Valorant now requires Multi-Factor Authentication to queue for ranked in select regions and rank tiers. Here is what MFA actually does, why Riot rolled it out, and how to get it active on an account.
Ranked Valorant has always had a smurfing problem. Players on fresh accounts, boosted accounts, or borrowed accounts create lobbies where rank stops meaning much. Riot has been chipping away at this for a while phone verification, behavior systems, ranked restrictions and the latest tool is Multi-Factor Authentication tied directly to Competitive queue.
For players who have not set it up yet, the first sign is usually a prompt that replaces the ranked queue button. It does not lock the full account, just competitive. Unrated, Deathmatch, and other modes stay available. But for anyone taking ranked seriously, getting MFA in order is now part of the process. Players who stay invested in the game for the long run managing agents, keeping up with cosmetics often use platforms like LootBar to handle Valorant Points without interrupting their session rhythm.
Enjoy up to 22% off on Game Top-Ups.
3-Minute Delivery for Non-Stop Gaming.
Trusted 4.9/5 on Trustpilot, 10/10 among Players.
Official Partnership Route, Protect Your Game Wallet.
What MFA Does and Why Riot Introduced It for Ranked
Multi-Factor Authentication adds a second verification layer at login. After entering a username and password, the account also requires a code or push notification from a separate device either through email, the Riot Mobile app, or a third-party authenticator.
Riot has offered email-based verification for years, mostly as a security check when logging in from unfamiliar devices. What changed is how MFA is now being used: as a structural barrier against account sharing. When an account requires verification from a personal device at every new login, handing credentials to another player becomes genuinely inconvenient. The friction is the point.
There is a security dimension to this beyond ranked integrity. Riot has previously stated that the majority of compromised accounts did not have MFA enabled at the time of the breach. In that sense, the ranked requirement and the security benefit reinforce each other.
Setting Up Email MFA — The Required First Step
Riot Mobile MFA cannot be turned on until email verification is already in place. It is a prerequisite, and the process clears quickly.
Visit account.riotgames.com and sign in. The Multi-Factor Authentication section sits in the left-side navigation. Accounts with email MFA still inactive will see an enable prompt next to their email address. Selecting it sends a six-digit code to that address. Entering the code confirms the setup, and from there the options for Riot Mobile and authenticator apps unlock.
How to Activate Riot Mobile MFA
Riot Mobile is the method Riot recommends for the ranked requirement. It works through push notifications, so verifying a login takes a few seconds rather than opening an app to find a rotating code.
Download the Riot Mobile app from either the Android or iOS store. Sign in with the Riot account. On a first-time login from a new device, email MFA verification will be required before getting in.
Once inside the app, return to the Riot account management page on a browser. Under Multi-Factor Authentication, select the Activate button next to Riot Mobile. A QR code appears on screen. Scan it using the Riot Mobile app. The app will prompt for confirmation tap the red Enable button. A confirmation message appears on the website and a follow-up email arrives shortly after.
From that point, new logins trigger a push notification on the linked phone. Tapping approve from the notification clears the login check.
Players who prefer not to use Riot Mobile can link Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator instead. After email MFA is active, both options appear on the same account settings page and follow a similar QR code-based setup process.
What the Ranked Queue Looks Like Without MFA Active
For accounts that fall under the current requirement, the normal queue button for Competitive is replaced by a Verify Account button. Clicking it opens the MFA setup flow directly inside the client, so navigating to the account settings page manually is not necessary.
Everything outside of Competitive, Unrated, Deathmatch, Spike Rush, and the Range remains fully accessible. The block is specific to ranked queue only.
Once MFA is linked and confirmed, the restriction clears on its own. No support ticket is required and there is no cooldown period.
Details Worth Knowing Before Setting Up
Riot offers a trusted device option that reduces how often verification is needed. After approving a login on a particular device, marking it as trusted removes the MFA requirement on that machine for 30 days. For players who always log in from the same home setup, this effectively makes the verification invisible during normal use.
Push notifications need to be enabled on the phone for Riot Mobile to work as intended. Riot prompts for this during setup, but it is easy to move past without checking. Without notifications active, the push approval does not come through and the code has to be found manually inside the app.
Removing Riot Mobile from an account is possible through the account management page at any time. If the phone needs to be switched or replaced, disabling and re-linking follows the same setup steps. Having a backup method such as an authenticator app active at the same time avoids any access gap during the transition.
Conclusion
MFA is one of the cleaner solutions Riot has introduced for ranked integrity in some time. It does not change how the game is played, but it adds a layer of friction that makes account sharing less practical. For most players the setup is a one-time task, and the trusted device option means it rarely surfaces again during regular sessions.
Players who prefer to manage everything related to Valorant in one place queue, cosmetics, currency can handle Valorant top up through LootBar. Getting MFA in order first keeps ranked access uninterrupted whenever the session is ready to start.
