If you’ve ever regretted picking that cringey edgy username you made when you were 13, or want to rebrand your account to match your new main champion, you’ve probably wondered how do i change my name in league of legends. It’s one of the most common account-related questions players ask Riot support, and the process is way simpler than you might think, as long as you follow the official rules and prepare a few things ahead of time. I’ve changed my own LoL account name three times over the last seven years, so I’ve run into every possible hiccup you might face, from unavailable names to payment errors, and I’m breaking down every part of the process in this guide. You won’t have to jump through unnecessary hoops, and I’ll also share tips to save money and avoid common mistakes that could cost you RP or even get your account restricted.
How Do I Change My Name in League of Legends: Official Step-by-Step Process
The official process for changing your summoner name hasn’t changed much in recent years, and you can complete the whole thing in less than five minutes if you already have RP in your account. First, you can either log into your Riot account through the official Riot website, or open your League of Legends client and click on the profile icon in the top right corner to access account settings. Once you’re in the account menu, look for the “Summoner Name” tab (it may be labeled “Display Name” in some regions, depending on your client version). Type your desired new name into the text field, then click the “Check Availability” button to see if it’s up for grabs.
You don’t need to contact Riot support to request a standard name change, the entire process is automated for all eligible accounts. If the name is available, you’ll be prompted to pay the required RP fee to finalize the change. Once your payment goes through, the name will be linked to your account immediately. Name changes are processed instantly, so you’ll see your new username in your next match, though you may need to restart your client to update the name across all menus and friend lists. If you play other Riot games like Valorant or Teamfight Tactics, note that your LoL summoner name is separate from your global Riot display name, so changing one won’t affect the other unless you choose to update both manually.
What to Know Before You Request a LoL Name Change
Before you hand over your hard-earned RP for a new name, there are a few key details you should know to avoid wasting money or running into issues later. First, the standard cost for a name change across all regions is 1300 RP, which works out to roughly $10 USD depending on your region’s RP pricing. Riot very rarely gives out free name changes, except in cases where your existing name violates their terms of service and they force you to update it, or if your account was compromised and the hacker changed your name without permission.
You also need to follow Riot’s official naming guidelines, which apply to all summoner names across every server. Breaking these rules can lead to Riot forcing you to change your name again for free, or even issuing a temporary account ban if the violation is severe. Name changes are non-refundable, so double-check your spelling and capitalization before confirming payment, because you won’t get your RP back if you make a typo. The official naming rules are listed below:
- No hate speech, slurs, discriminatory language, or references to real-world violence of any kind, even if used as a joke
- No impersonation of Riot Games staff, pro players, or public figures with the intent to mislead other players
- No special characters like emojis, symbols, or non-Latin alphabet characters if you play on NA, EUW, or EUNE servers (check your region’s support page for allowed characters if you play on a non-Western server)
- Maximum length of 16 characters, with no spaces or excessive punctuation allowed in the name
If your desired name doesn’t meet these rules, the automated filter will block it before you can complete the purchase, so you’ll need to pick a different option.
Common LoL Name Change Issues and How to Fix Them
Even if you follow all the steps correctly, you might run into small issues when trying to change your name, most of which are easy to fix on your own. The most common problem is seeing a message that your desired name is available, but getting an error when you try to purchase it. This usually happens when the name was just claimed by another player in the last few minutes, or it’s reserved for a banned or inactive account that hasn’t been released yet. If this happens, wait 10 to 15 minutes and try again, or pick a slightly modified version of the name, like adding a small number at the end or adjusting the spelling slightly.
Another common issue is paying for the name change, but not seeing your new name show up in the client. This is almost always a sync error, so all you need to do is close the client completely and restart it, or log out and back into your Riot account on the official website to confirm the change went through. If the name still hasn’t updated after 24 hours, reach out to Riot support with a copy of your payment receipt, and they’ll fix it for you for free.
You might also run into a warning that your desired name violates Riot’s terms of service, even if it doesn’t seem offensive. The automated filter sometimes flags innocent phrases that match banned terms, so you can either adjust the spelling slightly or submit a support ticket if you believe the filter made a mistake. Never try to bypass Riot’s name filter with intentional misspellings of banned terms, as this can lead to account restrictions even if the filter lets the name go through initially. Riot’s support team regularly reviews player reports of offensive names, and you could lose the right to change your name in the future if you violate the rules repeatedly.
Is It Worth Paying for a League of Legends Name Change?
A lot of players wonder if spending 1300 RP on a name change is actually worth it, and the answer depends entirely on your personal situation. For players who have a username they’re embarrassed of, or who want to rebrand their account to start streaming or posting LoL content online, a name change is absolutely worth the cost. It’s a small investment that makes your account feel more personal, and it helps your audience recognize you easily in lobbies and match history. It’s also a good choice if you and your friend group want matching usernames to make it easier to find each other in lobbies, or if you want to show off your love for your main champion with a themed name.
That said, there are a few downsides to consider before you make the purchase. First, 1300 RP is enough to buy a new champion skin or a few battle pass levels, so if you’re on a tight budget, you might want to save your RP for in-game content instead. You’ll also lose any name recognition you had with old players you used to queue with, so you may want to send a quick message to your regular friend list to let them know you’re changing your name, so they don’t delete you from their friends list by mistake.
If you’re on a tight budget, wait for occasional Riot Games promotions that drop name change prices by 30-50% during holiday events, like the annual Worlds celebration or end-of-year holiday sale. You can also keep an eye on Riot’s official announcements for inactive name sweeps, where they release summoner names that have been tied to accounts inactive for two years or more, so you can finally claim that perfect name you’ve had your eye on without having to settle for a modified version. If you don’t want to pay at all, you can also submit a support ticket if your existing name is outdated due to a legal name change, though Riot only approves these requests on a case-by-case basis.
At the end of the day, figuring out how do i change my name in league of legends is a straightforward process that only takes a few minutes, as long as you follow the rules and prepare enough RP for the purchase. Don’t rush your decision, since you can’t get a refund if you pick a name you end up hating a week later, and take time to test variations if your first choice is already taken. Whether you’re rebranding for content creation, matching usernames with your friend group, or just ditching a username that no longer fits your vibe, a name change is a small, fun way to make your LoL account feel more personal to you. Just make sure you double-check the spelling before you hit confirm, and you’ll be showing off your new name in your next ranked game in no time.