Got bored of the generic display name you picked when you first downloaded Valorant three seasons back? Or maybe your old username includes an inside joke that no longer lands, or you want to rebrand your account before joining a new competitive team. Whatever your reason, learning how to change your name in Valorant is a straightforward process, but there are a few key Riot Games rules you need to follow to avoid unexpected fees or rejected name requests. We’ve broken down every step of the process, plus common pitfalls to skip, so you can get your new display name set up before your next queue pops.
How to Change Your Name in Valorant: Official Step-by-Step Process
First, it’s important to note that your Valorant display name is tied directly to your Riot ID, which works across all Riot Games titles including League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra. That means any change you make to your name will carry over to all other Riot games you play on the same account, so keep that in mind if you have a separate identity you use for other titles.
The process only takes a few minutes if you have your account login details handy. Start by heading to the official Riot Games account website and logging in with the credentials linked to your Valorant account. You may need to complete two-factor authentication if you have that enabled, which is a good security practice for any competitive game account anyway. Once you’re logged in, navigate to the “Riot ID” tab on the left-hand menu.
You’ll see your current display name and tagline (the 3-5 character combination after the # symbol) listed there. Type your desired new display name into the first field, and adjust your tagline if you want to change that too. You can change your Riot ID for free once every 90 days, so double check for typos before you hit the “Save Changes” button. If you want to change your name before the 90-day cooldown ends, you’ll have to pay 1300 RP (Riot Points) to make the change early. Once you save, close and restart Valorant to see your new name appear in-game.
Key Rules for Picking a Valid Valorant Display Name
Before you lock in your new name, you need to make sure it follows Riot’s community guidelines and naming policies. Riot automatically scans all name change requests for violations, and you’ll get an immediate rejection if your chosen name breaks any rules. Even if a name slips past the initial scan, Riot’s moderation team can force you to change it later if other players report it for violating guidelines.
These are the core rules you need to follow when picking a new Valorant name:
If your chosen name violates any of these rules, Riot will automatically reject your request, or force you to change it later with no refund of any RP spent. Many players like to pick names that reference their favorite streamers, in-game mains, or even other games they play during downtime from ranked queues. If you’re a casual player who switches between Valorant and quick, casual games between matches, you might even pick a name that nods to your go-to short session pick, like Rummy77, to make your account feel more personalized across all the games you play. Just make sure any reference you use doesn’t violate the no-commercial-branding rule if you’re picking a name tied to a third-party game or service.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Changing Your Valorant Name
Even if you follow the official steps, it’s easy to make small mistakes that leave you stuck with a name you don’t like for three months. I learned this the hard way last year, when I changed my name to a silly inside joke with my friends after a night of unrated matches, only to realize I hated seeing it in ranked lobbies three days later. I had to wait the full 90 days to change it back, and it made playing ranked feel way less fun for the rest of that act.
Don’t waste your free 90-day name change on a throwaway name you’ll hate in a week. If you’re not 100% sure about a name, test it out with your friend group first, or use it as a custom game name for a few days before you make it official. Another common mistake is forgetting that your tagline is part of your public identity too. You can change your tagline to anything you want (as long as it follows the same naming rules) for no extra cost when you change your display name, so this is a great chance to add a fun number, your main agent’s initials, or a team tag if you’re joining a new competitive roster.
A lot of players also assume that changing their name will reset their competitive rank, MMR, or in-game progress, but that’s not true at all. Changing your Valorant name does not affect any of your in-game progress, skin collections, or competitive rank. All your friend requests, match history, and even your report history stay tied to your account, so don’t think a name change will let you escape a bad reputation from toxic play. If you’re a content creator or streamer, make sure you announce your name change to your audience ahead of time, so they can still find you when they search for your account to join custom games or queue up with you.
What to Do If Your Valorant Name Change Request Is Rejected
If you hit save and get a notification that your name change request was rejected, don’t panic. 90% of the time, it’s just because your chosen name violates one of the naming rules we listed earlier, and a quick tweak will fix the issue. First, double check your name for any hidden slurs, references to banned topics, or special characters that might be triggering the automatic filter. Even innocent phrases can sometimes get caught by the filter if they share a spelling with a banned term, so try rephrasing or using a different variation of the name you want.
If you’re sure your name doesn’t violate any guidelines and it’s still getting rejected, you can submit a support ticket to Riot’s moderation team to review your request. Be clear about what name you’re trying to use, and explain why you think it was incorrectly flagged. Don’t submit multiple tickets for the same request, because that will get you marked as spam and slow down the review process even more.
If Riot forces you to change your existing name because it was reported and found to violate community guidelines, you won’t get a free pass on the 90-day cooldown. Riot does not offer free name changes for users who had their display name removed for violating community guidelines. You’ll either have to wait the full 90 days to pick a new name for free, or pay the 1300 RP fee to change it immediately. That’s why it’s so important to follow the naming rules from the start, to avoid extra costs or being stuck with a randomly assigned temporary name for three months.
Whether you’re rebranding for a new competitive team, ditching an old embarrassing username, or just want something that fits your current playstyle, figuring out how to change your name in Valorant doesn’t have to be a headache. As long as you follow Riot’s naming rules, plan your new name ahead to avoid wasting your free change window, and double check for typos before you save, you’ll have your new display name ready to show off in your next unrated or ranked match in minutes.
