Valorant account – create, secure & manage

Your Valorant account is at the same time your Riot account – the key to your progress, your skins and your rank. That makes it all the more important to understand, protect and manage it properly. This guide explains how a Valorant account works, how to secure it, what level and region are about, and why you should never buy or sell accounts.

What is a Valorant account?

A Valorant account is not a standalone account but your Riot account. With the same credentials you also play League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics and Legends of Runeterra and sign in on the Riot website. Your account includes your progress, your purchased skins, your rank, your level and your Riot ID (your public name with tag, e.g. Name#EUW1).

Create an account & log in

You create an account for free on the official Riot site with an email address, username and password. The distinction between the username (for logging in, private) and the Riot ID (your public display name) is important. How signing in works in detail and what to do about login problems is explained in our Valorant login guide.

One account for the whole Riot universe

An often underrated advantage of your Valorant account: it is at the same time your access to all Riot games. With the same credentials you play League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics and Legends of Runeterra. This also means that changes to your account – such as a new password or enabled 2FA – automatically apply to all of these games. Anyone who already has a Riot account from another game therefore does not need to create a new one for Valorant, but simply signs in with their existing details. This makes management easy, but also underlines how important a well-protected account is.

Less is more: data economy

Handling your account safely also means revealing as little data as possible. As a rule, only enter your credentials in the official Riot Client or on Riot domains – never on third-party sites, in chats or to supposed „staff". Be sparing about publicly linking your email address to your Riot ID, and do not share screenshots that reveal account details. The less attack surface you offer, the safer your account stays – and the more relaxed you can focus on the game.

Account level & progress

Your account level rises with time played and experience (XP) from matches. It is a sign of how much you have played – but gives no gameplay advantage. A player-card border shows your level to others. Important for Ranked: you first have to reach level 20 before the competitive queue is unlocked. More about rank can be found at Valorant rank system.

Account level & rewards

Your account level rises with accumulated XP. Along the way you unlock small rewards and show, with your level border, how experienced you are. The level is pure recognition of your playtime – it brings no gameplay advantage and does not affect your matchmaking. The only thing that matters is the level 20 threshold as the unlock for the competitive mode. Everything else about the ranked system can be found at Valorant rank system.

Securing your account – here's how

Valorant accounts with rare skins are a popular target for scammers. Most hacked accounts are not lost through technical tricks but through phishing. Here is how to protect yourself:

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): On account.riotgames.com in the security section – the single most effective protection.
• Unique password: Use a password for Riot that you use nowhere else.
• Secure your email: Your inbox is the master key – enable 2FA there too.
• Only log in on genuine Riot sites: Never enter credentials on third-party pages.

One account, one digital home

Over time your Valorant account becomes a kind of digital home: it collects your achievements, your favourite skins, your highest rank and countless hours of play. That is exactly why it is worth caring for and protecting it well. An account once lost is hard or impossible to replace – all the progress and purchased cosmetics hang on it. So treat your credentials as carefully as those for your online banking, and your account will accompany you for many years.

Two-factor authentication: which kind?

With 2FA you basically have two options. The email code is easy to set up: on every login from a new environment Riot sends you a code by email. More secure is an authenticator app that generates time-based codes and works independently of your email inbox – even if someone compromises your email, they can't get the code without the app. If you have the choice, the authenticator app is the stronger option. Keep the associated backup codes in a safe place so you don't get locked out if you lose your device.

Your account overview on the Riot website

The centre of your account is the official Riot account page. There you manage everything important in one place: your password, your stored email address, two-factor authentication, your Riot ID and the links to the individual Riot games. It is worth visiting this page occasionally and checking that everything is up to date – above all whether your email address is still correct. Because this email is your lifeline if you ever lock yourself out. An outdated or no longer accessible email is one of the most common reasons why players cannot recover their account.

Privacy & your data

Riot processes the data needed to operate and secure the account. Via the account page you can view your privacy settings and – depending on region – request information about your data or apply for deletion. Important for everyday use: a local, read-only tool such as a locker or store checker stores nothing about you on external servers. Your account data stays on your PC; only public skin and price information is loaded from official sources. This keeps your account overview private.

Region & server

Your region is assigned to the account and determines which servers you play on and which leaderboard you appear in. A later region change is only possible in a limited way and via Riot Support. A VPN that places you in another region often causes login and connection errors – turn it off to play.

What is my Valorant account worth?

The value of an account lies above all in the skin collection. Anyone who buys over the years quickly has a three- or four-figure euro equivalent in their locker. How much specifically comes together for you can be seen on our page on the Valorant account value – there your collection is transparently converted into VP and euros.

Purchase history & VP balance

All your purchases – skins, bundles, Battle Pass, VP top-ups – are linked to your account. Your VP balance stays permanently and does not expire; it sits on your account until you spend it. If you want to know how much real money has gone into your skins over time, a look at the account value helps: there your entire collection is transparently converted into VP and euros. This creates a realistic picture of how valuable your account has become – and motivates you to protect it accordingly well.

Buy or sell accounts? Better not

Trading Valorant accounts violates Riot's terms of service and is unsafe. Bought accounts can be reclaimed or banned at any time, and you have no real control over the original email. „Boosting" by strangers is also risky. Stick to your own account – anything else can lead to total loss.

Username vs. Riot ID – the most important difference

Hardly anything causes as much confusion about accounts as these two terms. The username is your private login – you log in with it, and nobody else sees it. The Riot ID, by contrast, is your public name with tag (e.g. Name#EUW1) that teammates see in the game. The most common login error of all is trying to sign in with the Riot ID instead of the username. So remember firmly: log in with the username, the Riot ID is displayed. How signing in works in detail is in the login guide.

Setting up an account step by step

Setting up a new Valorant account takes only a few minutes and is free:

1. Register: Create an account on the official Riot site with a valid email address.
2. Username & password: Choose a username and a strong, unique password.
3. Set a Riot ID: Choose a display name with tag that teammates see.
4. Enable 2FA: Turn on two-factor authentication right away – the most important protection from the start.
5. Download Valorant: Install the Riot Client, sign in and get going.

Enabling 2FA right when creating the account is the best habit – that way your account is protected from the very first minute.

Changing Riot ID & name

Your Riot ID consists of a display name and a tag (e.g. Name#EUW1) and is what teammates see. You can change the display name on the Riot website in the account settings – the username for logging in remains unaffected. The tag is partly assigned automatically, but can be adjusted within limits. Note: a name change changes nothing about your rank, your skins or your level – only the public name is new. More on this in the guide Changing your Valorant name.

Linked games & one account for everything

A big advantage of the Riot account: it applies to the entire Riot universe. With the same account you play Valorant, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics and Legends of Runeterra. A password change automatically applies to all of them. That is practical, but also makes clear why securing it is so important: whoever takes over your Riot account has access to all linked games. That is exactly why two-factor authentication is a must.

Multiple accounts & smurfs

Some players create a second account – for practising, for another region or to play with weaker friends. That is generally allowed, as long as you play fairly. But note: each account needs its own email, its own strong password and its own 2FA. And deliberate underperforming (griefing) or disrupting matches on a second account can lead to sanctions. For most people a well-maintained main account is entirely enough.

Bans & violations

Riot penalises cheating, fraud and toxic behaviour. There are various levels – from temporary queue bans to permanent account or hardware bans (HWID) for serious violations like cheating. An HWID ban cannot be bypassed on your own. The best protection is simple: play fair, don't use cheats or third-party programs that intervene in the game, and don't buy accounts. Local, read-only tools like a locker or store checker do not intervene in the game and are not affected by this.

Deleting the account & privacy

You can request the deletion of your Riot account via official Riot Support. This removes your data permanently – including all skins and progress, so think it over carefully. For everyday privacy: a local tool stores nothing about you on external servers. Your account data stays with you; only public price and skin information is loaded from official sources.

Recognising phishing: concrete warning signs

Most account losses happen through phishing. You should know these warning signs:

• Urgency & threats: „Your account will be banned in 24 hours – log in now." Riot does not work with such pressure.
• Foreign address: Check the URL carefully. Small deviations (e.g. extra words or wrong endings) reveal fake pages.
• Free promises: „Free VP", „free knife", „beta access" – all classic bait.
• Login outside Riot: Only enter your details in the official Riot Client or on Riot domains. A Discord bot, a third-party site or a „tournament sign-up portal" with a Riot login field is suspicious.
• When in doubt: close the page, check/change the password directly on the genuine Riot site and enable 2FA.

Strong passwords & password managers

A secure password is long, unique and random. Never use the same password for Riot as for your email or other services – if one service is hacked, attackers try the same details everywhere. A password manager generates and stores a separate strong password for each service, so you only have to remember one master password. Combined with 2FA, your account is thereby very well protected.

Suspicious emails & activity

If you receive an email about a password change, a login from a foreign country or a purchase you did not make, act immediately: change the password, check 2FA, secure your email account. Also check in your inbox whether a forwarding rule has been set up – attackers use this to intercept recovery emails. The faster you react, the greater the chance of keeping access.

Shared PCs & public computers

If you play on a shared family PC, in an internet café or at friends' places, the rule is: never choose „Stay signed in" and explicitly log out after playing. This prevents someone else from getting access to your account and your skins. On your own, password-protected PC, „Stay signed in" is convenient and fine.

Why one Riot account for everything?

The fact that Valorant uses not its own account but the Riot account has advantages: you only need to remember one login, your progress across different Riot games is connected, and security features like 2FA apply centrally. The downside is the flip side of the same coin: a single compromised account affects several games at once. That is why Riot treats the account as a central identity – and why you should treat it the same way: like an important online account that you protect with a strong password and 2FA, not like a casual game login.

Why accounts are a popular target

The more skins and the higher the rank, the more attractive an account is to scammers. A well-filled locker represents real monetary value, and a high rank can be misused. That is exactly why Valorant accounts are a frequent target for phishing. The good news: with the right basics you are very well protected. Attackers almost always pick the easiest targets – accounts without 2FA, with reused passwords or with owners who fall for fake „free skins" pages. Whoever closes these weak points is uninteresting for the vast majority of attacks.

Using Riot Support properly

If you can't solve an account problem on your own – for example after a hack or when you no longer have access to your email – official Riot Support is the right place to turn. Submit a ticket there and have as much evidence as possible ready: former display names, approximate creation date, purchase receipts (e.g. confirmation emails or amounts), the last-used email. The more you can prove, the more likely your ownership of the account can be confirmed. Important: genuine support never asks you for your password. Use only the official Riot Support channels and no „intermediaries" who offer recovery for payment.

Valorant account on console & mobile

Beyond PC, Valorant is also available on consoles, and there are Valorant Mobile variants depending on region. In all cases the same principle applies: it is always your Riot account that you sign in with. On the Riot website you can view your linked platforms. Your progress, your Riot ID and your security settings hang on the account, not on the device. Here too, make sure to sign in only via official Riot routes and to keep 2FA active – across platforms, a well-secured account is worth its weight in gold.

Account care: the short checklist

A healthy account is maintained with a few habits. Check these points from time to time:

• Email up to date? Your stored address is your lifeline – keep it accessible and secured.
• 2FA active? Best via an authenticator app, with securely stored backup codes.
• Password unique? A dedicated, strong password for Riot, ideally from a password manager.
• No foreign logins? React immediately to suspicious emails and check forwarding rules in your inbox.

These four points cost a few minutes and protect you from the most common account losses.

Account lost or hacked?

If you can no longer log in or skins are missing, act quickly: reset the password via the genuine Riot site, secure your email account, enable 2FA and, if necessary, contact Riot Support. Have account information like former names and purchase receipts ready to prove your identity. Details can be found in the login guide.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

Your Valorant account is your Riot account – with your skins, your rank and your progress, across platforms. Understand the distinction between username and Riot ID, secure the account with 2FA and a unique password, only enter your details on genuine Riot sites and avoid trading accounts. Whoever takes these basics to heart protects an often surprisingly valuable locker. How much yours is worth specifically is shown by the account value – and a local checker delivers all of that without ever asking for your password.

More Valorant guides