Where to change your username

You change your Riot Games username through the official 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 change option is labeled "Summoner Name" for League of Legends players or "Game Name" for Valorant players — they are the same setting, since both games use your Riot account.

The change takes effect when ready in both games once you confirm it. You do not need to restart the client or log out and back in, though some players report the new name appears after a client restart if it does not show right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your username at account.riotgames.com under account settings, not in the game client.
  • Your first username change is free, but each change after that costs 1,380 Riot Points (the premium currency).
  • Usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain no spaces, and cannot include certain words Riot has blocked.
  • The change takes effect when ready across League of Legends, Valorant, and any other Riot game tied to your account.
  • If your desired name is taken, you can reserve it by putting it on a wishlist, and Riot will notify you if it becomes available.

The cost of changing your username

Your first username change is free. After that, each change costs 1,380 Riot Points. Riot Points are purchased with real money — the exact dollar amount varies by region and current pricing, but 1,380 RP typically costs between $10 and $12 USD depending on your country and any active promotions.

If you have never changed your username since creating your account, you are may be able to access for the free change. You can check whether you have used your free change by going to account.riotgames.com and attempting to change your name — the system will tell you whether the change is free or will cost RP.

Rules for what your new username can be

Riot enforces several restrictions on usernames. Your new name must be between 3 and 16 characters long, contain only letters, numbers, and spaces (though spaces cannot be at the start or end), and cannot be a name that is already taken by another player. Usernames are not case-sensitive — "PlayerOne" and "playerone" are treated as the same name.

Riot also maintains a list of blocked words and phrases that cannot appear in any username. These include profanity, slurs, and references to real people or organizations that Riot wants to avoid. If you try to use a blocked word, the system will reject it when ready and tell you the name violates the username policy. The blocked list is not public, so you will only know a word is blocked when you try to use it.

What happens if your desired name is taken

If the username you want is already in use, you cannot take it. However, Riot offers a name reservation system: you can add the name to a wishlist, and Riot will notify you by email if that name becomes available. To add a name to your wishlist, search for it on the username change page and select "Add to Wishlist" instead of trying to claim it.

Names become available when players change their usernames or when accounts are inactive for a long period. There is no may provide timeline for when a name will free up — it could be weeks, months, or never, depending on whether the current owner changes their name. You can add multiple names to your wishlist and receive notifications for all of them.

How the change affects your account across games

Your Riot Games account is shared across all Riot titles — League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, and any other current or future Riot game. When you change your username, it changes everywhere at once. You do not have separate usernames for each game.

Your change does not affect your account name (the email address you use to log in) or your account ID number, which stays the same forever. Friends will see your new username when ready, and your match history will show your new name on all past games. Ranked ratings and progression stay exactly the same — changing your name does not reset anything.

Troubleshooting a failed username change

If you try to change your username and receive an error, the most common reasons are: the name is already taken, the name contains a blocked word, the name is too short or too long, or you do not have enough Riot Points if it is not your free change. The error message from the website usually specifies which rule was broken.

If the error message is unclear or you believe it is a mistake, contact Riot Support through the support portal at support.riotgames.com. Provide your account email, the username you tried to use, and a screenshot of the error. Support can clarify whether a name is blocked or taken, though they cannot override the restrictions or manually change your name for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to my old one?

Yes, but it costs RP just like any other change (unless it is your first change ever). If you change your name and then want to revert to your previous name, you can do so, but you will pay the standard fee unless you have not used any paid changes yet.

How long does it take for my new username to show up?

The change is when ready on the website and in the game client. In rare cases, the new name may take a few minutes to appear in the client or in match history, but this is unusual. If your new name does not appear after 10 minutes, try restarting the game client.

What if someone is using my old username after I change mine?

Once you change your username, your old name becomes available for other players to claim. Riot does not reserve old names for the player who used them. If you want to keep a name reserved, do not change away from it.

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

You can change your username even if your account is suspended or banned. However, if your account is permanently banned, Riot may not allow new changes. Check your account status at account.riotgames.com to see whether changes are available to you.

Does changing my username affect my rank or MMR?

No. Your rank, rating, and all progression stay exactly the same. Changing your username is purely cosmetic and does not reset anything or affect how the matchmaking system sees your account.