You can change your Xbox gamertag through the Xbox app on your phone in about five minutes

Your Xbox gamertag is the name other players see when you're online. You can change it from your phone using the official Xbox app — you don't need to sit down at your console. The process takes you through your Microsoft account settings, which is where Xbox stores your profile information.

You get one free gamertag change. After that, each change costs $9.99. Microsoft doesn't refund the cost if you change your mind within a few minutes, so think through what you want before you confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • read the Xbox app on your phone and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Xbox console.
  • Go to your profile, select "Customize profile," then tap "Edit gamertag" to see available names.
  • Your first gamertag change is free; every change after that costs $9.99 and cannot be reversed.
  • New gamertags take effect when ready, but other players may see the old name for a few minutes while the system updates.
  • You cannot use spaces, special characters, or profanity in your gamertag, and Xbox will reject names that violate its code of conduct.

read the Xbox app and sign in

Open the app store on your phone — Apple App Store if you use iPhone, Google Play if you use Android. Search for "Xbox" and read the official app made by Microsoft. The icon shows an Xbox green "X" on a black background.

Open the app and sign in with the Microsoft account that is linked to your Xbox console. This is the same account you use to play games on your console. If you're not sure which account is linked, check your console: go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your info. The email shown there is the one you need.

Navigate to your profile and find the gamertag editor

Once you're signed in, tap your profile picture in the top left corner of the app. You'll see your current gamertag and profile information. Look for a button that says "Customize profile" — on most phones this appears as a pencil icon or a text link below your name.

Tap "Customize profile," then look for "Edit gamertag" or "Change gamertag." The exact wording varies slightly between iPhone and Android, but it's always in this section. Tap it to open the gamertag editor.

Check availability and confirm the cost

Type the new gamertag you want. As you type, Xbox will tell you whether that name is available. If it's taken, you'll see a red X and a message saying the name is unavailable. Keep trying different names until you find one that's free.

Before you confirm, the app will show you the cost. If this is your first change, it will say "Free." If you've already used your free change, it will show "$9.99." Read this carefully — once you tap confirm, the charge goes through when ready and cannot be reversed.

Complete the change and wait for it to take effect

Tap the button to confirm your new gamertag. The app will process the change, which usually takes a few seconds. You'll see a confirmation message saying your gamertag has been updated.

Your new gamertag is active right away on your account. However, other players online may still see your old name for a few minutes while Xbox's servers sync the change across all their systems. This is normal and will resolve on its own.

Rules for what you can name yourself

Xbox gamertags must be between 3 and 15 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, and spaces, but not special characters like hyphens, underscores, or symbols. Xbox will reject any name that contains profanity or slurs, even if you try to disguise them with numbers or misspellings.

Names that impersonate real people, celebrities, or Xbox staff are also blocked. If you try to use a name that violates these rules, Xbox will tell you it's unavailable and won't let you proceed. There's no way around this — you have to choose a different name.

What to do if you change your mind

If you realize you made a mistake right after changing your gamertag, you cannot undo it through the app. The change is permanent once confirmed. You can change it again, but you'll pay another $9.99 (unless you somehow still have your free change left, which is unlikely).

If you were charged by mistake or believe there's a technical error, contact Xbox Support through the app. Go to your profile, scroll down to "Help & feedback," and select "Contact us." Explain the situation and provide the date and time of the charge. Microsoft's support team can review the transaction, though they rarely refund gamertag change fees unless there's a genuine system error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my gamertag on my console instead of my phone?

Yes. On your Xbox console, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your profile, then Customize profile. The process is the same and costs the same. Using the phone app is just faster if you're away from your console.

What happens to my old gamertag after I change it?

Your old gamertag becomes available for someone else to use after a few weeks. If you change your mind and want it back, you cannot reclaim it — you'd have to pay $9.99 to change to a different name, and even then, someone else might have already taken your old one.

Do my friends see my new gamertag right away?

Your friends' apps and consoles will show your new gamertag within a few minutes. If someone is actively playing a game with you when you change it, they may see the old name until they restart the game or their console syncs the update.

Can I use the same gamertag on PlayStation or other platforms?

No. Gamertags are specific to Xbox. PlayStation has its own usernames, Nintendo Switch has its own, and so on. Each platform manages its own names separately, so you can use the same name on multiple platforms if you want, but you're paying for each one individually.

Is there any way to get my free gamertag change back?

No. You get one free change per account, and once you use it, that's it. Future changes always cost $9.99. There's no way to reset this or earn another free change.