How to change server in Valorant and play with others

Your Valorant account is region-locked when you create it, but you can play in other regions by using a VPN. Simply connect to a VPN server in the region where you want to play, create an account, then launch Valorant to play on servers in that region.

Connecting to the internet with a VPN routes your data through the VPN’s servers, changing your IP address in the process. Connect to a VPN server in NA, and you can play NA servers, or connect to a VPN server in Europe for EU games. The process works for other regions too. This will also help you if you tend to play late at night, when there are fewer players and longer queues to find opponents in your area.

I’ve tested 12 different VPNs for Valorant, focusing on VPNs that I’ve used for gaming before, whether that’s changing servers or avoiding skill-based matchmaking in COD.

Benefit for using VPN for Valorant

One of the main benefits for using a VPN for Valorant is being able to choose to play in different regions. If you’ve got friends located in North America but you play on European Valorant servers, a reliable VPN is the only way you’ll be able to get into their lobbies. This ability to change your region also means you can play Valorant in countries where it is blocked, such as Iran and Syria. Some countries don’t block the game but do block VoIP (voice chat) – a VPN solves this problem too.

This isn’t just useful for playing with friends, though. You can also avoid long wait times if your region’s servers are busy, and you can avoid skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) using a VPN connection, too. Meanwhile, you’ll benefit from reduced latency thanks to finding quieter servers with fewer players. Finally, using a VPN will help you avoid being banned. Riot Games aren’t secretive about the fact you can be banned for certain behaviors.

When you connect to your VPN, you’ll change your IP address, which makes it impossible for Riot Games or other entities to track your identity and location. In other words, they can’t permanently ban you (though they can ban your account). But even if you’ve been banned before, you can create a new account with NordVPN or a similar premium VPN for Valorant.

How to make an EU Valorant account in 2024

Your Valorant account is tied to your Riot Games account. If you want to create a Valorant account in a different region, you’ll need to set up a separate Riot account in that particular region. Creating an EU Valorant account is quick and easy:

1. Subscribe to a VPN for Valorant. I recommend NordVPN, which is currently 74% off. With this VPN, I was able to swap my EU servers for NA lobbies and enjoy speeds of up to 96% of my usual connection speed, with no impact on ping.
   
   
2. Download and install the VPN. If you’re on console, I recommend leveraging NordVPN’s support for routers. Install the VPN on your router so that your console is automatically protected; it’s the easiest solution for PS5 and Xbox players.
3. Launch the VPN and log in.
4. Connect to a server in the region you want to play in. I’m in the UK, so I connected to a US server to create a US Riot Games account and play with friends in North America.
   
   
5. Go to the Valorant website and click on “Play for Free.” Now, use the link at the bottom to create a riot account. I used an obfuscated New York server to ensure my true location wouldn’t leak.
   
6. Now, you’re ready to play with your Valorant VPN. Keeping your connection active, you can join servers in your new region and play with friends while being protected from DDoS attacks.

Get NordVPN Valorant servers worldwide

Best VPNs for Valorant in 2024

1. NordVPN is the best VPN for Valorant, offering exceptional performance with its extensive network of servers. Combining 7000+ servers in 118 countries, NordVPN can easily handle your Valorant server change. NordVPN’s high-speed connections guarantee low ping and fast gameplay, while its powerful unblocking capabilities help you access region-locked Valorant servers and websites. Get a 30-day free trial now!
2. Surfshark VPN comes close to NordVPN in speed, maintaining 94% of my connection speed in testing. As a powerful Valorant VPN for unblocking in restrictive countries, you can choose from 3200+ servers in 100 countries. Available on unlimited devices under one account with a 30-day money-back promise.
3. ExpressVPN has lightning-fast 10-gigabit servers that compete with NordVPN on speed, though it comes with a steeper price tag. Still, the 3000+ servers in 105 countries make this a powerful VPN to change servers in Valorant. Try it today with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Get best VPN for Valorant

How to change Valorant region with VPN: detailed guide

When you connect to a VPN, your IP address changes to match the IP of your VPN server. Since your IP address is tied to your real-world location, changing your IP address will simultaneously allow you to change your Valorant region. You’ll then need to create a new Riot Games account once your VPN is up and running.

How to play on EU servers with Valorant?

If you signed up for Valorant under a European IP address, you’ll only be placed in EU Valorant lobbies. Valorant separates players based on account region, so your default matchmaking will be with other EU players on nearby European servers. If you’re in a different region, connect to a VPN server in any EU country that can play Valorant, like the UK, France, Italy, or Spain. This will let you play on EU servers as a non-resident and only takes a few moments to set up:

1. Get a VPN. I recommend NordVPN, currently 74% OFF!
2. Connect to a VPN server in Europe.
3. Go to the Valorant website and create a new account. You’ll know your VPN is working based on your URL bar – for example, US players will see /en-gb/ instead of /en-us/.
   
4. Enjoy playing on EU Valorant servers with your new IP address.

As long as your VPN remains active, you can now match with squads from across the world. Simply change your VPN server to change your Valorant matchmaking region.

Play on EU Valorant servers with NordVPN

How to change server in Valorant to NA?

Valorant players in EU and NA regions can’t join squads together because Riot Games separates players by region. However, you can easily create a new Valorant account in a different region by using a VPN – just bear in mind you’ll have to start from scratch without your unlocked skins and other character progress.

1. Download a VPN. I personally use NordVPN, which is 74% OFF now!
2. Connect to a VPN server in the US. This will change your server in Valorant to NA so that you start getting matched with American players.
3. Head over to the Valorant website and set up a new account.
4. Now, you can play on Valorant NA servers exclusively. Just make sure you always have your VPN connection active before logging in.

Change server in Valorant to NA with NordVPN

How to change Valorant server to Asia?

Valorant won’t let you play with friends in Asia unless you created your account there. The player pool is separated based on region, with players in the same regions joining the same region shard. Players in regions like China and Japan don’t have access to North American servers, and vice versa – unless you get a VPN and create a new Riot account in that region. This process is really very simple:

1. Subscribe to a Valorant VPN. NordVPN performed best in my tests, and right now, you can download NordVPN with a 74% discount!
2. Choose a VPN server in Asia and hit connect. I recommend Australia or Japan, as these are Valorant server locations, and most premium VPNs will have servers there.
3. Create a new Valorant account with your VPN connection active.
4. Squad up with your friends and play on a Valorant server in Asia!

Change Valorant server to Asia with NordVPN

Where are all Valorant servers located?

Knowing where all Valorant servers are located is important, as choosing a VPN server close to that location helps keep your ping down and your connection speed high so that you don’t lag. For example, as a UK player, it’s better that I choose the Virginia NA server over the Oregon server, as it’s geographically closer to me.

Here are all of the Valorant server locations:

Valorant VPN not working: solutions

If your Valorant VPN doesn’t allow you to create a Riot account in another region, it could be because of problems with your server, your VPN software, or your account. Here are some solutions you can try:

1. Try to connect to a different server nearby. If none are available in the same country, try one of the other countries in that region shard.
2. Check if your VPN software is up to date. NordVPN will tell you if an update is due when you launch the VPN client, as will other VPNs on this list.
3. Check that your subscription hasn’t lapsed, or you’ll lose access to the VPN.
4. If you’re still having problems connecting, contact customer support. You’ve exhausted the most immediate solutions, so you might need assistance to investigate more technical solutions. NordVPN has 24/7 live chat support – just click on the chat bubble in the lower-right corner.

Key takeaways on changing Valorant region with a VPN

You can change your Valorant region with a VPN as long as you’re willing to create a new Riot account and start over from scratch with your character progression. To play with friends in other regions or simply avoid overcrowded servers, connect to a VPN server in another region, create a new Riot account, and start playing.

For the best VPN for Valorant, I recommend NordVPN. Its lightning-fast connections retained 96% of my internet speed (400 Mbps) and kept my ping low (23). Best of all, unlike competing VPNs, NordVPN’s speeds are reliably consistent across nearby and faraway servers, allowing you to change server in Valorant on the fly without suffering lag.

---

You might also like to read:
Best Modern Warfare 3 VPN: get bot lobbies easily in 2024
How to change PSN region on PS4 and PS5
How to spoof Pokemon GO location in 2024
How to fix World of Tanks lag in 2024

---

FAQ

Can you play Valorant with someone in a different region?

Yes, you can play Valorant with players in other regions by changing your IP address with a VPN. Simply join a server located in their region, and you’ll be in the same player pool! This works across the world, so by downloading NordVPN or a similar premium VPN, you have the ability to pick and choose the regional servers you play Valorant on, whenever you want.

Can I change my Riot Games region after creating an account?

Yes, but you’ll need to give Riot Games a justifiable reason, such as proof of a relocation to a new area. In other words, you can’t officially change your region just because you want to try different servers – instead, you will need to download a VPN and change your IP address. Riot Games doesn’t like people doing this, so choose a VPN with robust obfuscation technology, like NordVPN.

Is using VPN bannable in Valorant?

No, people don’t get banned for playing Valorant with a VPN – there is nothing in Riot Games’ Terms of Service or Privacy Policy that prevents you from using one. But players who abuse VPN anonymity to harass other players or cheat may face an IP or hardware IP ban. The latter can scupper your chances of playing Valorant at all, even if you’re using a VPN.

Can I have multiple Riot Games accounts to play Valorant?

Yes, you can have as many Riot Games accounts as you want to play Valorant. But note that you are banned from using those extra accounts to boost alternate characters, and you can’t share accounts with anybody else. Also, note that if you just want to be able to play in other regions, it’s much easier to change your region with a VPN.

Does NordVPN work for Valorant?

Yes, NordVPN works for Valorant and other online games. Follow my example and install NordVPN directly onto your router so that your games console, PC, and any other gaming devices you own are all protected by NordVPN’s encryption and guarded against DDoS attacks at the same time.

Can I use a free VPN for Valorant?

No, you typically can’t use a free VPN for Valorant. In 2020, Riot Games took a stance on people using VPNs for Valorant and announced they’d be blocking VPN connections. The best VPNs, like NordVPN, can still evade such blocks, but free VPNs lack the power needed to avoid them. They also impose poor data limits and have sub-par speeds in most cases, leading to a terrible gaming experience and being cut off entirely, eventually! Pro tip: use a dedicated IP address to further your chances of evading blocks with NordVPN.

Can you play Valorant in Germany?

Yes, you can play Valorant in Germany, and if you connect to a VPN server in Germany, you can play on Valorant EU servers. This works even if you’re not located in Germany or other parts of Europe. If you need to change your location, download NordVPN and choose a VPN server in the same region where you’d like to join Valorant servers.