NewsRuneScape 3
RuneScape Makes Jagex Account Migration Mandatory for Legacy Accounts on November 17
Jagex will require Legacy RuneScape accounts to migrate to a Jagex Account from November 17, 2026. Login will pause until the upgrade is completed, but characters will not be deleted.
What changes on November 17?
RuneScape’s full account migration reaches its next stage on November 17, 2026. From that date, players still using a Legacy account will be unable to log in until they upgrade it to a Jagex Account. The requirement applies to accounts that continue to rely on the older login structure, and access returns after the upgrade is complete. That makes the date especially relevant to players who have used the same Legacy credentials for years.
Losing login access does not mean losing a character. If a player misses the deadline, the characters attached to the account will remain protected and become accessible again after the move to a Jagex Account. Existing character names will also be preserved during migration. The change therefore replaces the method used to enter the game without erasing the characters or names that players have built up over time.
The linked-platform exception is narrow
There is a limited exception for accounts using linked sign-ins through Steam, Apple, Google or Game Center. Players can continue entering through the relevant platform with an existing link. This does not mean the underlying Legacy account has completed its migration, however. The exception concerns only the previously connected platform route and does not replace the broader access that comes with upgrading to a Jagex Account.
Players who stay with a linked platform without upgrading will face limitations around the Jagex Launcher and web-based Support options. A working Steam or mobile-platform link therefore does not guarantee that the account can be used in the same way through every channel. For anyone who plays across devices, relies on the Launcher or needs web Support, completing the migration remains the route to more comprehensive account access.
More character capacity and stronger security
The move to Jagex Accounts raises the number of characters that can be held under one account from 20 to 50. That gives players who manage larger character collections substantially more room. Migration also does not require access to the old email address associated with a Legacy account. Players who no longer control that inbox will not be prevented from upgrading solely because the original email is unavailable.
The newer account structure includes enhanced security, multi-factor authentication and backup codes. Multi-factor authentication adds another check so that knowing the main login information alone is not enough to gain access. Backup codes provide a separate recovery path when the normal authentication method is unavailable. Enabling these protections during migration and storing the backup codes securely lets players make practical use of the security tools included with the new account system.
Launcher, RuneLite and Apple Silicon support
For players who prefer approved third-party clients, the migration does not remove those choices. Approved clients such as RuneLite will remain available through the Jagex Launcher. The distinction matters: the supported client can still be used, while launching it and authenticating the account will run through the Launcher. Legacy account holders who use RuneLite should therefore prepare for the same new sign-in structure as other players.
The announcement also says an Apple Silicon version of the Jagex Launcher is due by the end of October. Migrating before the deadline gives players time to complete the upgrade, configure multi-factor authentication and save their backup codes without an interruption on November 17. Those who wait will retain their characters, but Legacy login will remain unavailable until they upgrade. The clearest preparation is to migrate early and check that the platform connections used for play work under the new setup.
Source: RuneScape