be changed once every 30 days, and the change takes effect when ready across all Riot games.
  • Your new Riot ID must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot match an existing account's ID.
  • If your desired username is taken, you will see that message on the confirmation screen and must choose a different one.

Step-by-step process to change your username

Log into account.riotgames.com using the email address and password for your Riot account. Once you are signed in, look for a menu or settings option — this is usually in the top right corner or in a left sidebar, depending on your browser and screen size.

Find the section labeled "Account" or "Profile Settings." Click on it and scroll down until you see the field that says "Riot ID." Next to this field, there should be a pencil icon or an "Edit" button. Click that icon to open the editing window.

Type your new username into the text box. The system will check in real time whether that username is available. If it is taken, you will see a red message saying so. If it is available, the message will turn green or show a checkmark. Once you have chosen an available name, click "Save" or "Confirm."

The change takes effect when ready. Your new Riot ID will appear in your account settings right away and will show to other players within seconds. You do not need to restart the game or log out and back in.

Rules for your new username

Riot usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters long. You can use letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, hyphens, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, special characters like @, #, or !, or accented letters.

Your username cannot be identical to an existing Riot ID, even if the capitalization is different. For example, if someone already has the username "ShadowKnight," you cannot create "shadowknight" or "SHADOWKNIGHT." The system treats these as the same name.

Usernames that contain slurs, hate speech, or graphic content will be rejected. If you try to save a name that violates Riot's content policy, you will see an error message and will need to choose a different one.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

After you change your Riot ID, you must wait 30 days before you can change it again. This timer starts the moment you confirm your new username. If you try to change it before 30 days have passed, the edit button will be grayed out and you will see text saying when you can change it next.

This rule applies even if you want to change your username back to what it was before. If you change from "Player1" to "Player2" today, you cannot change back to "Player1" until 30 days have passed. Plan your username choice carefully, because you are locked into it for a month.

What happens to your friends list and game history

When you change your Riot ID, your friends list stays intact. Everyone on your friends list will see your new username the next time they log in or refresh their client. You do not lose any friends, and they do not need to re-add you.

Your game history, rank, and all in-game progress remain attached to your account. Changing your username does not reset anything — it is purely a cosmetic change to how your name appears to other players. Your match history, ranked rating, and unlocked cosmetics all stay with your account.

Changing your in-game name separately from your Riot ID

If you play Valorant, you can also change your in-game name (the name that appears above your character during matches) separately from your Riot ID. This is done through the Valorant client, not the website. Open Valorant, click on your profile icon in the top right, select "Settings," and look for "Gameplay" or "Profile" settings.

Your in-game name can be different from your Riot ID. For example, your Riot ID might be "ShadowKnight#NA1" but your Valorant in-game name could be "Shadow." Other players see your in-game name during matches, while your Riot ID is what they see when adding you as a friend or viewing your profile.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the edit button is grayed out and you have not changed your username in the past 30 days, try logging out of account.riotgames.com completely and logging back in. Sometimes the website does not refresh your account status when ready. Close your browser entirely, wait a few seconds, and try again.

If you see an error message saying your username is unavailable but you believe it should be available, the username may have been taken in the time between when you checked and when you tried to save. Go back and choose a different name. Usernames are claimed on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you cannot access account.riotgames.com at all, check that you are using the correct email address and password. If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot your password?" on the login page and follow the email recovery steps. You will receive a password reset link at the email address associated with your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username if I have been banned or suspended?

If your account is currently suspended or banned, you cannot change your username until the suspension ends or is lifted. Once your account is active again, the username change feature will work normally. If you are permanently banned, you cannot make any changes to that account.

Will my friends see my old username after I change it?

No. Your friends will see your new username the next time they log into their client or refresh their friends list. There is no delay — the change is when ready across all Riot games. Old messages or chat history will still show your old username, but your current profile and friends list will display the new one.

What if someone else takes the username I want before I can change to it?

Usernames are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If someone else claims the username you want, you will need to choose a different one. There is no waiting list or reservation system. You can try again later if the person who claimed it changes their username, but there is no way to know when or if that will happen.

Does changing my Riot ID affect my League of Legends or other Riot game accounts?

Your Riot ID is shared across all Riot games you play. Changing it once changes it everywhere — in Valorant, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and any other Riot game tied to your account. You do not change usernames separately for each game.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my username?

No. Riot usernames can only contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces, punctuation, and special characters like @, #, !, or $ are not allowed. If you try to use them, the system will reject your entry and ask you to choose a different name.