If you’ve ever logged into League of Legends and cringed at the summoner name you picked when you were 13, you’re not alone. That edgy or meme name you thought was hilarious years ago might not fit your vibe anymore, or you might just want something that matches your current main or friend group. We’re breaking down exactly how to change username in League of Legends, plus all the rules, costs, and common pitfalls you need to avoid before you hit confirm. This guide works for all regions, and we’ve tested every step ourselves to make sure you don’t waste RP or run into unexpected errors.
Step-by-Step Process to Change Your League of Legends Username
First, it’s important to note you can’t change your summoner name directly through the LoL game client. All changes go through your official Riot Games account page, and the process only takes a few minutes if you have all your info ready. We recommend doing this on a desktop browser instead of mobile to avoid typos when you enter your new name. Follow these exact steps to complete the change without issues:
- Log into your Riot Games account on the official Riot website, and navigate to the Riot ID section of your account settings
- Find the field labeled “Summoner Name” (this is your in-game League of Legends username other players see) and enter your desired new name
- Click the “Check Availability” button to confirm the name isn’t already taken by another player in your region
- Complete the payment process using either 1300 Riot Points (RP) or 13900 Blue Essence (BE), depending on which currency you prefer to use
- Log out of your LoL client and log back in to see your new username appear across all matches, friend lists, and leaderboards
If you get an error saying the name is unavailable even after it showed as available, try refreshing the page and checking again. Sometimes names are held for a short period after another player releases them, so you may need to wait 24 to 48 hours to claim a recently freed name. Don’t try to purchase the name multiple times if you get an error, or you could end up being charged twice for a single change.
Key Rules for Picking a Valid New Summoner Name
Riot has strict content policies for all usernames across its games, and picking a name that violates these rules can lead to it being force-changed for free, or even a temporary account ban if you repeatedly pick offensive options. You don’t want to waste your hard-earned RP or BE on a name that gets taken away a week later, so keep these rules top of mind when brainstorming options. First, your name can’t include hate speech, slurs, personal information, or references to real-world violence, even if you think it’s a joke. Riot’s automated filter catches most obvious violations, but human moderators also review reports from other players, so edgy jokes that fly under the radar at first can get removed later.
You also can’t use special characters or spacing that mimic Riot employee tags or official tournament titles, to avoid confusing other players. Your name has to be between 3 and 16 characters long, and you can only use letters, numbers, spaces, and a small selection of approved special characters depending on your region. If you’re trying to copy a name from another region, keep in mind names are unique per region, so you can have the same name as a player in EUW if you play on NA, but not the same as another NA player. So don’t get your heart set on a name that belongs to a streamer from another server unless you’re willing to transfer your account first.
One common mistake new players make is picking a name that references their current main champion. If you’re a one-trick Yuumi main right now, that name might feel perfect, but if you switch to maining Zed a few months later, you’ll be stuck with a name that no longer fits. We recommend picking something that feels personal to you, not just tied to your current playstyle, unless you’re 100% sure you’ll never switch mains.
Is It Worth Paying to Change Your LoL Username?
The cost of a username change often catches players off guard, especially if you’re used to free name changes on other gaming platforms. Riot charges for name changes to prevent players from trolling, throwing games, and changing their name immediately to avoid reports, which was a huge problem in the early days of League. That means you have to weigh the cost against how much you hate your current name, and whether you have extra RP or BE to spare. If you mostly play with a small group of friends who already know who you are, you might not need to change your name even if it’s a little silly. But if you’re active in ranked queues, join a lot of pick-up groups, or create content around your LoL gameplay, a more professional or memorable name can make a big difference.
If you don’t want to spend RP, saving up Blue Essence is a great free option. You earn BE from leveling up, completing event missions, and disenchanting champion shards from loot boxes, so most regular players can save up 13900 BE in a couple of months without spending any real money. You get one free name change only if Riot forces a change to your existing name for violating content policies, so don’t wait around for a free change if you picked a valid name you just don’t like anymore. If you’re considering transferring your account to another region, you’ll also get a free name change if your current name is already taken on the new server, so that’s a good time to pick a new one if you were planning to transfer anyway.
The only time we don’t recommend paying for a name change is if you’re planning to make a new account soon anyway. If you’re level 20 and still learning the game, you might be better off just making a new account with your desired name for free, instead of spending RP or BE on a change for a low-level account you might outgrow.
Common Issues to Avoid After Changing Your Username
Most username changes go off without a hitch, but there are a few small issues that pop up often enough that we want to warn you about them ahead of time. First, your friends list will show your new name automatically, but some of your friends might not realize it’s you if you picked something completely different. We recommend sending a quick message to your closest friends right after you change your name to let them know, so they don’t remove you from their friends list thinking you’re a random stranger who added them. You also won’t lose any of your match history, rank, skins, or champion unlocks when you change your name, so don’t worry about losing progress you’ve worked hard for.
If you stream or post your LoL gameplay online, make sure you update your social media profiles and stream overlays with your new name right away, so viewers can find you in game easily. Your old name will be locked for 6 months after you change it, so no one else can claim it during that time, which means you can switch back if you decide you hate your new name before the 6 months are up. If you get reports from other players for your new name within the first few weeks, Riot may ask you to change it again for free if it violates policies, but you won’t get your RP or BE back, so double check that your name follows the rules before you confirm the purchase.
Some third-party stat tracking sites might take a few days to update to your new name, so don’t panic if your match history doesn’t show up on those sites right after you make the change. All you have to do is search for your new name on the site after a week, and your stats will automatically transfer over once the site refreshes its database.
Changing your summoner name is a small change that can make your whole League of Legends experience feel more personal and fun, as long as you follow the rules and plan ahead to avoid wasting currency. Whether you’re ditching a cringey teen name, rebranding your content account, or just want something that matches your friend group’s matching name theme, the process is simple and fast once you know what to expect. Now that you know how to change username in League of Legends, you can brainstorm your perfect new name, check its availability, and update your account without running into unexpected headaches. Just don’t forget to tell your friends what you switched to, so they don’t accidentally queue against you without realizing who you are.