Change your Valorant name

You no longer like your name in Valorant, it has become embarrassing or simply does not fit anymore? No problem: you can change your Valorant name – and in just a few minutes. The name is tied to your Riot ID, which you conveniently adjust in the account settings. This guide shows you step by step how it works, what it costs, how often you may change the name and what you can do if your desired name is taken.

What is the Riot ID?

Since Riot unified all its games under one account, your display name in Valorant is part of the so-called Riot ID. It consists of two parts:

• Display name: the name teammates see (e.g. "Phoenix").
• Tagline: a code after the # sign (e.g. "#1234" or "#EUW") that makes your name unique.

Together this forms your complete Riot ID, e.g. Phoenix#1234. Because many players want to use the same display name, the tagline ensures every Riot ID stays unique. Important to know: the Riot ID applies account-wide – if you change it, your name also changes in other Riot games like League of Legends.

Change your Valorant name: step by step

The change happens entirely via the Riot account page in your browser – not via the game client. Here is how to proceed:

1. Open the Riot account page in your browser and sign in with your Riot account.
2. Go to the "Riot ID" section in the account settings.
3. Enter your desired new display name and optionally a new tagline.
4. Check whether the combination is still available – if it is taken, choose a different tagline.
5. Confirm the change. The new name appears in the game shortly after.

What does the name change cost?

The name change is free. Riot allows every account one free switch every 90 days (since November 2023; previously it was 30 days). There is no official option to change the name more often or, for a fee, faster – so you wait until the 90 days have passed.

Riot shows you the exact conditions directly in the account settings before you confirm the change. So it pays to watch for the note there indicating when your next free switch is possible.

How often can I change my name?

Between two name changes there is a cooldown of 90 days during which you cannot switch the name again after a change. After that the next switch is free again. In practice this means: you can change your name without trouble, but you should think the new one through carefully instead of switching constantly.

Changing the tagline (#tag): rules and ideas

Many people do not know they can adjust their Riot ID flexibly – fully or only in part. You can keep your display name and only change the tagline, for example from a random string of numbers to a shorter code – or, the other way round, choose a new display name and keep the tagline. Both work in the same menu of the Riot account page. Important: even a pure tagline change counts as a name change and uses up your free switch including the 90-day cooldown. So plan your change as a complete package and change display name and tagline in the same step if you no longer like either.

Popular, short taglines are often taken – especially nice words or common codes. If your desired tagline is not free, try variants: append a number, combine letters and digits or choose a personal code. Some players use their initials, the year they started playing or a word that fits their display name. Allowed are 3–5 letters or numbers; region codes such as EUW, EUNE or NA are no longer assigned by Riot when changing. Since the tagline only serves to tell players apart, do not expect miracles here – the main thing is that the combination of name and tagline is free.

Common problems – and how to solve them

"The name is already taken"

Display names may repeat, but the combination of name and tagline may not. Simply choose a different tagline, then it usually works right away.

"Change not possible / cooldown active"

If you changed it recently, the cooldown applies. Wait until the displayed deadline has passed and try again.

Disallowed characters or words

Riot does not allow offensive names and filters out certain terms and special characters. If your desired name is rejected, rephrase it a little or avoid unusual characters.

Does the new name apply in other Riot games too?

Yes. Because the Riot ID applies account-wide, the change affects all games of the same account – besides Valorant, also League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics or Legends of Runeterra. A separate "Valorant name" no longer exists; you have one name for your entire Riot account.

Capitalization, length and characters

When choosing your new display name, there are a few technical limits to keep in mind. According to Riot Support, the display name is 3–16 characters long and allows only letters and numbers (single spaces between words are possible, special characters are not); the tagline has 3–5 letters or numbers. Very long names are impractical anyway, because they get cut off in the game and teammates struggle to remember them. You can freely combine upper- and lowercase letters to give your name its own look. If your desired name is rejected, it is often due to an invalid character or a blocked term such as "Riot" – in that case, sticking to plain letters and numbers helps. If you stick to common characters and do not overdo it, your name is generally accepted without trouble – and stays easy to read for teammates.

Why do players change their name?

There are many good reasons for a name change. Some picked a name years ago that embarrasses them today. Others want a fresh start, for instance after a longer break or when they want to play more seriously. Still others start creating content – streaming or uploading videos – and need a name that fits their channel and is easy to remember. Privacy is a reason too: anyone who accidentally chose their real name as a display name often wants to swap it for an anonymous pseudonym. And sometimes it is simply the desire for variety. Whatever your reason for switching – the process is the same and done in a few minutes.

Display name and tagline in detail

It pays to understand exactly the difference between the two parts of the Riot ID. The display name is the visible part teammates see in the game, in the kill feed and in the friends list. It may overlap with other players' names – thousands of people can be called "Phoenix" at the same time. The tagline after the # sign then makes you unique: it can consist of numbers, letters or a mix (e.g. #1234 or – on older accounts – #EUW). Important: the tagline is not your region and does not affect which servers you play on – it is purely cosmetic for differentiation. You can change display name and tagline together or just one of them, depending on what matters to you.

Planning the cooldown cleverly

Because there is a 90-day cooldown between two changes, you should not rush your name switch. Take time to write down different ideas and sleep on them for a few days before committing. Check in advance in the account settings whether your desired name with a fitting tagline is available. That way you avoid "using up" your free switch on a name you no longer like after a week – and then having to wait around three months for the next change. A little planning saves you frustration and a needlessly spent change here.

Changing your name via smartphone

You do not have to sit at a PC to change your name. The Riot account page also opens conveniently in your smartphone browser. You sign in there just like on the computer, go to the Riot ID area and adjust your name. This is handy when a good name occurs to you on the go and you want to secure it right away before someone else takes it with the same tagline. The changed name then applies on all devices and platforms where you play with your Riot account – whether PC, PlayStation or Xbox.

The Riot ID and your old player name

Valorant has used the Riot ID since its launch in 2020. If you come from League of Legends, you may remember the old summoner name – it was migrated into the account-wide Riot ID at the end of 2023. For Valorant players nothing changes: a separate "old" name does not exist, and you adjust your Riot ID anytime via the account settings. This makes it simpler: one name applies everywhere, and changes take effect immediately on your entire Riot account.

Changing your name on console

On PlayStation and Xbox too, the name change happens via your Riot account in the browser – not via the console interface. So you simply sign in on the Riot account page, change your Riot ID and then restart Valorant. The new name then appears on all platforms where you play with the same Riot account. A separate console name does not exist.

What happens to friends, stats and skins?

A name change affects only your display name – nothing else. Your friends list, your rank, your stats, your purchased skins and your entire progress remain fully intact. After the change, friends simply see your new name. So there is no reason to worry about losing anything through a name switch. You should only tell your friends the new Riot ID so they can still find and invite you without trouble.

Forbidden names and reports

Riot forbids offensive, discriminatory or objectionable names and automatically filters out corresponding terms. If your desired name is rejected, rephrase it or avoid problematic words and characters. If a name violates the rules, Riot Support can also reset it and, in serious cases, take action against the account. A clean, friendly name thus saves you trouble – and makes a better impression on teammates anyway.

No new name yet? How to find one

Before you use up your 90-day change, pick a name you can stand behind for a while: short, easy to remember, not easily confused with well-known pros and – if you stream – matching your channel. If your desired name is taken, a different tagline often does the trick. If you are out of ideas, our Valorant name generator suggests Riot-compliant names including a tagline in 21 styles.

Riot ID and privacy

Your Riot ID is publicly visible – teammates and opponents see your display name including the tagline. So do not use a name that contains your real full name or private information if privacy matters to you. A pure player name with no personal reference is the safest choice. That way you stay recognizable in the game without revealing more about yourself than you want.

Common misconceptions about the name change

A few misconceptions persist around the Riot ID. A common one is that the name change is done in the game client – in reality it only works via the Riot account page in the browser. Another: many believe the tagline after the # sign determines their game region or server. That is not true – the tagline is purely cosmetic and has nothing to do with your location. Equally wrong is the worry that a name switch loses your rank or skins; in reality everything stays, only the display name changes. And finally, some think every change costs money – yet the switch is free every 90 days. Those who know these points approach the name change far more relaxed.

When the change does not appear immediately

Sometimes Valorant does not adopt the new name on the spot. That is normal and no cause for concern. In the vast majority of cases it helps to fully close and restart the game client – after that the new Riot ID appears. If the name still does not show, wait a few minutes, since the change has to propagate briefly on the server side. Your friends also only see the new name after their client has updated. If the old name still appears after a longer time, check in the account settings whether the change was really saved – occasionally an entry is not confirmed if the chosen combination turned out to be unavailable.

Riot ID in esports and tracking

If you track your stats via external trackers or take part in tournaments, it is good to know these services find you via your current Riot ID. If you change your name, it can take a moment for tracking sites to adopt the new name – but your data and progress are not lost, they are tied to the account, not the name. For tournament registration you should give your new Riot ID after a switch. So it is best not to plan a name change right before an important tournament, to avoid confusion at registration.

Does the name change affect my account value?

No. Your name is purely cosmetic and has no effect on your skins, your rank or your account value. The value of your account lies above all in your skin collection. How much it is worth as a guide is shown to you by Valorant-Spind calculator, which reads your locker locally and calculates the total value in euros – entirely regardless of what you are currently called.

Checklist before the name change

Before you click "Confirm", it pays to take a quick look at a few points so you do not regret your switch. First: check in the account settings whether your next free switch is already available (it is possible every 90 days). Second: make sure your desired combination of display name and tagline is available. Third: remember that the new name applies account-wide and also appears in other Riot games. Fourth: ensure the name complies with the rules and contains no banned words. And fifth: be aware that a cooldown then applies, so you cannot switch again for a while. If all these points check out, nothing stands in the way of your new name – and you save yourself later trouble or a needless second change.

After the change: what you should know

Once the switch is done, there are a few practical things to note. Tell your friends your new Riot ID so they can still invite you – the old combination no longer works. Restart Valorant once if the name still shows as old in the client. Your friends list stays intact; after updating, your friends simply see your new name. If you use external stats trackers, it can take a moment for them to adopt the new name. Otherwise everything continues as usual: rank, skins and progress are untouched. A name switch is thus a small, uncomplicated step – as long as you think the new name through carefully, you will enjoy it for a long time.

Conclusion

Changing your Valorant name is easy: you do it in the browser via the Riot account settings, free and in a few minutes. Just watch the 90-day cooldown. And because the Riot ID applies account-wide, your new name applies straight away in all Riot games. It is best to think of a name you will like long term – then it stays at a single, relaxed switch.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How do I change my name in Valorant?

Sign in on the Riot account page in your browser, open the "Riot ID" section and enter a new display name plus optionally a new tagline. After confirming, the new name appears in the game.

Does changing your name in Valorant cost money?

No. The name change is free – Riot allows one switch every 90 days. There is no paid option to switch faster.

How often can I change my Valorant name?

Free every 90 days (previously it was 30). After a switch you have to wait 90 days until the next one.

Many sites still say 30 days – is that right?

No, that is outdated. Until November 2023 you could change your Riot ID every 30 days; since then there is a 90-day wait after every change. That is what the official Riot Support article “Changing your Riot ID” says (as of May 2026). It also lists the limits: the name has 3 to 16 characters, the tagline 3 to 5. Claims like “once a month” date from before the change.

Does my name also change in League of Legends?

Yes. The Riot ID applies account-wide, so your name changes in all Riot games of the same account, including League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics.

Why is my desired name unavailable?

Display names may repeat, but the combination of name and tagline must be unique. Simply choose a different tagline, then your desired name is usually available.

How often can I change my Riot name?

Free once every 90 days (3 months). More often is only possible if your name violates the guidelines (via support).