You can change your Xbox username once per year at no cost through your Microsoft account settings
Xbox lets you change your gamertag once every 12 months without paying anything. You do this through your Microsoft account online, not through the Xbox console itself. The change takes effect when ready across all your games and services tied to that account — your profile, achievements, friends list, and game libraries all update at once.
If you have changed your gamertag within the past year, you will need to wait until the 12-month window closes before you can change it again for free. After that, Microsoft charges a fee for additional changes.
Key Takeaways
- You get one free gamertag change every 12 months, counted from the date of your last change.
- The change happens in your Microsoft account settings online, not on your Xbox console.
- Your new gamertag appears everywhere when ready — in games, on your profile, and to your friends.
- If you have already used your free change this year, you will have to pay to change it again until the 12-month period ends.
- Some games may not update your name right away if they store your old gamertag separately in their own systems.
How to change your gamertag on a computer or phone
Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password for your Xbox account. Click on your profile picture or name in the top right corner, then select View profile. Look for the option that says Edit profile or Manage account — the exact wording changes depending on whether you are on a phone or computer.
Find the field labeled Gamertag and click on it. Type your new name and click Check availability to see if someone else is already using it. If the name is available, click Save or Confirm. The system will tell you whether this is your free change or whether you would be charged.
If you see a price listed and you have not changed your gamertag in the past year, wait a moment and refresh the page — sometimes the system needs a few seconds to recognize that you are may be able to access for the free change. If the price still appears after refreshing, your 12-month window has not closed yet.
What happens to your old gamertag
Your old gamertag becomes available for someone else to claim after a short waiting period. You cannot use it again unless you change back to it within 30 days, though you would use up your free change to do so. After 30 days, the name enters a pool that other players can claim.
Your friends will see your new gamertag when ready in their friends list. However, old messages, party chat logs, or screenshots that show your previous name will still display the old gamertag — the system does not retroactively change text that was already sent.
When your change does not show up in a specific game
Some games store your gamertag in their own separate database rather than pulling it from your Microsoft account each time. These games may not update your name right away, or they may require you to restart the game or sign out and back in. A few older games may not update your name at all.
If a game is not showing your new name after a few hours, try closing the game completely and reopening it. If that does not work, sign out of your Xbox account on that console or in that game, then sign back in. If the name still does not change after that, the game may not support name updates — contact the game's support team to ask whether they can manually update your profile in their system.
How to check when your next free change is available
Go back to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and navigate to your profile. When you click on your gamertag field, the system will show you the date of your last change and tell you when you become may be able to access for another free change. If you changed your name on March 15, 2024, your next free change is available on March 15, 2025.
You can also check this information on your Xbox console. Go to Settings, then Account, then Profile, and look for gamertag or profile information. The console may not show the exact date, but it will tell you whether you have a free change available right now.
Changing your gamertag on an Xbox console
You cannot change your gamertag directly on the console — you must do it through the Microsoft website. However, you can start the process from your Xbox. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide, go to Profile & system, then Profile, then Customize profile. Select Gamertag and the console will direct you to the Microsoft website to complete the change.
This is the same as going to account.microsoft.com yourself — the console just opens the link for you. You will still need to sign in and follow the same steps to check availability and confirm your change.
What you cannot do with a free gamertag change
You cannot change your gamertag to something that violates Xbox's code of conduct — names with slurs, hate speech, sexual content, or impersonation of real people or celebrities will be rejected. The system checks your choice before you confirm, so you will know when ready if a name is not allowed.
You also cannot change your gamertag to a name that is already taken, even if that person has not used their account in years. Xbox does not free up old names unless the account is permanently closed by Microsoft for a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my gamertag more than once per year?
Yes, but you will have to pay after your first free change. Microsoft charges a fee for each additional change within a 12-month period. Once 12 months have passed since your last change, you get another free change.
Does changing my gamertag affect my Game Pass or Xbox Live subscription?
No. Your subscription stays active and tied to your account. Your Game Pass games, achievements, and online play all continue without interruption. The change only updates your display name.
Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my gamertag?
Yes. Your friends list updates automatically, and they will see your new name in their friends list right away. They can still message you and join your games using your new gamertag.
What if I want to change my gamertag back to my old one?
You can change back within 30 days of your original change without waiting for the 12-month window to close, but this uses up your free change. After 30 days, your old name may be claimed by someone else, and you would have to pay to use it again.
Why does the website say I have to pay when I thought I had a free change?
The 12-month timer runs from the date of your last change, not from the calendar year. If you changed your name on June 10, your next free change is available on June 10 of the following year. Check the exact date you last changed your gamertag to confirm whether your window has closed.