Accounts that violate our code of conduct may be temporarily or permanently banned. Correctly assigned penalties are never overturned, so it helps to understand why it happened and what's next.
Bans, Suspensions, and Restrictions
"Ban" and "suspension" can be used interchangeably to describe a penalty where you're unable to access your account for a set period of time. They are the primary focus of this article.
"Restrictions," on the other hand, are time-based limitations placed upon your account for earlier or smaller infractions. While things like in-game verbal abuse can eventually lead to a suspension/ban, such behavior will usually be met with chat restrictions first. This prevents you from talking in-game, but your account will otherwise continue to function as usual.
Leaverbuster and Queue Dodging—which pertain to going afk in games and dodging the queue respectively—are two more examples of restrictions that will prevent/delay you from starting a new game while still allowing you to log in.
Temporary vs Permanent Suspension/Ban
Just as the name implies, a temporary suspension/ban restricts you from logging into League of Legends for a set period of time. These penalties often come after warnings and/or chat restrictions, but may happen immediately depending on the severity of the offense. In either case, consider reflecting on what brought you to this point while you wait for the allotted time to pass.
While most temporary suspensions can be measured in days or weeks, ID Bans are special instances where a more serious offense results in a much longer penalty. Check out our ID Ban page to learn more about what this entails for the affected account.
A permanent suspension/ban (or "permaban"), on the other hand, restricts you from logging into League of Legends forever. These are almost always preceded by multiple warnings or temporary suspensions, giving you plenty of opportunities to recognize that this behavior is not welcome in our community. Ignore these warnings, and you might find yourself unable to access your account ever again.
Why was I banned?
You'll be given the reason for your ban when you try to log in. For a better idea of what offenses can get you banned in the future, check the categories presented when you Report a Player:
- Negative Attitude - Griefing, giving up.
- Verbal Abuse - Harassment, offensive language
- Leaving the Game / AFK
- Intentional Feeding
- Hate Speech - Racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
- Cheating - Unapproved third party programs
- Offensive or Inappropriate Name
Note that there are also actions outside of this list that violate our Terms of Service and may result in a ban, like win-trading or boosting.
Can my suspension/ban be removed?
Suspensions/bans from the Instant Feedback System are generally not lifted or adjusted, and correctly placed penalties will not be removed.
More serious penalties are almost always preceded by warnings and suspensions, which emphasize what behavior is unacceptable according to the Terms of Use and the Code of Conduct. Continued negative behavior in spite of these reminders indicates an unwillingness to change, which is part of why "permabans" are exactly that—permanent.
We try to give warnings before escalating to harsher penalties, but sometimes the severity of the behavior requires more immediate action. Excessive negative behavior can result in a permanent ban at any time without prior warnings or suspensions.
If you still feel your suspension/ban was incorrectly issued, follow these steps to make an appeal:
- Submit a ticket
- Select "Discuss a Personal Suspension, Ban, or Restriction" as your request type
- Enter in all necessary information and submit
How can I avoid future suspensions?
Adhering to our code of conduct is the best way to avoid getting suspended/banned, and the key to that is respecting other players, keeping your cool, and focusing on the game.
If you find yourself losing your cool in chat and want to take a step back, consider turning off all chat or using some of our chat commands like /fullmute, /muteself, and /deafen to block out the noise and keep your head in the game.
Other Common Questions
What happens if I get suspended/banned again?
That depends on the most recent ban, other past penalties, and the severity of any subsequent offenses. But to put it bluntly, every infraction can bring an account one step closer to a permanent ban. Keep that in mind next time things get heated on the Rift.
Somebody else was playing on my account
You are fully responsible for all activity on your account—that's part of why sharing accounts is a bannable offense in our ToS. If that activity results in a suspension or ban, it will be considered justly placed. If you believe that your account may have been compromised, go here to recover your account.
Another player was acting way worse than me
Another player's bad behavior is never an excuse to act poorly—we are all responsible for our own actions. If you feel another player is violating the code of conduct, we suggest you report and mute/block them and let us take care of the rest.
My actions didn't deserve a ban
We work with the overall community, and within our own company guidelines, to identify what disruptive behavior is and what the consequences for those behaviors should be. If your account receives a ban, it is either not the first time you have been told your actions were inappropriate, or your actions were severe enough to warrant an immediate ban. We understand that it can be difficult to know where the line is, which is why we provide chat logs, and we have a few tiers in the ban process in order to allow for you to learn and grow before a permanent ban is implemented.