Change Servers Valorant: How to Switch Regions
Yes, you can change servers in Valorant, but only by changing your Riot account’s region, and there are strict limits on how often you can do it. You select a server region when you first create your account, and Riot locks you to that region for competitive integrity and latency reasons. This article explains exactly how to switch your server, what the restrictions are, and what to consider before you do.
How Valorant Server Selection Works
Valorant does not have an in-game server browser or a simple dropdown to pick a server each match. Instead, the game automatically connects you to the lowest-latency server within your account’s designated region. Your region is determined by the Riot account you sign in with, and it is tied to the country you selected during account creation. For example, an account created in the United States is assigned to the North America (NA) region, which includes servers in Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. A player in the UK is assigned to Europe (EU), with servers in London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Madrid.
Within a region, the game’s matchmaking system will usually place you on the server with the best ping, but it may also consider queue times and party composition. If you queue with friends from different regions, the game will typically select a server that balances latency for all players, often the one closest to the majority of the party.
Why You Might Want to Change Servers
There are several legitimate reasons players look to change their Valorant server:
- Moving to a new country: If you relocate permanently, your old region will have high ping, making the game unplayable.
- Studying or working abroad: Temporary stays of several months can make your home server’s latency too high.
- Playing with friends in another region: If your friends are all in Europe and you’re in North America, you might prefer to switch to their region for better party ping.
- Accessing regional events or content: Some Valorant esports events or in-game promotions are region-specific, though this is less common.
However, you cannot change your server just to get easier matches or to play on a less populated server. Riot’s region lock is strict, and attempting to circumvent it can result in a permanent ban.
How to Change Your Valorant Server (Step-by-Step)
To change your server, you must change the region of your Riot account. This is done through the official Riot Games account management website, not through the game client. Follow these steps:
- Go to the Riot Games account management page (account.riotgames.com) and log in with your credentials.
- Navigate to the “Account” or “Settings” section. Look for an option labeled “Region” or “Change Region.”
- Click “Change Region.” You will see a list of available regions (e.g., North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Brazil, Latin America, etc.).
- Select your new region. The page will display the exact server locations included in that region and the current latency estimate from your IP address.
- Confirm the change. You may be asked to verify your email address or complete a CAPTCHA.
After changing your region, you will need to restart the Valorant client. Your rank, MMR, and in-game purchases do not transfer to the new region. You will start as a new player in the new region, with a fresh rank (after placement matches) and a separate Valorant Point balance.
Region Change Restrictions and Cooldowns
Riot imposes a cooldown on region changes to prevent abuse. The current policy is that you can change your region once every 90 days. This means if you change your region today, you cannot change it again for three months. The cooldown applies to all Riot games, including League of Legends and Valorant, so changing your region for one game affects the others.
Additionally, your region change is tied to your IP address’s physical location. Riot requires that you be physically present in the new region when you request the change. If you try to change to a region where your IP address is not located, the request will be rejected. This is a security measure to prevent players from switching regions to play on lower-competition servers or to access cheaper in-game currency prices.
What Happens to Your Rank, Skins, and Points?
When you change regions, your Valorant account is essentially copied, but not transferred. Here is what carries over and what does not:
- Does NOT carry over: Your rank, MMR (Matchmaking Rating), and Valorant Points (VP) balance. These are region-locked.
- Does carry over: Your account level, unlocked agents, and all cosmetic items (skins, gun buddies, player cards, sprays) that were purchased with real money or earned through battle passes. These are tied to your account, not the region.
In practice, this means you will have to play your placement matches again to get a rank in the new region. Your VP balance stays in the old region, so if you have leftover VP, you may want to spend it before switching. Any unused Radianite Points also do not transfer.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common misconception is that changing your server will reduce your ping immediately. While that is true if you are physically in the new region, changing your region while still in the old country will not help—in fact, it will make your ping worse, and Riot will likely revert the change if they detect you are not in the new region.
Another issue is that some players try to use VPNs to change their region. This is against Riot’s Terms of Service. If Riot detects a VPN or an IP mismatch during the region change process, your account may be flagged, and you could receive a temporary suspension or a permanent ban. It is not worth the risk.
If you are experiencing high ping on your current server, changing regions is not the solution. High ping is usually caused by your internet connection, distance to the server, or network congestion. Try troubleshooting your connection first: use a wired Ethernet cable, close background applications, or contact your ISP. You can also use Valorant’s in-game ping display (Ctrl+F) to see your exact latency to each server.
Alternatives to Changing Servers
If your goal is simply to play with friends in another region or to reduce ping without a permanent move, there are a few alternatives:
- Play on a different account: You can create a new Riot account in the desired region. This is allowed as long as you do not use it to avoid bans or exploit the system. You will lose access to your skins and agents, but you can play with friends.
- Use a gaming VPN (with caution): Some VPNs claim to reduce ping by routing your connection more efficiently. However, for Valorant, a VPN usually increases ping because it adds an extra hop. Also, using a VPN to bypass region lock is against the rules.
- Wait for a server transfer event: Riot occasionally offers free region transfers for special occasions (e.g., when new servers are added). These are rare and announced officially.
For most players, the best advice is to accept the region you are in and optimize your local network for the lowest possible ping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Valorant server without changing my Riot account region?
No. Valorant does not have a separate server selection option. Your server is determined by your account region, so the only way to change servers is to change your region.
How long does a Valorant region change take?
The change is usually instant once you confirm it on the Riot account page. However, it may take up to a few minutes for the game client to recognize the new region. You will need to restart Valorant after the change.
Can I change my region back to my original one?
Yes, but you must wait for the 90-day cooldown to expire. After that, you can change back, but you will again face the same restrictions on rank and VP.
Will I lose my skins if I change regions?
No, your skins and other cosmetic items are tied to your account and will be available in the new region. However, your Valorant Points and Radianite Points will not transfer.
Is it legal to use a VPN to change my Valorant region?
No. Using a VPN to change your region is a violation of Riot’s Terms of Service. It can result in a temporary or permanent ban. Riot actively monitors for such activity.
Why is my ping high even though I am in the correct region?
High ping can be caused by many factors, including your internet connection speed, network congestion, Wi-Fi interference, or the physical distance to the nearest server. Check your ping with Ctrl+F in-game and try troubleshooting your network before considering a region change.
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