Yes, you can change your Xbox username through the Xbox app on your phone

The Xbox app on iOS and Android lets you change your gamertag without opening a web browser or sitting down at a console. The process takes about five minutes and costs 800 Microsoft Points (roughly $10) unless you are changing it for the first time, which is free. You will need to know your current Microsoft account password, and the change takes effect when ready across all your devices.

The app walks you through each step in order, so there is no hunting through menus. If you have never changed your gamertag before, the first change is free — after that, each change costs the same amount. Your old gamertag becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Xbox app, tap your profile picture, and select "Customize profile" to reach the gamertag change screen.
  • Your first gamertag change is free; subsequent changes cost 800 Microsoft Points, which you can buy directly in the app.
  • The new gamertag takes effect when ready on all your devices and in all Xbox services.
  • Your old gamertag becomes available for others to use after 30 days, so claim a new one before then if you want to keep it.
  • You must enter your Microsoft account password to confirm the change, even though you are already logged in.

Step-by-step: changing your gamertag in the app

Open the Xbox app and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. This opens a menu with several options. Select "Customize profile" — this is the option that leads to your gamertag settings.

On the next screen, you will see your current gamertag displayed prominently. Tap on it or look for a "Change gamertag" button below it. The app will show you whether your first change is free or whether you need to pay. If you need to pay and do not have Microsoft Points in your account, you can buy them right there in the app using your payment method on file.

Type your new gamertag into the text field. The app checks availability in real time — if the name is taken, you will see a red X. If it is available, you will see a green checkmark. Gamertags can be 3 to 15 characters, can include letters and numbers, and cannot include spaces or special characters. The app will reject anything that breaks these rules before you even try to confirm.

Once you have a name that is available and passes the character rules, tap "Check availability" or "Confirm" (the exact button name varies by app version). The app will then ask you to enter your Microsoft account password. This is a security step — you must do this even though you are already logged into the app. Type your password and tap confirm.

The change processes when ready. You will see a confirmation screen, and your new gamertag is now active. Close the app or navigate away, and when you open it again, your profile will show the new name.

What happens if your chosen name is taken

If the gamertag you want is already in use, the app will show a red X next to it and will not let you proceed. You have two options: try a variation of the name (adding a number, a letter, or an underscore), or search for a completely different name.

The app does not show you who owns a taken name or whether it is still active. If you see a gamertag you want but it is taken, you cannot reserve it or contact the person using it through the app. You can only choose a different name or wait to see if the owner abandons it — but there is no way to know when or if that will happen.

Understanding the cost and free first change

Microsoft gives every account one free gamertag change. This applies whether you have never changed it or whether your account is brand new. After you use that free change, every subsequent change costs 800 Microsoft Points.

Microsoft Points are a digital currency you buy with real money. 800 points costs roughly $10, though the exact price varies slightly by region and by how many points you buy at once. You can purchase points directly in the Xbox app during the gamertag change process, or you can buy them ahead of time through the Microsoft Store on the web.

If you are not sure whether you have used your free change already, the app will tell you before you confirm. It will show "Free" or the point cost clearly before you enter your password.

When the change takes effect and what changes with it

Your new gamertag is active when ready after you confirm the change and enter your password. You do not have to restart the app or your console — the change is live right away across Xbox, Minecraft, and any other Microsoft service that uses your gamertag.

Your friends list, achievements, and game history all stay with your account. Your new gamertag straightforward replaces the old one everywhere. People on your friends list will see the new name the next time they open their friends list or refresh it.

Your old gamertag does not disappear right away. For 30 days, it is reserved under your account and cannot be used by anyone else. After 30 days, it becomes available for someone else to claim. If you think you might want to use the old name again, you have that 30-day window to change back to it for free (since your free change is already used, changing back would cost points).

Troubleshooting: what to do if the change does not go through

If you enter your password and see an error message, the most common cause is that you typed your password incorrectly. Try again, making sure caps lock is off and that you are using the exact password you use to sign into your Microsoft account on a computer.

If you see a message saying the gamertag is no longer available, someone else claimed it between the time you checked and the time you tried to confirm. Go back and choose a different name. This is rare but can happen if the name is very popular.

If the app crashes or closes during the process, open it again and check your profile. The change may have gone through even though you did not see the confirmation screen. If your gamertag has not changed, you can try again. If you were charged points but the name did not change, contact Xbox Support through the app — tap your profile picture, scroll down, and select "Get help".

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my gamertag back to my old one?

Yes, but only within 30 days of the change, and only if no one else has claimed it. After 30 days, your old gamertag becomes available to anyone. If you change back within 30 days, it counts as a new change and will cost points (unless it was your first change overall).

What if I do not have Microsoft Points and do not want to buy them?

If your first change is free, you do not need points at all. If you have already used your free change, you must buy 800 Microsoft Points to change again. There is no way around the cost for subsequent changes. You can buy points in the app using a credit card, debit card, or balance from a Microsoft gift card.

Will my friends see my old gamertag for a while after I change it?

No. The change is when ready across all services. Your friends will see your new gamertag the next time they refresh their friends list or open the app, which usually happens automatically within a few minutes.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my gamertag?

No. Gamertags can only include letters (A–Z) and numbers (0–9). Spaces, underscores, hyphens, and other special characters are not allowed. The app will reject any name that includes them before you can even try to confirm.

What if the app keeps saying my password is wrong?

Make sure you are typing the password you use to sign into your Microsoft account on a computer, not a PIN or a phone password. If you are not sure, go to account.microsoft.com on a web browser, sign out, and sign back in to confirm your password works. Then try the gamertag change again in the app.