You no longer like your name in Valorant, it has become embarrassing or simply does not fit anymore? No problem: this step-by-step guide shows you how to change your Valorant name in a few minutes – via your Riot ID in the account settings. This guide shows you how it works, what it costs and how often you may switch.
You change your display name (Riot ID) for free in your Riot account (account.riotgames.com) under "Riot ID" – this is possible every 90 days (previously 30). Close the Riot client first, change the name and tagline (#code) and save.
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.
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:
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.
The change happens entirely via the Riot account page in your browser – not via the game client. Here is how to proceed:
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 whether your current switch is free or costs something.
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.
Many people do not know they can adjust their Riot ID flexibly – either fully or only in part. You can, for example, keep your display name and only change the tagline, perhaps because you prefer a shorter or more fitting combination. Conversely, you can choose a completely new display name and leave the tagline as is. This flexibility is handy when you are basically happy with your name but one small detail bothers you. Keep in mind, though: even a tagline-only change usually counts as a name change and is subject to the same rules on cost and cooldown. So it is not worth spending your free switch on a tiny adjustment if you want to change the whole name soon anyway. Plan your change as a package and ideally change display name and tagline in the same step if you dislike both.
You like your display name but want to get rid of the tagline? That works in the same menu too. The tagline can be adjusted independently – for example from a random string of numbers to a shorter code. Popular taglines are often taken, though, so you may have to experiment a bit until you find a free combination. Keep in mind that a tagline-only change also counts as a name change and is thus subject to the same rules on cooldown and cost. So consider your desired tagline calmly instead of switching on a whim – that way you use your free switch wisely and do not have to sacrifice another switch over a trifle.
Display names may repeat, but the combination of name and tagline may not. Simply choose a different tagline, then it usually works right away.
If you changed it recently, the cooldown applies. Wait until the displayed deadline has passed and try again.
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.
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.
When choosing your new display name, there are a few technical limits to keep in mind. The name may not exceed a certain length – 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. Some special characters and spaces are allowed, others are not – if your desired name is rejected, it is often due to an invalid character. In that case, sticking to plain letters and numbers helps. The tagline is usually limited to a few characters and typically consists of a short sequence of letters or numbers. 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.
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.
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 #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.
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.
Tagline ideas and availability
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, their in-game founding year or a word that fits their display name. Since the tagline serves only for differentiation anyway and is not particularly conspicuous, do not expect miracles here – the main thing is that the combination of name and tagline is free. With a bit of experimenting you almost always find a fitting, available variant.
Tips for a good Valorant name
The Riot ID and your old player name
In the past, Valorant had pure player names without account-wide linking. Today everything is unified via the Riot ID. If you have been playing Valorant for a long time, your former name was automatically carried over into the Riot ID. You can adjust it anytime via the account settings – a separate "old" name no longer exists. 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 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.
Name ideas: how to find a good name
You do not know what to call yourself? A few suggestions: combine a word that fits your play style (e.g. "Rush", "Calm", "Ghost") with a short addition. Use a number or a short code as a tagline to free up your desired name. If you create content, choose a name that fits your channel and is easy to remember. Avoid names that are too long or hard to read – short and punchy sticks best in teammates' minds. And remember: because a change is only possible every 90 days, it pays to choose a name you can stand behind for a while.
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 recognisable 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, usually free and in a few minutes. Just watch the cooldown and whether your current switch is free. 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.
What is your account worth?
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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.
No. The name change is free – Riot allows one switch every 90 days. There is no paid option to switch faster.
Free every 90 days (previously it was 30). After a switch you have to wait 90 days until the next one.
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.
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.
Sign in at account.riotgames.com, open the "Riot ID" tab, change the Game Name and tagline and click "Save changes". After a few minutes the new name is active.
Free once every 90 days (3 months). More often is only possible if your name violates the guidelines (via support).
