You can change your Riot Games username once per year for free, or pay to change it more often

Your Riot Games username is the name that appears in League of Legends, Valorant, and other Riot games. You can change it through your Riot account settings without losing your game progress, rank, or cosmetics. The first change each year is free; additional changes cost 1,300 Riot Points (the premium currency), which costs money.

The process takes about five minutes and goes into effect when ready. Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short cooldown period. If you change your mind, you can change it back anytime, though each additional change after your first annual free one will cost Riot Points.

Key Takeaways

  • You get one free username change per year; additional changes cost 1,300 Riot Points.
  • The change happens when ready through your account settings at account.riotgames.com, not in the game client.
  • Your rank, friends list, and cosmetics stay with your account — only the display name changes.
  • You cannot use spaces, special characters, or names that violate Riot's naming policy, which bans slurs, impersonation, and hateful content.

Step 1: Log into your Riot account on the web

Go to account.riotgames.com in your browser and sign in with your email and password. If you use two-factor authentication (which Riot recommends), you will need to enter a code from your authenticator app or email.

Do not use the game client to change your username — the option is not there. You must use the web account page. This is the only place Riot offers the username change tool.

Step 2: Find the username section and check your change status

Once logged in, look for "Username" in the left sidebar menu. Click it. The page will show your current username and tell you whether your free annual change is available or when it will be available next.

If you have already used your free change this year and want to change again, you will see the cost in Riot Points displayed on this page. You can buy Riot Points through the same account page if you do not have enough. The purchase is separate from the username change itself.

Step 3: Enter your new username and check availability

Type your desired username into the text field. Riot will check when ready whether it is available. The username must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and not violate Riot's naming policy.

Names that contain slurs, impersonate real people or public figures, or promote hate are rejected automatically. If your name is rejected, try a different combination. You can use numbers and underscores to make a name unique — for example, "PlayerName_1" or "Player123". Spaces are never allowed, even if the name is otherwise available.

Step 4: Confirm the change and pay if needed

Click the button to confirm your new username. If this is your free annual change, the page will process it when ready with no charge. If you are paying, you will see a confirmation screen showing the Riot Points cost before the transaction goes through.

The change takes effect right away. Your new username appears in all Riot games within seconds. Your old username enters a cooldown period (usually a few weeks) before it becomes available for others to claim.

What happens to your account after you change your username

Your rank, match history, friends list, and all cosmetics (skins, emotes, borders) stay attached to your account. Other players will see your new username in games and on your profile. Any old links to your profile by your previous username will redirect to your new one.

If you are part of a team or organization, update your username in any team rosters or documentation so teammates know who you are. Some tournament platforms track players by account ID rather than username, so the change will not affect your may be able to access. Your internal account ID never changes, even though your display name does.

How to buy Riot Points if you need to pay for a second change

If your free annual change is used up and you want to change your username again, you will need Riot Points. Go to the Riot Points section of your account page and select how many points you want to buy. Riot Points are sold in bundles, and the price varies by region and bundle size.

You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or regional payment methods depending on where you live. Once you buy the points, they appear in your account when ready and you can use them for the username change. Any leftover points stay in your account for future purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once a year?

Yes. After your free annual change, each additional change costs 1,300 Riot Points. You can change as often as you want if you are willing to pay. There is no limit on the number of paid changes.

What if my desired username is taken?

The availability checker will tell you when ready if the name is taken. Try adding numbers or underscores to make it unique. You can also wait for an old username to cycle back into availability if someone else stops using it, though this can take months or longer.

Do I lose my rank or skins when I change my username?

No. Your rank, match history, friends, and all cosmetics stay with your account. Only the display name changes. Your account ID (which the game uses internally) does not change.

Can I change my username back to my old one?

Yes, if your old username has cycled back into availability. You can change to any available name, including a previous one. Each change after your first free one per year will cost Riot Points.

What if I see an error message when I try to change my username?

Common errors include: the name contains banned characters or words, you have already used your free change this year, or your account is restricted due to a ban or suspension. Check that your name uses only letters, numbers, and underscores, and that it does not contain slurs or hateful content. If your account is restricted, you may need to contact Riot support.