Change your Xbox password through your Microsoft account settings

Your Xbox One password is actually your Microsoft account password, so you change it on Microsoft's website, not on the console itself. You'll need a web browser on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — and your current password or a recovery email address. The process takes about five minutes and takes effect when ready on all your devices.

You don't need to be signed into your Xbox to do this. In fact, you can change your password even if you're locked out of the console, as long as you can access the email address linked to your Microsoft account.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your current Microsoft account password or use your recovery email if you've forgotten it.
  • Select "Security" from the left menu, then choose "Change password" and enter your current password once more.
  • Create a new password that is at least eight characters long and includes uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols for stronger security.
  • Your new password works on your Xbox One when ready, but you may need to sign out and back in on the console to see the change take effect.
  • If you've forgotten your current password, use the "I forgot my password" link on the Microsoft sign-in page to reset it through your recovery email or phone number.

Step-by-step: changing your password on Microsoft's website

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Click "Sign in" and enter your email address or phone number associated with your Xbox account. Enter your current password. If you don't remember it, click "I forgot my password" instead and follow the recovery steps — Microsoft will send a code to your recovery email or phone.

Once you're signed in, look for "Security" in the left-side menu and click it. Find the option that says "Change password" and click that. Microsoft will ask you to enter your current password one more time as a security check. Type it in and click "Next."

Now create your new password. Microsoft requires at least eight characters. A stronger password includes uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols like ! @ # $ %. Avoid using your username, email address, or anything that appears in your account name. Click "Next" and then "Finish." You're done — the change is when ready.

What happens on your Xbox One after you change the password

Your Xbox One will not automatically sign you out when you change your password online. You can keep using the console without interruption. However, if you sign out of your profile on the Xbox or if the console restarts, you'll need to sign back in with your new password.

If you have multiple profiles on your Xbox One, only the profile linked to the Microsoft account you changed the password for will need the new password. Other local profiles or profiles linked to different Microsoft accounts are not affected.

If you've forgotten your current password

Click "I forgot my password" on the Microsoft sign-in page at account.microsoft.com. Microsoft will ask you to enter your email address or phone number. You'll then receive a security code sent to your recovery email address or phone number — whichever you set up when you created your account.

Enter that code on the next screen. Microsoft will then let you create a new password without needing to know your old one. This is the same process whether you're changing your password because you forgot it or because you want to update it for security reasons.

If you don't have access to your recovery email or phone number, you can answer security questions you set up during account creation. If you can't do that either, contact Microsoft Support through their website — they can verify your identity through other means and help you regain access to your account.

Creating a password that's harder to guess

A strong password is your first line of defense against someone else accessing your Xbox account and your payment information. Avoid passwords based on your birthday, your child's name, your address, or anything someone could find on your social media. Don't reuse a password from another website, especially not from a site you don't trust.

A password like "BlueSky#2024!Home" is stronger than "password123" because it mixes character types and doesn't follow a predictable pattern. Write your new password down in a physical notebook kept somewhere safe, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password if you have one installed on your devices. Never text your password to yourself or email it to yourself.

Signing back into your Xbox One with your new password

If you want to sign out and sign back in to test your new password, press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide. Go to "Profile & system" and select "Sign out." Then select your profile again and choose "Sign in." Enter your new password when prompted.

If you enter the wrong password three times in a row, Xbox will lock you out temporarily for security. Wait a few minutes and try again. If you're still having trouble, make sure you're typing your password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters are different from lowercase letters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password on the Xbox itself?

No. Your Xbox One password is managed entirely through your Microsoft account online. There is no password-change option on the console itself. Any changes you make at account.microsoft.com take effect on your Xbox automatically.

Will changing my password sign me out of other devices?

Not when ready. You'll stay signed in on your Xbox, your phone, your computer, and any other device until you sign out manually or until you sign back in. At that point, you'll need your new password. Changing your password does not force a sign-out across all devices.

What if I'm locked out of my recovery email?

Contact Microsoft Support through their website. You can verify your identity by answering security questions, providing a phone number, or other methods. Microsoft can help you regain access to your account without needing the recovery email.

Can I change my password on the Xbox app for Windows or mobile?

You can change it through the Xbox app, but it's easier to do it on account.microsoft.com directly. Open the Xbox app, go to your profile, select "Account," then "Security," and look for password options. The website method is more straightforward.

How often should I change my Xbox password?

Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you've used it on a website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in over a year. You don't need to change it monthly unless your household rules require it. A strong, unique password that you change occasionally is better than a weak password you change frequently.