Yes, you can change your Xbox username, but the process and consequences depend on which account type you have and how often you have changed it before

Microsoft allows you to change the gamertag (the name other players see) on your Xbox account. The change takes effect when ready across all Xbox services — your profile, messages, achievements, and game invitations all show the new name right away. However, there are limits: you can change your gamertag once for free, and each change after that costs $9.99 USD. Some names are blocked by Microsoft's filter, and the system will reject them during the change process.

Your games, saves, and achievements stay attached to your account no matter what name you use. Friends who had you added under your old gamertag will still see you in their friends list, though your name will update. The one exception is in older games — a small number of titles from the Xbox 360 era may not display your new name correctly, though this is rare.

Key Takeaways

  • Your first gamertag change is free; every change after that costs $9.99 USD through the Xbox website or the Xbox app.
  • The new name appears everywhere when ready — in your profile, in games, in messages, and on your friends' lists.
  • Your games, saves, achievements, and account history all stay with your account under the new name.
  • Microsoft blocks certain words and phrases; if your chosen name is rejected, you will need to pick a different one.
  • Some very old Xbox 360 games may not display your new gamertag correctly, though most modern games will.

How to change your gamertag on Xbox

Go to account.xbox.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select My profile. Look for the option that says Customize profile or Edit profile — the exact wording varies depending on whether you are on a computer or mobile device. You should see your current gamertag displayed prominently.

Click on your gamertag to edit it. Type in your new name. Microsoft will check it against their filter in real time — if the name contains blocked words or is already taken by another player, you will see a red X and a message saying the name is unavailable. Keep trying different names until you find one that passes. Once you have a name that works, the system will either charge you $9.99 (if this is not your first change) or show you a confirmation screen (if it is your free change). Complete the payment or confirmation, and your new gamertag goes live when ready.

You can also change your gamertag through the Xbox app on your console. Press the Xbox button to open the guide, go to Profile & system, then Profile, then Customize profile. The process is the same from there.

What stays the same after you change your name

Your account itself does not change. All your games, whether you own them outright or have them through Game Pass, remain in your library. Your save files stay exactly where they are — if you were halfway through a campaign in a game, your progress is still there. Your achievements and gamerscore (the total points you have earned) do not reset or disappear.

Friends who had you added will still see you in their friends list, and the friendship is not broken. Their list will straightforward show your new gamertag instead of the old one. If you were in a party or a game with someone when you changed your name, they might see a brief notification that you changed your gamertag, but the connection stays active.

Names that Microsoft blocks and why

Microsoft maintains a filter that automatically rejects gamertags containing profanity, slurs, hate speech, or references to illegal activity. The filter also blocks names that are too similar to Microsoft's own brands or to names of major public figures. Some innocuous words get caught by the filter by accident — for example, a name that contains a blocked word as part of a longer word might be rejected even if the full name is harmless.

If your chosen name is rejected, the system will not tell you exactly why — it will only say the name is unavailable. Try removing words, adding numbers, or using different spelling. If you believe a name was blocked by mistake, you can contact Xbox Support through the Xbox app or the website, though they rarely overturn these decisions.

The cost of changing your gamertag more than once

Your first change is free. The second change and every change after that costs $9.99 USD, charged to the payment method on your Microsoft account. There is no limit to how many times you can change your name, so you can change it as often as you want — you will just pay each time after the first.

The $9.99 charge appears when ready when you confirm the change. If the charge fails (for example, if your card is expired), the name change will not go through. You can try again with a different payment method, or wait until your current payment method is updated.

How old games handle your new gamertag

Most modern games and all current Xbox services display your new gamertag correctly. However, some games from the Xbox 360 era — particularly older online multiplayer titles — may not update your name in their systems. This happens because those games stored your gamertag in their own databases rather than pulling it from Xbox's central system every time.

In practice, this means you might see your old gamertag in leaderboards or player lists in very old games, while newer games show your current name. Your account and your saves are not affected — it is purely a display issue in the game itself. If you are playing a modern game, you will not encounter this problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my gamertag back to my old one?

Yes, but it will cost $9.99 unless it is your first change overall. If you change your name and then change it back, both changes count toward your paid changes. Your old gamertag is not reserved for you — if someone else takes it in the meantime, you cannot reclaim it.

What if someone else takes my old gamertag after I change it?

Gamertags are not reserved. Once you change your name, your old gamertag becomes available for anyone else to use. If you want it back later, you would have to pay $9.99 to change to it again — but only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my name?

Yes. Your account ID stays the same, so anyone who had you in their friends list will still see you there under your new name. You can also search for friends by their new gamertag the same way you would search for anyone else.

Do I need to change my password when I change my gamertag?

No. Your gamertag and your password are separate. Changing your gamertag does not affect your account security or your password. You only need to change your password if you suspect someone has accessed your account without permission.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my new gamertag?

Gamertags can include letters, numbers, and some special characters like hyphens and underscores, but not spaces. Microsoft's system will tell you during the change process if your chosen name contains characters that are not allowed.