If you’ve found yourself logging into League of Legends less and less lately, or you’re ready to take a permanent break from the grind of ranked queues, you’re not alone. Thousands of players every month look for how to deactivate a League of Legends account, either to free up time for other hobbies, cut out a source of stress, or close unused smurf accounts they no longer need. But a lot of players rush through the process without checking key details first, leading to lost skins, missing data, or even regret after the 30-day grace period ends. This guide walks you through every step of the process, what to prepare before you start, and common pitfalls to avoid so you don’t run into unnecessary headaches later.
What to Do Before You Deactivate Your League of Legends Account
Taking a few minutes to prepare before you submit a deactivation request will save you a lot of frustration down the line. Most players skip this step and only realize they forgot something important after their account is already locked. The good news is these checks only take 10 minutes at most, and they’re well worth the effort.
- Back up any important in-game content you want to keep, including rank history screenshots, highlight clips, or event mementos. Once your account is deactivated, you’ll no longer have access to your profile, so you won’t be able to retrieve these later.
- Review all active purchases on your account, from limited-edition skins to unused RP and battle pass rewards. All purchased content is non-refundable and non-transferable, so you won’t be able to move these items to a new account later.
- Unlink any third-party accounts connected to your Riot profile, including Discord, Twitch, Spotify, and social media accounts. This prevents accidental login attempts or data sharing after your account is closed.
- Check for any active bans or penalties on your account. If your account has a permanent ban, deactivating it won’t remove the ban from Riot’s system, so if you make a new account with the same email later, you may run into restrictions.
You should also take a minute to decide if you really need to deactivate your account at all. If you just want a short break from the game, you don’t have to go through the full deactivation process. Simply log out of the client and uninstall it from your device, and you can come back whenever you want without losing any of your progress. Deactivation is only necessary if you want to remove your data from Riot’s systems permanently.
Step-by-Step Instructions for How to Deactivate a League of Legends Account
The deactivation process is fairly straightforward, but you have to complete it through the official Riot Games website, not the in-game client. You won’t find any deactivation options inside the LoL client itself, so make sure you’re on the official Riot account management page before you enter any login details.
First, log into your Riot account using the same credentials you use to sign into League of Legends. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you’ll need to enter your verification code to access your account settings. Next, navigate to the “Account Closure & Deletion” section of your account settings. You’ll find this under the “Privacy & Security” tab on the left-hand side of the page.
Once you’re on the account closure page, you’ll be asked to verify your identity again, either through a confirmation email sent to your registered address or a second 2FA code. You have to complete this verification step to submit a deactivation request, so make sure you have access to your registered email address before you start.
After verification, you’ll be asked to fill out a short, optional survey about why you’re choosing to deactivate your account. Your answers help Riot improve the game for future players, so you can be as honest as you want. Finally, you’ll see a confirmation page that outlines the terms of deactivation, including the 30-day grace period. Click the confirmation button to submit your request, and you’ll get a follow-up email confirming your request has been received.
The Difference Between Temporary Deactivation and Permanent Deletion
A lot of players use these two terms interchangeably, but they mean very different things when it comes to your Riot account. Understanding the difference will help you make the right choice for your situation, especially if you think you might want to come back to the game later.
Temporary deactivation is the first phase of the account closure process. As soon as you submit your request, your account is locked, and no one can log into it. Your profile will be hidden from public view, so other players won’t be able to search for your summoner name or view your match history. Temporary deactivation lasts for 30 days, and you can cancel your request at any point during this window by logging into your account again or contacting Riot support.
Once those 30 days pass, your account moves to permanent deletion. All of your account data, including skins, match history, chat logs, and purchase records, are wiped from Riot’s systems. You won’t be able to recover the account after this point, even if you contact support. If you decide to play LoL again later, you’ll have to make a brand new account from scratch, with no access to any of your old content.
I’ve seen dozens of players submit deactivation requests after a frustrating string of ranked losses, only to regret their choice a week later when they want to play with friends. If you’re feeling burnt out, try taking a one or two week break first before you commit to deactivation. You can always come back to the process later if you still feel like it’s the right choice.
Common Deactivation Mistakes to Avoid
Even though the deactivation process is simple, there are a few common mistakes that cause headaches for players every month. Avoiding these will make the process go smoothly, and you won’t have to deal with unexpected consequences later.
First, never use a third-party site to deactivate your account. There are dozens of scam sites that claim to offer fast deactivation or even sell your account for you, but all of these are designed to steal your login credentials. You should only ever submit a deactivation request through the official Riot Games account management page. Any other site is unsafe, and you could lose access to your account before you even have a chance to close it properly.
Second, remember that your League of Legends account is tied to your entire Riot Games profile. If you play other Riot games like Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, or Legends of Runeterra on the same login, deactivating your LoL account will deactivate access to all of those games too. If you only want to stop playing LoL but keep access to other Riot titles, you don’t need to deactivate your account, just stop logging into the LoL client.
Third, don’t submit a deactivation request if your account was recently hacked or compromised. If someone else has access to your account, they may cancel your deactivation request or use the account for malicious activity before it’s closed. Contact Riot support first to recover your account and secure it, then submit your deactivation request once you have full control again.
Finally, if you regularly play with a group of friends or are part of an active club, take a minute to let them know you’re deactivating your account. It’s a small gesture, but it will keep them from worrying about why you’ve gone offline suddenly, especially if you’ve had a consistent play schedule together for a long time. If you ever want to play with them again later, you can always add them on a new account if you choose to come back.
At the end of the day, taking a step back from League of Legends is a personal choice, and there’s no right or wrong reason to do it. Whether you’re taking a short break or leaving for good, knowing how to deactivate a League of Legends account properly will help you avoid lost data, scams, and unnecessary regret. Take the time to run through the pre-deactivation checks, double-check that you’re using the official Riot site, and make sure you’re comfortable with the 30-day grace period rules before you submit your request. If you change your mind during those 30 days, you can always cancel the process and jump back into the rift whenever you want.