You can change your Riot username once every 90 days through the Riot Games website

Log into your Riot account at account.riotgames.com, go to the "Username" section under Account Settings, and click "Change Username". Type your new name, confirm it, and the change takes effect when ready across all Riot games — League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and any others linked to that account. You do not need to restart the game client for the change to show up.

The 90-day waiting period starts from your last username change, not from account creation. If you changed your username three months ago, you can change it again right now. If you changed it two weeks ago, you will see a countdown timer showing when the next change becomes available.

Your old username becomes available for other players to claim after you change it. If you want to keep that name reserved, do not change it — there is no way to lock a username you are no longer using.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.riotgames.com, sign in, and find the Username section under Account Settings to make the change.
  • New usernames take effect when ready in all Riot games and do not require a client restart.
  • You can change your username once every 90 days, and the timer resets from each change date, not from when you created the account.
  • Your previous username becomes available for other players once you change it, so pick a new one you plan to keep.
  • Usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters and cannot contain certain symbols or spaces.

Username rules and what names Riot will reject

Riot enforces a set of character and content rules. Your username must be between 3 and 16 characters long. You can use letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or special characters like @, #, $, or &.

Riot also blocks usernames that contain slurs, hate speech, or references to real-world violence. The system flags these automatically and will not let you save the name. If you see an error message saying the name is unavailable or inappropriate, try a different combination. Riot does not publish the full list of blocked words, so you may need to experiment with alternatives.

Names that impersonate Riot staff, pro players, or streamers are also rejected. You cannot use a name that is identical to an active Riot employee's account or a name designed to deceive other players into thinking you are someone you are not.

What happens to your rank, friends list, and game history when you change your name

Your rank, match history, and all statistics stay exactly the same. If you were Gold 2 in Valorant before the name change, you remain Gold 2 after. Your friends list does not break — players who have you added will still see you as a friend, and their client will update to show your new name within a few minutes.

In-game chat logs and match replays will show your new username, not the old one. If someone watched a recording of a match you played under your old name, the replay will display your current username when they open it. This applies to both your own saved replays and replays other players have of matches with you.

Tournaments and ranked ladder records display your current username as well. If you competed in a Valorant Champions qualifier or a League ranked season under a previous name, official records will show your new name if you look them up after the change.

Changing your username on mobile versus desktop

The process is identical whether you use a phone or a computer. Open a web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge), go to account.riotgames.com, and sign in. Tap or click "Username" under Account Settings, then "Change Username". The mobile browser will work just as smoothly as the desktop version.

You cannot change your username through the Valorant or League of Legends game client itself — you must use the website. The in-game settings menu does not have a username change option. If you try to look for it in-game, you will only find cosmetic settings like language and graphics preferences.

Troubleshooting: why your username change might not work

If you see a message saying you cannot change your username yet, you are still within the 90-day window from your last change. The exact date and time of your next available change will appear on the screen. You cannot bypass this timer — Riot enforces it on all accounts.

If the name you want is rejected as unavailable, someone else already has it. Usernames are unique across all Riot games on a single account, but different accounts can have the same name. Try adding a number or underscore to make it distinct. For example, if "Valorant" is taken, try "Valorant1" or "Valorant_".

If you see an error message about the name being inappropriate or containing banned words, the system flagged it automatically. This happens even if the name seems harmless to you — Riot's filter is broad and catches words in context you might not expect. Rephrase the name and try again.

If you are having trouble signing into account.riotgames.com itself, make sure you are using the correct email address and password for your Riot account. If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot your password?" on the login page and follow the email recovery steps. You will need access to the email address linked to your account.

How your username appears to other players

Your username is what other players see in the game client, in match lobbies, in chat, and on the scoreboard during matches. It is also what appears on your profile card when someone clicks on your name. This is different from your Riot ID, which includes a tag number and is used for adding friends across regions.

When you change your username, the change is visible to everyone when ready. Players in your friends list will see the new name the next time they log in or refresh their client. Enemies you play against will see your new name in the match lobby and on the scoreboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once every 90 days?

No. Riot enforces a strict 90-day cooldown between changes. The timer resets each time you change your name, so if you changed it today, your next change is available in 90 days from today. There is no way to shorten this wait or pay to bypass it.

What if someone else takes my old username after I change mine?

Your old username becomes available for anyone to claim when ready after you change it. Riot does not reserve old usernames or hold them for you. If you want to keep a name, do not change it. If you change it and regret it, you cannot reclaim the old name unless it happens to be available again.

Will my username change affect my rank or MMR in Valorant or League?

No. Your rank, rating, and all competitive statistics remain unchanged. A username change is purely cosmetic and does not reset your progress or affect matchmaking in any way.

Can I use special characters like hyphens or periods in my username?

No. Riot only allows letters, numbers, and underscores. Hyphens, periods, spaces, and symbols like @, #, or $ will cause the system to reject the name. If you want to separate words, use an underscore instead.

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

Your new username takes effect when ready on the website, but it may take a few minutes to appear in the game client. If you do not see it right away, try restarting the Valorant or League client. You do not need to restart your computer.