You can change your Riot username, but only once every 90 days

Riot Games allows you to change the username associated with your Riot account through the account settings page on their website. The change takes effect when ready across all Riot games — Valorant, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and any others tied to that account. However, Riot enforces a 90-day waiting period between changes, so you cannot swap usernames more than once per quarter.

The username you change is the one that appears in-game and on your profile. This is different from your email address, which is the login credential you use to sign into your account. You can change your email separately and as often as you need to, but the in-game name has the 90-day restriction.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your username through the Riot Games account website, not through the game client itself.
  • The 90-day cooldown means you can change your name at most four times per year.
  • Your username change applies to all Riot games on that account when ready.
  • Changing your username does not affect your email login, rank, or game progress.
  • If your account is banned or restricted, Riot may prevent username changes until the restriction is lifted.

Steps to change your username on the Riot website

Go to account.riotgames.com and sign in with your email and password. Once logged in, look for the account settings or profile section — the exact location varies slightly depending on your region, but it is always in the main menu after you log in.

Find the field labeled "Summoner Name" or "Username" (the name varies by game region). Click the edit or change button next to it. Type your new username into the text box. Riot usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters, can include letters, numbers, and spaces, and cannot contain special characters like hyphens or underscores. After you enter the new name, click confirm or save. The change is when ready.

If you see a message saying you cannot change your username, check whether you have already changed it within the last 90 days. You can see the date of your last change in the same settings area. If your account is flagged for a violation or is under review, Riot may also lock username changes until the review is complete.

What happens to your old username after you change it

Your old username becomes available for other players to claim after a short delay — usually within a few hours. If you change your mind and want to reclaim it, you would have to wait until your next 90-day window opens, and even then, someone else may have already taken it. There is no way to reserve or hold an old username.

Your account history, rank, and all game progress remain tied to your account regardless of the username. Friends who had you added will still see you on their list, though your name will update to the new one. Any messages or chat history will show your new name retroactively.

Why Riot enforces the 90-day cooldown

The waiting period exists to reduce impersonation and account takeover fraud. If someone gains unauthorized access to your account, they cannot when ready change your username to something that looks like a popular streamer or pro player, then use that to scam other players. The cooldown gives you time to notice the breach and recover your account before the attacker can make the account look like someone else's.

The 90-day window also reduces the overhead on Riot's systems. Frequent username changes create database updates, chat history rewrites, and friend-list refreshes across millions of accounts. Spacing changes out keeps the load manageable.

If you cannot change your username

The most common reason is that you have already changed it within 90 days. Check your account settings to see the exact date of your last change. If the date is older than 90 days and you still cannot change your name, your account may be under review for a violation, or Riot may have temporarily locked the feature due to a system issue.

If you believe your account is wrongly restricted, contact Riot Support through support.riotgames.com. You will need to log in and submit a ticket describing the problem. Response times vary, but Riot typically replies within a few business days. Do not try to change your username repeatedly or use workarounds — that can trigger additional account flags.

Changing your email versus changing your username

Your email is your login credential — the address you type into the sign-in box. Your username is your in-game display name. You can change your email address at any time with no cooldown, but changing your email does not change your username, and vice versa. If you want to use a different email to log in, go to account settings and look for "Email" or "Login Email" rather than "Username" or "Summoner Name".

If you forget which email is tied to your account, you can recover it by clicking "Forgot your username or email?" on the Riot login page. Riot will send a recovery link to any email address previously associated with the account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my username affect my rank or game progress?

No. Your rank, match history, skins, and all other account data stay exactly the same. Only the name displayed in-game and on your profile changes. Friends will still see your full history with them.

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

No. Riot enforces a hard 90-day cooldown between changes. You cannot pay to skip it or request an exception. If you change your name, you must wait at least 90 days before changing it again.

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

Once you change your username, it becomes available to other players. If someone claims it before you want it back, you cannot reclaim it unless they change their name first. There is no way to reserve or hold a username.

Will my friends still be able to find me if I change my username?

Yes. Your friends list will update automatically, and anyone who had you added will see your new name. You will still appear in their friends list under the new username.

Can I change my username if my account is banned?

No. If your account is suspended, banned, or under review for a violation, Riot locks most account changes, including username changes, until the review is resolved or the suspension ends.