How to Create a Valorant Account

Valorant uses a Riot account as its login, so creating the account is the first step, not downloading the game. Open the official Riot account creation page and enter an email address you actually control, a username, a strong password you use nowhere else, and your real date of birth. Pick the region you play in, because your region decides which servers you connect to and which offers you see. Take your time here, since the email and region you choose at the start are the details you will rely on for recovery later. Our guide on creating a gaming account securely covers the same first-step habits.

After creating the account, Riot sends a verification message to the email you entered, so open your inbox and confirm it before you go further. An unverified email can block password resets and support help later, which is exactly when you need it most. Once verified, switch on two-factor protection in the Riot account settings, so a stolen password alone is not enough to take the account. Keep your recovery email current and never share the verification codes Riot sends you. Our two-factor protection guide explains the setup step by step.

With the account ready, download Valorant only from the official Riot client or the official Valorant site, and sign in with the Riot account you just made. Avoid any other download link, because fake installers are a common way to steal a fresh account before it has even played a match. Let the client finish installing and updating, then sign in and let it check for updates before you queue. If the download stalls, close the client fully and start it again rather than hunting for another installer.

Once you are in, run through the short tutorial to learn movement, shooting, and abilities, then spend time in the practice range before your first real match. Open the settings and set your sensitivity, crosshair, and graphics to something comfortable, since defaults rarely suit every player. Play a few unrated matches to learn the maps and agents before touching ranked play, and keep one agent as your main while you learn. If you later decide to buy an account instead of levelling your own, check our Valorant account buying guide for the safety checks first.