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 touching your email address or password. The first change each year is free; additional changes in the same year cost 1,325 Riot Points (the in-game currency you buy with real money).

The change takes effect when ready in your games, but other players may see your old name in their recent match history for a few hours. You cannot change to a name that is already taken, contains offensive language, or violates Riot's username policy. If your desired name is unavailable, you will see that message during the process and can try a different one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your first username change per calendar year is free; you pay 1,325 Riot Points for any changes after that in the same year.
  • Log into your Riot account at account.riotgames.com, not through a game launcher, to access the username change tool.
  • The change takes effect when ready in your games, though other players' match histories may show your old name for a few hours.
  • You cannot change to a name already in use, and Riot will reject names containing offensive language or impersonation.
  • If you forget your Riot username, you can find it by logging into your account or checking your confirmation email from account creation.

Step 1: Log into your Riot account on the web

Go to account.riotgames.com in your web browser. Do not try to change your username through the League of Legends or Valorant game launcher — the option is only available on the Riot website.

Click "Sign In" and enter the email address and password you use for your Riot account. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you will need to enter a code from your authenticator app or email after you enter your password.

Step 2: Find the username change option

Once you are logged in, look for "Account" in the left sidebar menu. Click it to open your account settings.

Scroll down until you see a section labeled "Summoner Name" (in League of Legends) or "Game Name" (in Valorant and other Riot games). Next to it, you will see a button that says "Change" or a pencil icon. Click that button to open the username change form.

Step 3: Check the cost and confirm your may be able to access

The form will tell you whether your change is free or costs Riot Points. If this is your first change in the current calendar year, it will say "Free." If you have already changed your username once this year, it will show the cost: 1,325 Riot Points.

If you do not have enough Riot Points and want to pay for the change, you will need to buy more through the Riot client or the website. If you want to wait for your free change, you can close this form and come back after January 1st of the next year.

Step 4: Type your new username and check availability

In the text field, type the username you want. Riot usernames can be 3 to 16 characters long and can include letters, numbers, spaces, and some special characters like hyphens and underscores.

As you type, the form will check whether that name is available. If the name is taken, you will see a message saying "This name is not available." If it is available, you will see a checkmark or a green confirmation. Try a different name if your first choice is taken.

Step 5: Confirm the change and pay if needed

Once you have chosen an available name, click the "Confirm" or "Change" button. If the change is free, it will process when ready. If it costs Riot Points, you will see a confirmation screen showing the cost before the change goes through.

After you confirm, your new username will appear in your account settings and in your games within a few minutes. You may still see your old name in other players' recent match histories or in chat for a few hours, but this is normal and will update on their end automatically.

What to do if your desired username is unavailable

If the name you want is already taken, you have a few options. You can add numbers or special characters to make it unique — for example, changing "Shadow" to "Shadow7" or "Shadow-" if "Shadow" is taken. You can also try a completely different name.

Riot does not have a waitlist for unavailable names, and there is no way to reserve a name before it becomes available. If someone else is using the name you want, you cannot claim it unless they change their username first and the name becomes free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I see an error message saying my username violates policy?

Riot rejects usernames that contain offensive language, slurs, impersonation of real people or celebrities, or references to violence or hate. If your chosen name is rejected, try a different one. You can contact Riot Support if you believe your name was rejected in error, though they rarely overturn these decisions.

Can I change my username more than once per year?

Yes. After your free change, each additional change costs 1,325 Riot Points. The free change resets on January 1st each year, so you can change once for free again then. There is no limit to how many times you can change your name if you pay.

Will my rank, skins, and game progress stay the same after I change my username?

Yes. Changing your username does not affect your rank, your owned skins, your match history, or anything else on your account. Only the name displayed in games and on your profile changes.

What if I forgot my current Riot username?

Log into account.riotgames.com and go to Account settings. Your current username will be displayed in the "Summoner Name" or "Game Name" section. You can also check the confirmation email Riot sent you when you created your account.

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

Your new username appears in your games within a few minutes of confirming the change. Other players may see your old name in their recent match history for a few hours, but this updates automatically and you do not need to do anything.