The quickest way to change your username

Open the Xbox app on your phone or tablet, tap your profile picture in the top left corner, then select Customize profile. Tap Gamertag and enter your new username. Xbox will check whether it is available right away. If it is taken, you will see a list of similar names you can choose from instead. Confirm your choice, and the change takes effect when ready.

The entire process takes about two minutes. Your new username appears across all Xbox services — the app, your console, and Xbox.com — within seconds. Anyone on your friends list will see the updated name the next time they refresh their view.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your gamertag through your profile settings in the Xbox app, not through account settings or a web browser.
  • Xbox checks name availability in real time, so you know when ready whether your choice is taken.
  • The change appears everywhere you use Xbox — mobile, console, and web — within seconds.
  • You can change your gamertag once every 30 days at no cost; additional changes within that window cost money.
  • Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it.

What happens to your old username

Once you change your gamertag, Xbox releases your old name back into the pool of available usernames. Someone else can claim it within hours. You cannot reserve it or get it back later without paying a fee to change your name again.

Your friends list, achievement history, and game progress all stay attached to your account. The change is cosmetic — it affects only the name that appears next to your activity. Games you own, saved progress, and your account standing do not change.

Changing your name more than once a month

Xbox allows one free gamertag change every 30 days. If you want to change it again before that window closes, you will be charged a fee. The cost varies by region but typically ranges from a few dollars to around ten dollars per change.

The 30-day timer starts from the moment you confirm your new name, not from when you started the process. If you change your gamertag on the 15th of the month, you can change it again for free on the 15th of the next month.

Names Xbox will not let you use

Xbox blocks usernames that contain profanity, slurs, or references to real people without permission. The system also rejects names that are too similar to existing ones — for example, if someone has "ShadowKnight", Xbox may not let you use "ShadowKnight1" or "Shadow_Knight" because they are too close.

If you see a message that your name violates the Code of Conduct, try something completely different rather than adding numbers or symbols to the same base word. The app will tell you whether a name is available before you confirm it, so you can test several options without committing to any of them.

Changing your username on console instead

You can also change your gamertag directly on your Xbox console. Go to Settings, select Account, then Personalization, and choose Gamertag. The process is identical to the app version — you type a new name, Xbox checks availability, and you confirm.

The change syncs to the app and all other Xbox services within seconds. It does not matter which device you use to make the change; the result is the same across all of them.

What you cannot change through the app

The Xbox app lets you change your gamertag and customize your profile picture and bio. You cannot change your email address, password, or payment method through the mobile app — those require logging into your Microsoft account on a web browser or computer.

If you need to update security settings, add a phone number for two-factor authentication, or change which email is tied to your account, go to account.microsoft.com instead. The app will prompt you to the web version if you try to access those settings from your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my gamertag back to my old one?

Yes, but only if no one else has claimed it. Since old usernames become available when ready after you change them, someone else may have taken yours. If it is still unclaimed, you can change back to it for free within your 30-day window, or pay the fee if the window has closed.

Will my friends still see my old messages after I change my name?

Yes. Messages you sent before the change still show your old gamertag in the message history. Your friends will see the old name attached to past conversations, but your current profile and new activity will show your new name.

What if the name I want is taken but not in use?

Inactive accounts keep their usernames indefinitely. If someone has not used their account in years, their gamertag is still theirs and you cannot claim it. You will need to choose a different name or wait to see if Xbox ever recycles old inactive accounts — they have not announced plans to do this.

Does changing my gamertag affect my Xbox Game Pass or subscriptions?

No. Your subscriptions, Game Pass membership, and any active services stay attached to your account regardless of what name you use. The change is purely cosmetic and does not touch your billing or membership status.