How to Change Name on League of Legends
In 2023, Riot phased out Summoner Names in favor of more flexible and easily changeable Riot IDs. This change brought about a migration of names over to a new system that does not require unique usernames. Naturally, tons of players raced to grab a better account name than the one they've been stuck with for years. This guide will serve as a how-to and FAQ on changing your name.
Steps to Change your Riot ID
Changing your username is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Log into your Riot Games account on the official website. You cannot change your name through the client.
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- Navigate to the Account section in the top right and click on Settings.
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- The Riot ID tab that allows you to change your Game Name and Tagline should be at the very top. You can change one or both, but keep in mind that even changing just one will trigger the 90 day wait period.
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- Confirm your new username, ensure it complies with Riot Games' naming policies, and click Save Changes.
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- If you've successfully changed your ID, you'll see the "Save Changes" option is now greyed out.
Is My Login Name My Riot ID?
No, your login credentials are separate from your Riot ID. Your Riot ID or username is the one displayed to other users, and can be changed. Your login name cannot be changed and is not visible to any other users.
How Often Can You Change Your Username?
Every player will receives a free name change every 90 days. There is no way to change your Riot ID more often.
In-Game Names and Taglines
Understanding the difference between a Game Name (summoner name) and a Tagline is crucial in navigating the new system. Each Riot ID is tied to a single email and Login Name, and changing it will change how you appear in-game everywhere. If you have multiple accounts and decide you want to change your Riot ID, make sure to have your Login Name written down somewhere. It basically serves as a second, less secure password.
There are a few special rules governing what you can and cannot include in your Riot ID, which is divided into two parts. For this example, if your Riot ID is "EarlGreyTeemo#sip," then your Game Name is "EarlGreyTeemo," and your tagline is "#sip".
Game Names are traditional usernames, which must be 3–16 alphanumeric characters long, and cannot be offensive or inappropriate. The tagline, on the other hand, is a newer concept introduced by Riot Games. A tagline is a unique identifier paired with a summoner name to ensure global uniqueness. This combination ensures that while players can choose common names, each player's identity remains distinct. This also allows for two LoL players in the same region to share the same username, given that their taglines are different. For more information, refer to our comprehensive taglines article.
Moreover, Riot Support a standalone FAQ article you can check out!
Username Update
The November 2023 update for League of Legends Summoner Names was a significant change in how Riot Games handles account identification, with the intention of having less conflict between already-taken usernames when players explore different games within the Riot Launcher.
Previously, usernames were simply tied to Summoner Names, which were visible in-game and used for friend requests, matchmaking, and leaderboards. Players would log in using their Username and, within the League of Legends launcher, decide on an entirely different Summoner Name which would be displayed to other players. Summoner Names could be changed in exchange for in-game currency (13900 Blue Essence, previously Influence Points, or 1300 Riot Points) via the Riot Store, but not Usernames. Outside of some people forgetting their usernames, this approach was largely okay, at least until "Riot Game" became "Riot Games".
As of November 20th 2023, Summoner Names and Riot Usernames were entirely removed in favor of Riot IDs and Login Names. The main distinction would be that Riot IDs used non-unique usernames and identifying taglines separated by a hashtag.
What this means is that before this change, usernames had to be unique within their region. After this change, several people could share the same ID with a different tagline.
The other important part of this change would be that these Riot IDs would persist through all games on the Riot Launcher, which simplifies login information and proves easier on the Riot Client's back end.
With this update, there is now a distinct separation between Login Names (for logging into the Riot Games system) and Riot IDs (the names displayed within the League of Legends client, shown to other players and composed by a Game Name and Tagline).
Riot Games implemented this change to centralize accounts, simplify their management across various games (following the expansion of Riot Games with titles like Valorant, Wild Rift, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra), and minimize confusion from multiple aliases within the Riot Client. This update is part of Riot's ongoing commitment to consolidate their games within a larger system and launcher, much like the Blizzard or Square Enix launchers.
It's very important to note that your Game Name, previously known as a Summoner Name, is what other players see during matches, in chat, and on leaderboards. If you want to look up an account in something like Porofessor or op.gg, however, you'll need both their Game Name and Tagline, which can lead to some confusion.
Conclusion
To recap:
- The name that appears on your profile is your Game Name, which can be changed.
- Anything that follows the hashtag (#) is your Tagline, which can be changed.
- Your Riot ID is Game Name#Tagline. You can change it every 90 days.
- The name you use to log in to the Riot client is your Login Name, which you cannot change.
