You can change teams once, and only once

Pokémon GO lets you pick a team when you start playing — Mystic (blue), Valor (red), or Instinct (yellow). If you chose wrong or want to switch, the game gives you exactly one free team change. After that, you can only change teams by spending 1,000 PokéCoins, which is the in-game currency you buy with real money.

The free change is permanent. Once you use it, you cannot get another one. Plan carefully before you switch, because you will lose your position in any gyms your current team controls, and your team-colored Pokémon will still show your old team affiliation until you catch new ones.

Key Takeaways

  • Your first team change is free, but you only get one — after that, each change costs 1,000 PokéCoins.
  • Switching teams removes you from all gyms your current team holds, so your Pokémon defending those gyms will be knocked out.
  • You change teams through the Shop menu, not through Settings, and the change takes effect immediately.
  • Pokémon you already caught keep their old team color in your Pokédex, but new Pokémon you catch will show your new team.

How to access the team change option

Open Pokémon GO and tap your profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens your trainer profile page. Scroll down until you see a button labeled "Change Team" — it appears below your current team name and logo.

If you do not see a "Change Team" button, you may have already used your free change. In that case, the button will not appear unless you have 1,000 PokéCoins in your account. If you have the coins, the button will show up and you can proceed. If you do not have the coins, you will need to purchase them through the Shop before the button becomes available.

What happens when you confirm the switch

When you tap "Change Team," the game shows you a confirmation screen listing all three teams. Select your new team and confirm your choice. The change happens instantly — your profile updates, your team color changes, and you are immediately removed from every gym your old team was defending.

Any Pokémon you left defending gyms will return to your storage with the Pokémon they defeated. You will not lose the Pokémon themselves, but you lose the gym position and any coins you were earning from that gym. If you were defending multiple gyms, all of them are lost at once.

Why your old Pokémon still show the wrong team color

Pokémon you caught before switching teams will display your old team color in your Pokédex and in battle. This is cosmetic only — they fight normally and you can use them in raids and battles with your new team. The old team color is just a visual marker showing when you caught them.

New Pokémon you catch after switching will show your new team color. Over time, as you catch more Pokémon, your collection will gradually shift to show your new team. If the old colors bother you, the only way to remove them is to release those Pokémon and catch new ones, which is not worth doing for most players.

Planning your switch to avoid losing gym coins

Before you change teams, check which gyms you are defending. Open the Gym menu and look at the "Defending" tab to see all active positions. If you want to keep earning coins from those gyms, you need to either let your Pokémon be defeated first or wait until you naturally lose the gym before switching.

Coins only stop earning once your Pokémon is knocked out of the gym, so if you switch teams while defending, you lose that income immediately. Plan your switch for a time when you are not defending any gyms, or accept that you will lose whatever coins you were earning. Most players switch teams during a quiet period when they have no active defenses.

If you regret your choice and want to switch back

You can switch back to your original team, but it costs the same as any other team change after your first one — 1,000 PokéCoins. There is no special "undo" option or discount for returning to your starting team. Each switch, whether forward or backward, uses up one paid change and costs the full coin amount.

If you used your free change already and want to go back, save up 1,000 PokéCoins and follow the same process through your profile. The game does not track which team you started with, so switching back looks the same as switching to any other team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change teams more than once?

Yes, but only your first change is free. After that, each change costs 1,000 PokéCoins. You can switch as many times as you want if you keep paying, but most players only change once or twice because the cost adds up.

Do I lose my Pokémon when I change teams?

No, you keep all your Pokémon. You only lose your position in gyms your old team was defending. The Pokémon themselves stay in your storage and work normally with your new team.

What if I change teams while defending a gym?

Your Pokémon are immediately knocked out of that gym and returned to your storage. You lose any coins you were earning from that gym. It is better to let your Pokémon be defeated naturally before switching teams.

Can I change teams without spending money?

Yes, once. Your first team change is free. After that, you must spend real money to buy PokéCoins, or earn them slowly through gym defense, which takes weeks to save 1,000 coins.

Does my team color matter for battles and raids?

No. Your team only affects gym control and team-based events. In raids, battles, and catching Pokémon, your team color makes no difference to how the game plays. Switch teams based on what your local community plays, not on game mechanics.