Change your game language in Valorant's settings
Open Valorant and log in. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of the main menu to open Settings. Select the "General" tab on the left side. Scroll down until you see "Language" — it will show your current language. Click the dropdown menu next to it.
You'll see a list of available languages. Look for "Chinese (Simplified)" or "Chinese (Traditional)" depending on which version you want. Simplified Chinese is used in mainland China; Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Click your choice, then restart Valorant for the change to take effect.
The entire interface — menus, agent names, ability descriptions, chat, and in-game text — will switch to your selected Chinese variant. Voice lines from agents will remain in English unless you separately change the voice language setting, which sits just below the text language option.
Key Takeaways
- Language settings are in the gear icon menu under General, in a dropdown labeled "Language".
- Valorant offers both Simplified Chinese (mainland) and Traditional Chinese (Taiwan/Hong Kong) as separate options.
- Changing the text language does not automatically change voice lines; you can adjust those separately in the same settings menu.
- The game requires a restart after you change the language for the new setting to appear in-game.
Where to find the language dropdown if you're on a different region server
If you're playing on a regional server outside China — such as North America, Europe, or Southeast Asia — the steps are identical. Valorant's language settings are the same regardless of which regional server your account uses. You don't need a Chinese account or a VPN to change the language; the option is built into every version of the game.
If the language dropdown appears empty or doesn't show Chinese as an option, your game client may need an update. Close Valorant completely and open the Riot Client (the launcher). Let it update automatically, then reopen Valorant and check Settings again.
What happens to your game after you switch
All text in the game switches to Chinese when ready after restart — agent names, ability names, map callouts, chat messages you receive, and menu text. If you're playing with teammates who speak English, they will still see English on their screens; language is a personal client setting, not a server-wide one.
Your own typed messages in chat will appear in whatever language you type, regardless of your client language. If you type in English, teammates see English. If you type in Chinese, they see Chinese. The client language only changes what the game itself displays to you.
Switching back to English or another language
Return to Settings, click the Language dropdown, and select "English" or whichever language you want. Restart the game. There's no penalty or cooldown for changing languages — you can switch as often as you want.
Some players switch languages to learn the language itself, then switch back. Others keep it in Chinese if they're more comfortable reading that language. The setting is purely personal and doesn't affect your rank, account status, or ability to play with others.
If the language option doesn't appear or won't save
First, make sure you're fully logged in and in the main menu, not in a match or queue. The Settings gear icon only appears when you're at the main menu screen. If you're in a match, you won't see the settings option.
If you're at the main menu and the gear icon isn't visible, or if you change the language but it reverts after restart, your game client may have a sync issue. Close Valorant and the Riot Client completely. Wait 10 seconds, then reopen the Riot Client and let it fully load before launching Valorant again. Try changing the language once more.
If the problem persists, uninstall and reinstall Valorant through the Riot Client. This is rare, but a corrupted settings file can prevent language changes from saving. Reinstalling takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on your internet speed.
Voice language versus text language
Valorant has two separate language settings: one for text (menus, ability descriptions, chat) and one for voice (agent voice lines, announcer). You can set these independently. For example, you could have Chinese text but keep English voice lines, or vice versa.
To change voice language, go to Settings > General and look for "Voice Language" — it's directly below the text Language option. The same Chinese (Simplified) and Chinese (Traditional) options are available. Some players prefer to keep voice in English because they're used to hearing agent callouts in English during competitive play, even if they read menus in Chinese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Chinese account or VPN to change Valorant to Chinese?
No. The language setting is available on every regional account and server. You can change to Chinese on a North American, European, or any other regional account without a VPN or special setup. It's just a client setting, like changing your crosshair color.
Will my teammates see Chinese text if I change my language?
No. Your language setting only affects what appears on your own screen. Your teammates will see their own language settings. If you type a message in chat, they see whatever language you typed in, not your client language.
Can I change the language back to English anytime?
Yes. Go back to Settings > General > Language, select English, and restart. You can switch languages as many times as you want with no restrictions or penalties.
What's the difference between Simplified and Traditional Chinese?
Simplified Chinese uses fewer strokes per character and is the standard in mainland China. Traditional Chinese uses more complex characters and is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Choose based on which version you read more comfortably.
If I change to Chinese, will my rank or account be affected?
No. Language is a display setting only. It doesn't change your rank, MMR, account region, or anything else about your account. You can switch languages without any impact on your competitive standing.