Prepaid RP card rejected: the store never activated it
League clientStoreThe message
This code appears to be not properly activatedWhat it means
The shop that sold your prepaid RP card didn't activate it, and Riot won't redeem a card in that state.
What to try first
Go back to the store where you bought the card and ask them to activate it, then redeem the code again.
Is it you or Riot? If lots of players are hitting this at once, it's probably the servers. Check League server status before you start reinstalling things.
Why a paid-for card gets rejected
Prepaid RP cards sit on the rack as dead plastic. They only become worth anything once the register activates them when you pay, and if the cashier skipped that step (or it failed without anyone noticing), the code you scratch off is still inert. Riot's billing article is short and firm on this: an unactivated card can't be redeemed.
There's no setting to change in the client. Retyping the code a bit more carefully won't help either. The merchant has to activate it. Take the card back to the shop you bought it from (bring the proof of purchase if you still have it) and ask them to finish the job, then try the code again.
Other wordings of the same error
League of Legends this code appears to be not properly activatedRP card not properly activatedLeague prepaid card not activatedThis code appears to be not properly activated RP card
Related errors
Source: Riot Games Player Support, This code appears to be not properly activated, updated July 3, 2025. Riot's steps are paraphrased here, not copied; checked September 29, 2026.