The fastest way to recover your Xbox password
Your Xbox password is the same as your Microsoft account password. If you have forgotten it, you cannot retrieve the old password itself — but you can reset it to a new one in about five minutes through the Microsoft account recovery page.
Go to account.microsoft.com/security and select "Change password" under the Security section. You will need access to the email address or phone number linked to your account. Microsoft will send a code to that email or phone, you enter the code, and then you create a new password. Once you set the new password, it works when ready on your Xbox console and on any device where you sign in.
If you cannot access the email or phone number on file, the process takes longer — Microsoft has a separate account recovery path that can take several days — but it is still possible.
Key Takeaways
- Your Xbox password is your Microsoft account password, and you reset it at account.microsoft.com/security, not through Xbox settings.
- You need access to the email address or phone number registered to your account to receive a verification code.
- A password reset takes about five minutes and works on your console when ready.
- If you cannot access your registered email or phone, Microsoft has a recovery process that takes longer but does not require you to prove you own the console.
- You cannot see your old password anywhere — you can only create a new one.
Resetting your password when you have access to your email or phone
Start at account.microsoft.com and sign in if you can, or go directly to the password reset page at account.microsoft.com/security. Look for the "Change password" option under the Security heading on the left side of the page.
Click "Change password." Microsoft will ask you to enter your current password if you are signed in, or to verify your identity if you are not. If you are not signed in, select "I forgot my password" and enter the email address or phone number attached to your account. Microsoft will send a six-digit code to that email or phone within a few seconds.
Open your email inbox or check the text message on your phone, find the code, and enter it on the Microsoft page. Then create a new password. Microsoft requires at least eight characters, and recommends mixing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — but the exact rules depend on your account settings. Once you confirm the new password, you are done. Sign out of your Xbox console completely, then sign back in with your new password.
What to do if you cannot access your registered email or phone
If the email address on your account no longer works or you no longer have access to the phone number, you will need to use Microsoft's account recovery process. Go to account.microsoft.com/security, select "Change password," and when asked to verify your identity, choose "I can't access this email or phone number."
Microsoft will ask you questions about your account history — when you created it, what devices you have used it on, what payment methods you have added, and similar details. Answer as accurately as you can. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to several days while Microsoft reviews your answers. You will receive an email once your identity is confirmed, and you can then set a new password.
If you have a phone number or email address you can add to your account, do that before you forget your password. It makes recovery much faster. You can add a backup email or phone at account.microsoft.com/security under "Additional security info."
Signing back into your Xbox console after a password reset
After you reset your password, your Xbox console will not automatically know the new one. You need to sign out and sign back in manually. On your console, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your info. Select "Sign out," and then select your account name and choose "Sign in." Enter your new password when prompted.
If you have multiple profiles on the console, only the one you are signing into needs the new password. Other profiles will continue to work as before. If you use the same Microsoft account on other devices — a PC, phone, or tablet — you will need to sign in with the new password there too, but you can do that whenever you next use those devices.
Why you cannot see your old password anywhere
Microsoft does not store passwords in a way that lets anyone — including Microsoft support staff — read them back to you. This is intentional security design. If someone broke into Microsoft's systems, they would not be able to steal passwords because Microsoft does not keep them in readable form. The trade-off is that you cannot recover an old password; you can only create a new one.
If you write down or save your passwords somewhere, use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into Windows or your browser. These tools store passwords encrypted on your device and can fill them in automatically, so you do not have to remember them or type them each time.
Preventing lockouts in the future
Add a backup email address and a phone number to your Microsoft account right now, even if you do not think you will need them. Go to account.microsoft.com/security, scroll to "Additional security info," and add both. If you ever forget your password, you will have two ways to receive a verification code instead of one.
If you use an Xbox Game Pass subscription or have payment methods saved to your account, write down the email address you use to sign in somewhere safe — a notebook, a password manager, or a trusted person. Many people forget which email they used years ago and cannot recover the account because of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reset my Xbox password from the console itself?
No. You must go to account.microsoft.com on a computer or phone to reset your password. The console does not have a password reset option. Once you have reset it online, you sign back into the console with the new password.
How long does it take to reset my password?
If you have access to your registered email or phone, the reset takes about five minutes. If you have to use account recovery because you cannot access your email or phone, it can take a few hours to several days while Microsoft verifies your identity.
Will resetting my password sign me out of my Xbox?
Not automatically. You will stay signed in on the console until you sign out manually. However, the old password will not work anymore if you try to sign in again, so you should sign out and back in with your new password to make sure it works.
What if I forgot the email address I used to create my Xbox account?
If you can sign into your Xbox console, go to Settings, Accounts, Your info, and look at the email shown there — that is the account email. If you cannot sign in, you will need to use Microsoft's account recovery process, which asks questions about your account history to verify you own it.
Do I need to change my password on other devices after resetting it on Xbox?
Your new password works everywhere you use your Microsoft account — Xbox, Windows, Outlook, OneDrive, and any other Microsoft service. You do not need to change anything on other devices; they will ask for the new password the next time you sign in.