If you’re a Valorant player thinking about switching to a different region, you’re not alone. Maybe you’re moving countries, or perhaps you want to play with friends who are based somewhere else. Either way, transferring your Valorant account to a new region is something many players want to do—but it’s not as simple as clicking a button. This article walks you through everything you need to know about how to transfer your Valorant account to another region.
Why Region Matters in Valorant
Valorant uses a region-locked system that determines what servers you can connect to, who you can match with, and even what language options or in-game store items are available to you. This is set automatically based on your location when you first create your Riot Games account. It affects:
- Matchmaking server options
- Ping and latency
- Available payment methods
- Player pool
- Store content
- Competitive ladder rankings
Being locked into one region can be frustrating if your situation changes. Maybe you created your account while living in Europe but now you’re in North America. Your ping spikes, matchmaking takes longer, and you’re separated from your new local gaming community.
So how do you change regions? Let’s break it down.
Understanding Riot’s Region Lock System
Before going into the transfer process, it’s important to understand how Riot handles regions.
Riot Account vs. Valorant Account
You don’t have a Buy Valorant Account per se—you have a Riot account that gives you access to all their games, including Valorant, League of Legends, and others. The region setting is tied to your Riot account, not Valorant individually. So when you want to transfer your Valorant region, what you’re actually doing is adjusting your Riot account’s region.
Regions Are Tied to Server Infrastructure
Riot has data centers in key global areas. When you log in, you’re directed to one of these regional servers. Changing regions isn’t just about changing a setting; it involves accessing a whole new server ecosystem with its own database of players, ranks, purchases, and histories.
This is why transferring regions isn’t instantaneous and has limitations. You’re essentially migrating to a new infrastructure, and Riot treats it as such.
What Happens When You Transfer Regions?
Transferring to another region affects several parts of your Valorant experience. Here’s what to expect:
1. Account Progress Is Not Shared
Your competitive rank, match history, and Battle Pass progress do not transfer across regions. You start from scratch in the new region. This includes:
- Competitive rank and MMR
- Agent contracts
- Match history
- Battle Pass progress
If you’ve been grinding in one region and switch to another, you’ll need to earn your place again from placement matches onward.
2. Purchased Content May Not Transfer
Some valorant cheats and cosmetics can carry over, but it depends. Purchases tied to your account might be accessible again in your new region, but this isn’t always guaranteed. Some content is region-specific due to licensing or payment restrictions.
If you’ve spent money on your account, you should be aware that transferring regions may result in some items becoming inaccessible. However, since your Riot ID and account stay the same, your payment history remains on file, even if store options change.
3. Friend Lists Reset
Your friend list won’t carry over to the new region. You’ll have to manually re-add people once you transfer.
4. Payment Options Change
Different regions have different payment gateways. If you’re transferring from, say, Europe to South America, the payment options and currency will be different. Make sure you check the available methods once you switch, especially if you plan to buy in-game content.
Who Should Consider a Region Transfer?
Here’s a quick look at the situations where transferring your Valorant region might make sense:
- You’re relocating to a new country or continent permanently
- You’re experiencing high ping and lag because you’re too far from your original server
- You want to play regularly with friends in another region
- You can’t access certain store features or payment options due to location mismatch
- You made your account while traveling and want to align your region with your current location
On the other hand, if you just want to play casually on another server for fun or to experience a different rank ladder, creating a second account might be a better choice than transferring.
How to Check Your Current Region
Before doing anything, confirm what region your account is currently assigned to. You can find this info in your Riot account settings. Look for a section that lists your “account region” or “shard.” This tells you what server your account is locked to for games like Valorant.
If your current region doesn’t match your real location, that’s a sign you might benefit from transferring.
Can You Change Regions Automatically?
No, there’s no in-game setting or toggle to switch regions on demand. Once your Riot account is assigned a region, it’s locked in unless you go through the formal process of transferring or creating a new account.
So let’s walk through the correct process.
How to Transfer Your Valorant Account to Another Region
There’s a very specific process to follow if you want to move your account to another region.
Step 1: Determine Eligibility
Not all accounts are eligible for a region transfer. Riot uses geolocation to check your IP address and other factors. If you’re physically located in a different region than the one your account is tied to, you’re likely eligible for a one-time transfer.
Step 2: Log In From the New Region
Connect to the internet from your new physical location. This can be your home in a new country or any stable connection in that region. Riot uses this login data to verify your eligibility. Using a VPN might trick the system temporarily, but it’s not recommended, and it may cause problems with verification later.
Step 3: Access Riot Account Management
Head into your Riot account settings. Once logged in from the new region, you may see an option to “change region” if Riot detects that your current region doesn’t match your login location.
If that option appears, follow the steps to initiate the transfer. It may take time to process—don’t expect instant results.
Step 4: Wait for Region Transfer Completion
After submitting your request, Riot processes the change. This might take a few hours or more. Once done, you’ll be assigned to the new region, and your in-game experience will reflect the switch.
Step 5: Relaunch Valorant and Confirm the Change
Once your region has changed, log back into Valorant. You should notice:
- Lower ping to local servers
- A new competitive rank (starting from placements)
- A fresh Battle Pass (if applicable)
- An empty friend list
- Updated store options
At this point, you’ve officially transferred your Buy Valorant Account to a new region.
What If You Can’t See the Region Transfer Option?
If you log in from a new region but don’t see the option to change, it could be due to:
- You’re still within the original region’s geographic boundaries
- Your account was flagged for suspicious activity
- You’re using a VPN, and Riot doesn’t trust the location
- You’ve already transferred recently (there are cooldowns)
In these cases, your best bet is to wait a bit, disable VPNs, and try logging in again. If you’re physically in a different region and still can’t switch, consider starting fresh with a new Riot account.
Should You Just Create a New Account?
Sometimes, the simplest option is to create a new account while connected to your new region. Doing this will assign that account to the correct region from the start. This method avoids the transfer wait time and lets you begin fresh right away.
Pros of creating a new account:
- Instant access to the new region
- No risk of losing items or history
- Keeps your original account intact
- Ideal if you plan to keep playing in both regions
Cons:
- You’ll need to re-unlock agents and grind again
- You’ll lose all progress and skins from your main account (on the new one)
- Competitive matchmaking will start fresh
If your goal is long-term play in the new region, and you don’t mind starting over, a new account can be a hassle-free solution.
Tips for a Smooth Transition
Switching regions isn’t hard, but doing it right makes a big difference. Here are some tips:
- Back up your account info
Make sure you remember your Riot login details and have access to your original email. - Don’t use VPNs during transfer
They can confuse Riot’s systems and may delay or block the transfer. - Notify friends beforehand
If you’re transferring, let your friends know. You’ll lose your friend list and need to re-add them. - Expect to grind again
Whether it’s agent unlocks or rank placements, be prepared to work your way back up in the new region. - Check your new region’s latency
Not all regions have the same server performance. Make sure your ping is actually better before committing.
Final Thoughts
Transferring your Valorant account to another region isn’t a casual decision. It impacts your competitive standing, unlocks, purchases, and overall experience. But if you’ve moved to a new country or your current server is no longer optimal, it can be worth it.
The process itself is straightforward if you’re eligible—log in from your new location, check your Riot account settings, and follow the prompts. If not, creating a new account is always a backup option.
