How to Change Valorant Region in 2023 — Play on Any Server

When you create a Valorant account, Riot Games automatically locks your account to the region you created your account in, which limits the servers you can use. This can be frustrating if you want to play with friends or access servers in other regions.

Valorant support can help you change your region, but only if it was assigned to you by mistake. However, there’s a quick solution that’ll help you to change your location manually.

The easiest way to change your Valorant region is with a VPN. It’s a simple app that replaces your IP address with a new one from a VPN server. So, if you connect to a VPN’s US server and create a new Valorant account, you’ll be able to play on the game’s US servers, for example.

After testing 60+ VPNs, I found ExpressVPN to be the most reliable for Valorant. It has a huge server network that allows you to easily change your Valorant region and play with your friends from abroad. Plus, it offers strong security and consistently low ping. You can try ExpressVPN without risk because it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can get a full refund.

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Why You Need a VPN to Change Your Valorant Region

Valorant's geo-restrictions prevent you from playing with gamers from other countries. You can only play in the region you create your account in, and that region is identified from the IP address you’re using when you create an account. However, a VPN can bypass all these geo-restrictions and let you change your Valorant region yourself.

A VPN is a simple app that makes you appear to be gaming in a different country when you connect to one of its servers. It routes your internet traffic through a server location of your choosing while masking your real IP. As a result, you can change your Valorant location by setting up a new account in any of the 6 regions.

Furthermore, countries such as the UAE prohibit VoIP (the game’s primary communication method), putting you at a severe disadvantage. VPNs have additional security features that allow you to use VoIP services and protect you from online attacks so you can play Valorant safely.

It’s worth noting, however, that you can only change your Valorant region with a VPN by setting up a new account for that region. My Valorant account is locked to the NA region, and I couldn’t temporarily change to another region by using non-US VPN servers.

If you want to permanently change your Valorant region, Riot Games does support this. However, there are restrictions based on your physical location. If you want to play with friends without the risk of losing your current season’s rank, then using a VPN is your best bet.

Change Your Valorant Region >>

How to Change Valorant Regions: The Ultimate Guide

1. Download a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it offers the fastest speeds and lowest ping of any other VPN I’ve tried, so you won’t suffer any lag when playing Valorant. Once you sign up, downloading the app for your preferred device takes only a minute
2. Connect to a VPN server. Once you’ve signed in to the app, press the server list button and select the “All Locations” tab. Pick a server in the region where you’d like to play Valorant. Connecting to a nearby server will also give you a lower ping for smooth gameplay
3. Create a new Riot Games/Valorant account. Visit Valorant’s website, click on the “Play Free” button, and then “Make One.” Fill out the details to complete your registration, and make sure to use a valid email to verify your account. Make sure you have a spare email that hasn’t been used to create another Riot Games account
4. Download Valorant and log in to your account. Make sure your VPN is still connected to your desired region before you log in. Otherwise, Riot Games will use your real location. Make sure you’re connected to the desired region before logging in to your account
5. Check your Valorant region. Once you've created your new account and logged in, head over to the Party menu to verify your assigned region. You can also check this in the Personal Information menu of your Riot Games account. If your country is the same as the VPN server you selected, you successfully changed your Valorant region. You can also connect to a specific city server using this menu
6. Enjoy playing Valorant in your new region! Remember to connect your VPN to the same server location every time you want to play Valorant from this new account.

Play Valorant With ExpressVPN >>

Best VPNs for Valorant — Full Analysis (2023 Update)

1. ExpressVPN — Overall Best VPN to Change Valorant Region With Low Ping

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested July 2023

Available on:

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www.ExpressVPN.com

Of all the VPNs I tested, ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds and lowest ping, so is a top choice for gamers. Even over long distances, my ping was considerably lower compared to other VPNs on this list. For example, its LA server gave me an average ping rate of 72 ms. This is particularly impressive, given that it's more than 3500 kilometers away from where I was located. I could play Valorant without lag using its US servers.

This makes it an ideal choice for playing Valorant at high speeds with friends abroad. During my tests on its nearby servers, I recorded an average download speed of 121 Mpbs (only a 4% drop), and my ping remained below 26 ms.

The speeds remained consistent throughout my gameplay

Its performance is largely thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol, which is optimized to provide fast speeds and stable connections. Plus, it’s just as secure as OpenVPN, making it an excellent choice for protecting your online gaming sessions, too.

ExpressVPN offers servers in 94 countries, including in regions where Valorant servers are located. This means that, no matter which region you make an account in, you’re less likely to experience any significant latency issues.

Admittedly, ExpressVPN is one of the pricier VPN options out there. However, it often provides generous discounts and offers throughout the year to make its plans more affordable.

You can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re unsatisfied, getting a full refund is easy.

Features:

• Built-in speed check tool. ExpressVPN offers a built-in speed test tool, which lets you check each server’s ping rate, upload speed, and download speed. This makes it easy to choose the best possible connection to play Valorant.
• Robust DNS/IP leak protection. This ensures that your IP address is not exposed while playing Valorant. In all my tests, ExpressVPN never revealed my real IP address, keeping me safe from potential DDoS attacks. Plus, it further protects your connection with its military-grade encryption and a kill switch.
• Automatic obfuscation. ExpressVPN offers obfuscation on all its servers. This disguises your VPN traffic as regular traffic and automatically kicks in when you're connected to a restrictive network. So, you can play Valorant in different regions, even if your network or firewall has a VPN block.
• Split tunneling. By only using ExpressVPN with certain apps (like Valorant) and routing the rest of your traffic through your standard network, you could increase your connection speeds. This further minimizes any slowdown or lag you may experience.

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2. CyberGhost — Gaming-Optimized Servers to Easily Change Your Valorant Region

Available on:

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Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

Amongst many other reasons, I repeatedly come back to CyberGhost for its specialized gaming servers. These servers are clearly marked, making it super easy to find the ideal connection for changing your Valorant region. So, you’ll spend less time trying to find a server that works, and more time playing with your friends.

You ideally want a ping below 60 ms for competitive online games like Valorant

As someone who has been using these servers for years, I can confirm that they offer great performance, too. During my latest tests on its German and UK gaming servers, I experienced a speed loss of only 7%, and my ping never rose above 50 ms. I never experienced any lag while playing Valorant against a new player base.

If you can’t locate a specialized server for the specific region you want to switch to (like Brazil and Korea), don't worry. You can always connect to one of CyberGhost's regular servers, which I found to be almost as dependable as the gaming-optimized ones.

The sole drawback appears to be that its remote connections may operate somewhat sluggishly. I noticed a speed reduction of 23% on its Los Angeles server, as opposed to 11% with ExpressVPN. Nevertheless, this isn't likely to be an issue if your original connection speed is swift.

CyberGhost takes your gaming security seriously, with a built-in NAT firewall that assigns each user a unique private IP address and filters out any suspicious data packets. This is helpful while playing Valorant, as it blocks any unwanted communication that may lead to DDoS attacks and other malicious activities.

Its 45-day money-back guarantee lets you put CyberGhost through its paces before you commit to a subscription. Just ask for a refund if you’re not impressed.

Features:

• Dedicated IP address. CyberGhost gives you the option to get a dedicated IP address for a small fee. This unique IP address is only accessible to you, so you won't have to worry about server overcrowding and can play Valorant without any interruptions.
• Smart Rules. This lets you customize how you want your VPN to react when you connect to a network. For instance, you can set it up to automatically connect to a server of your choice as soon as you launch Valorant, streamlining your experience and saving you time.
• IPv6 leak protection. This further minimizes the risk that snoops will discover your true IP address from your traffic. So, you can play Valorant safe in the knowledge that you're protected from snoops and denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

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3. Private Internet Access — Customizable Security to Optimize Your Connection for Valorant

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

What sets PIA apart from other VPN providers is its customizable security features. This lets you optimize your connection for Valorant based on your needs. For instance, you can choose between AES 128-bit and 256-bit encryption. The lower encryption level provides faster speeds for your Valorant sessions, but it’s slightly less secure.

You also have the option to choose between OpenVPN and WireGuard. In my tests, WireGuard provided faster speeds than OpenVPN, with an average 8% increase. Despite its speed advantage, WireGuard doesn’t skimp on security, making it an excellent option for playing Valorant in international regions.

PIA boasts the most extensive server network among all the VPNs I evaluated. This enables you to switch your Valorant region to any desired location, such as Turkey, Brazil, South Korea, and the US. Moreover, the vast array of servers distributed across various countries ensures you won't face server congestion issues.

Stable, low ping will allow you to react to the action in Valorant without lag

On the downside, PIA isn’t the easiest app to navigate for beginners since it has so many customization options. However, it comes pre-configured so you don’t have to customize anything if you don’t want to.

You can try PIA risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not impressed, you can get a refund.

Features:

• Server latency displays. I liked that PIA shows the ping on each server. This makes it easy to find the server with the lowest latency, resulting in smoother gameplay.
• Value for money. PIA’s subscription plans are cheaper than a lot of other VPNs, which is great if you’re on a budget. You can get a subscription for just $2.03/month with its long-term plan.

Try PIA Risk-Free >>

Additional Benefits of Using a VPN for Valorant

Using a VPN for Valorant is primarily beneficial for altering your region, but it also offers other perks. Here are some supplementary advantages:

• DDoS protection: VPNs can protect you from DDoS attacks by hiding your real IP address and routing your traffic through an encrypted VPN server. This makes it difficult for attackers to pinpoint your location and launch an attack.
• Get around IP bans: While it's not clear if Riot Games bans accounts based on IP addresses, some Valorant players have reported facing these bans. Using a VPN can help you circumvent these restrictions and allow you to play without any issues.
• Access from restrictive networks: Some networks, such as public WiFis or those in workplaces, may restrict access to certain websites or online games like Valorant. AVPN can help you bypass these restrictions and access Valorant from anywhere.
• Purchase in-game items at a cheaper rate: Some in-game purchases like VCT skins can be cheaper in certain regions like Turkey. However, be cautious when using this advantage as it may go against Valorant's terms of conditions.
• Lower ping: While it's rare, a VPN can potentially improve your connection speeds and ping if your internet service provider throttles your connection or if the network is congested. By routing your traffic through a less congested and more direct path, a VPN can help reduce your latency and improve your gaming experience.

FAQs on Changing Your Valorant Region With a VPN

Is it possible to change my Riot Games region once I've already created an account?

Yes, but only Riot Games support can change your account region — and only if you meet certain criteria. Riot Games will then check your account region and see whether it matches your IP address. If it does, then you can change region, but you’ll lose your current season’s rank, and you’ll have to wait 90 days before you can change again.

But if you just want to change your region to play with your friends from abroad, there’s an easy solution. You can change your Valorant region by creating a new account with a VPN. Just select a server in your preferred region while you’re signing up for the new account. This lets you play with friends in another region without losing your progress on your old account.

Am I allowed to have multiple Riot Games accounts to play Valorant?

Yes, you can have multiple Riot Games accounts to play Valorant. Because it’s a free-to-play game, you can create as many accounts for Valorant as you like without breaking its terms of service. You’ll just need a new email address for every new Riot Games account.

If you want to create a new account in a different region, you need a reliable gaming VPN so you can connect to a server in that particular region. Otherwise, Riot Games will assign you a region in accordance with your actual location. If you create your account in Germany, for example, you’ll only have access to Valorant’s EU servers.

Will a VPN increase my ping time for playing Valorant?

In some rare cases a VPN can increase your ping slightly depending on the encryption used and the distance from the server. However, if you choose a fast and reliable gaming VPN, the impact on your ping should be minimal.

In some cases, a VPN may actually improve your ping by bypassing ISP throttling and redirecting your traffic through a less congested route. This can result in a more direct and faster connection to the Valorant game server.

Can I play Valorant on consoles with a VPN?

Valorant is not currently available on consoles, so you can't play it on any of them with or without a VPN. Riot Games has mentioned that they are working on bringing the game to various platforms, but nothing official has been announced yet.

If and when Valorant becomes available on consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, you will need to change your region using a VPN. However, gaming consoles don't support native VPN apps, so you'll need to choose a VPN that is compatible with routers. By configuring the VPN on your router, you can change your Valorant region even on consoles.

Will Valorant ban me for using a VPN?

Using a VPN to play Valorant is fine and won't result in a ban as long as you use it for legitimate reasons and play the game fairly. However, it's important to note that if you use a VPN to cheat or violate the game's terms of service, you risk being banned.

While Riot Games has not explicitly stated its stance on VPN use for Valorant, it's always a good idea to read the game's privacy policy and terms of service to ensure that you're not violating any rules by using a VPN.

How fast does my VPN have to be to play Valorant lag-free?

To play Valorant lag-free with a VPN, your VPN should provide a minimum speed of 5 Mbps, and the ping should ideally be below 60 ms. However, the actual speeds and latency depend a lot on your baseline connection. As a general rule, you should look for a VPN that has a speed drop of no more than 30% on nearby servers. All the VPNs on this list are fast enough for lag-free Valorant gameplay.

Can I play Valorant with a free VPN?

Yes, but I don’t recommend using a free VPN to play Valorant. It’s always a better option to get a low-cost premium VPN with a money-back guarantee instead.

Most free VPNs come with limited speeds, which will make your Valorant experience laggy. They usually have a small server network which limits your options to change your Valorant region and reduces your speeds due to network congestion. Additionally, their poor security will make your game susceptible to DDoS attacks.

On top of that, you can’t be 100% sure that your data isn’t being logged or sold to third-party advertisers since these free VPNs have to make money somehow.

Change Your Valorant Region Today

Valorant is available worldwide, but it still doesn’t let you play with gamers outside your assigned region. However, you can easily change your Valorant region using a VPN.

My favorite VPN for Valorant is ExpressVPN. It has plenty of servers that you can use to change your region. Furthermore, ExpressVPN’s fast speeds, low ping, and top-tier security features make it a great choice for gaming. Since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test ExpressVPN with Valorant risk-free. In case you don’t like it, it’s easy to claim a full refund.

To summarize, the best VPNs for changing your Valorant region are…

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