You can change your Xbox username through the Xbox app on Android or iPhone, but the actual change happens in your Microsoft account settings, not in the game itself

The Xbox app on your phone does not have a built-in username-change feature. Instead, you open the app, sign into your Microsoft account, and then navigate to your account settings within the app to reach the Microsoft account page where the change lives. The process takes about five minutes and does not require a console or a computer.

Your Xbox username is tied to your Microsoft account, so changing it affects every service that uses that account — Outlook, OneDrive, Office, and any other Microsoft product you use. If you share a Microsoft account with family members, they will see the new name too.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Xbox app on your phone, tap your profile picture, and select "Account" to reach your Microsoft account settings.
  • Tap "Manage your Microsoft account" and then "Your info" to find the option to change your profile name.
  • You can change your Xbox username once every 30 days; changing it more often requires paying a fee through Xbox.
  • The new name appears on your Xbox profile and in multiplayer games within a few minutes, though some games may cache the old name briefly.
  • If you want to keep your old username visible to friends, you can set a custom gamertag separately from your profile name.

Steps to change your username in the Xbox app

Start by opening the Xbox app on your Android or iPhone. Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner (on Android) or top-right corner (on iPhone). A menu will appear with several options.

Select "Account" from that menu. This takes you to a page showing your current username, email address, and other account details. Look for a button or link that says "Manage your Microsoft account" — the exact wording varies slightly between Android and iPhone, but it will be the most prominent option on this screen.

Tap "Manage your Microsoft account." You will be taken to a Microsoft login page if you are not already signed in. Once you are logged in, tap "Your info" at the top of the screen. This page shows your profile name — the name that appears as your Xbox username.

Tap "Edit name" or the pencil icon next to your current name. Type your new username into the field that appears. Microsoft will check whether the name is available; if it is taken, you will see a message asking you to choose a different one. Once you have entered a name that is available, tap "Save" or "Next" to confirm the change.

Understanding the 30-day waiting period

Microsoft allows you to change your Xbox username once every 30 days at no cost. This means if you changed your name yesterday, you cannot change it again until 30 days have passed. The timer starts from the date you made the change, not from the calendar month.

If you need to change your username before the 30 days are up, you can pay a fee through Xbox to do so when ready. The cost varies by region but is typically between $5 and $10 USD. You would make this purchase through the Xbox app or through your Microsoft account settings, not through your phone's app store.

What happens to your old username

When you change your Xbox username, your old name becomes available for other players to use. Microsoft does not hold it in reserve for you, so if you change your mind within a few days, someone else may have already claimed it.

Your Xbox profile ID — a long number assigned to your account when you first created it — does not change. Friends who have you added by profile ID will still see you in their friends list, and your achievement history and game library stay attached to your account. Only the display name changes.

Why the change might not appear when ready in games

The new username appears on your Xbox profile and in the Xbox app within a few minutes. However, some games cache player names locally, meaning they store the old name on your phone temporarily. You may see your old username in a game for a few hours or even a day before the game refreshes and shows the new one.

Restarting the game usually forces it to fetch your current username from Xbox servers. If you are playing online multiplayer, other players will see your new name even if your own game is still showing the old one — the difference is only what appears on your own device.

Setting a custom gamertag if you want to keep your old name visible

Your Xbox username and your gamertag are two different things. Your username is your profile name, which is what we have been discussing. Your gamertag is a separate display name that you can customize and that appears in some games and social features.

If you want to change your profile name but keep something close to your old name visible in games, you can set a custom gamertag. This is done in the Xbox app under "Customize profile" or "Gamertag settings," depending on your phone's operating system. A custom gamertag can be up to 12 characters and does not have the 30-day waiting period that profile names do.

Troubleshooting: name change is not showing up

If you changed your username but it is still showing the old name in the Xbox app or in games, try signing out and signing back in. Close the Xbox app completely (swipe it away from your recent apps, do not just press the back button), then reopen it and sign in again. This forces the app to fetch your current account information from Microsoft servers.

If the old name is still showing after you have signed out and back in, wait a few hours. Changes to Microsoft accounts sometimes take time to sync across all of Microsoft's services. If it has been more than 24 hours and the new name still is not showing, contact Xbox Support through the Xbox app by tapping "Help" and then "Contact us."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Xbox username without using the Xbox app?

Yes. You can go to account.microsoft.com in your phone's web browser, sign in, and change your profile name from there. The steps are the same as in the app — navigate to "Your info" and edit your name. Some people find the web version easier to navigate on a small screen.

What if the username I want is already taken?

Microsoft will tell you the name is unavailable when you try to save it. You will need to choose a different name. You can try adding numbers, underscores, or hyphens to make a variation of the name you want. Spaces are not allowed in Xbox usernames.

Do I have to pay to change my username the first time?

No. Your first username change is free. The 30-day waiting period applies to free changes. If you want to change it again before 30 days have passed, that is when you pay the fee.

Will my friends still see me if I change my username?

Yes. Your friends list is tied to your profile ID, not your username. When you change your name, your friends will see the new name, but you will still appear in their friends list and they can still message and play with you.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

You can try, but only if no one else has claimed it. If someone else has taken your old username, you will not be able to use it again unless that person changes their name and releases it.