If you’ve ever logged into a Valorant competitive match only to cringe at the silly username you picked when you first downloaded the game back in beta, you’re not alone. Thousands of players ask can you change your Valorant name every month, and the good news is you absolutely can, as long as you follow Riot’s official rules. I’ve changed my own Valorant display name three times over the past few years, so I know all the hiccups you might run into, from unavailable names to unexpected cooldowns. This guide walks you through every step, plus the mistakes you need to avoid so you don’t waste your free name change slot or get stuck with a name you hate for months.
Can You Change Your Valorant Name Without Losing Your Account Progress?
This is the most common question I get from players nervous to adjust their display name, and the answer is a resounding yes. Changing your Valorant name only edits your public display identity, not any of the content or progress tied to your account. You will never lose any in-game content or progress when changing your Valorant name, including your rank, unlocked agents, skin collections, match history, or friend list.
What you’re actually updating is your Riot ID, which is the combination of your display name and the 3-5 digit tagline after the # symbol. This ID is used across all Riot Games titles, so any change you make will carry over to League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra too if you play those. The only time a name change will impact your account access is if you pick a name that violates Riot’s community guidelines, which can lead to a forced name reset or temporary account restriction.
Step-by-Step Process to Change Your Valorant Display Name
Unlike many other games, you can’t change your Valorant name directly through the in-game client. You’ll need to log into your Riot account via the official website to make the adjustment, which takes less than five minutes total if you have your login details handy.
First, head to the Riot account login page and enter your account credentials. If you have two-factor authentication enabled (which you absolutely should to protect your account from hacks), you’ll need to enter the code sent to your email or authenticator app to gain access. Once logged in, navigate to the “Riot ID” tab in the left-hand account settings menu. You’ll see your current display name and tagline listed, with editable fields below.
Type in your desired new display name, then either keep your current tagline, type in a custom one if it’s available, or hit the randomize button to generate a new one automatically. Before you hit save, run through this quick checklist to avoid costly mistakes:
- Double check spelling and capitalization, because you won't be able to edit it for 30 days after confirmation
- Confirm the name doesn't include any profanity, hate speech, or references to illegal activities to avoid forced removal
- Make sure you aren't trying to impersonate a pro player, Riot employee, or public figure, as these names are often flagged automatically
- Test how the name looks with your preferred tagline, since both will be visible to other players in lobbies and post-match screens
Once you’ve confirmed everything looks right, hit the “Save Changes” button. You will need to verify the change via email if you have two-factor authentication enabled, so check your inbox for the confirmation link to finalize the process. After that, fully close and restart your Valorant client, and your new name will be visible to everyone you play with.
Key Rules and Costs You Need to Know Before Changing Your Name
Riot has a few strict rules around name changes to prevent abuse, and it’s important to know them before you start picking out a new alias. First, every Riot account gets one completely free name change, no matter how old the account is or how many games you’ve played. This free change never expires, so you can save it for the perfect name if you don’t have one in mind right now.
After you use your free change, every subsequent Valorant name change costs $10 USD or the equivalent in your local currency, and the fee is non-refundable even if you decide you hate the new name 10 minutes after submitting it. There’s no way to get a discount on paid name changes, even if you submit a support ticket asking for an exception.
Another non-negotiable rule is the 30-day cooldown period after every name change, free or paid. The 30-day cooldown applies even if you paid for a name change, so there's no way to bypass it with extra fees. That means if you make a typo or pick a name you end up hating, you’re stuck with it for a full month, which is why double checking your spelling before hitting save is so important.
Common Valorant Name Change Issues and How to Fix Them
Most name changes go off without a hitch, but there are a few common issues players run into. The most frequent one is your desired name showing up as unavailable, even if you’ve never seen anyone else using it. Riot reserves certain names for staff, pro players, and inactive accounts, so some names will never be available no matter how hard you look. If this happens, try small variations like replacing an “o” with a 0, adding a short relevant suffix like “fps” or “val”, or adjusting the capitalization to make it unique.
Another common issue is your new name not showing up in the Valorant client after you confirm the change on the website. This is almost always because you didn’t fully close the client before restarting it. Minimizing the game or logging out of the client alone won’t work, so make sure you right click the Riot Client icon in your system tray and hit “Exit” to fully shut it down before reopening. You don't need to reinstall the game to get your new name to appear, so don’t waste your time with that step.
If you’re completely locked out of the name change section of your account settings, that usually means you’re still within the 30-day cooldown period, or your account has a pending restriction for violating community guidelines. If you think the lock is a mistake, you can submit a ticket to Riot support, but response times can take 3-5 days during busy periods like new act launches. You won’t be able to change your name if your account has a permanent ban, even if you’re willing to pay the fee.
At the end of the day, asking can you change your Valorant name is just the first step to making your account feel more personal and aligned with the identity you want to show off in lobbies. As long as you follow Riot's rules, double check your chosen name before submitting, and plan for the 30 day cooldown, the whole process takes less than five minutes. Don't settle for a cringey old username you picked when you were 16 -- update it to something you're proud to have show up on the MVP screen after you clutch a 1v5.
