Change your gamertag through your Microsoft account settings

Your gamertag is the name that appears when you play online. You can change it once every 30 days at no cost through your Microsoft account. The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely on the web or in the Xbox app — you do not need to be playing a game.

The fastest route is through a web browser. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in with the email address linked to your Xbox account, and select "Your info" on the left side. Look for "Manage your Microsoft account" and choose "Change gamertag". Type your new name, check that it is available, and confirm the change. The new name takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show up in games you are already playing.

If you prefer to change it on your console, open the Xbox app, go to your profile in the top left corner, select "Customize profile", and choose "Change gamertag". The steps are the same — type the new name and confirm. Either method works equally well.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your gamertag once every 30 days at no cost through your Microsoft account online or through the Xbox app.
  • Your new gamertag takes effect when ready but may take a few minutes to show up in active games.
  • Gamertags must be between 3 and 15 characters and cannot contain spaces, though they can include numbers and hyphens.
  • If your chosen name is already taken, the system will tell you when ready and suggest alternatives.
  • Changing your gamertag does not affect your game saves, achievements, or friends list — those stay tied to your account.

What names are not allowed

Xbox blocks gamertags that contain profanity, slurs, or references to illegal activity. The system also rejects names that impersonate real people or celebrities, names that are already taken by another player, and names that consist only of numbers or special characters.

If you try a name and see "This gamertag is not available", it means either someone else has it or Xbox flagged it as against policy. The system will suggest alternatives based on what you typed. You can accept one of those suggestions or try a completely different name.

Waiting period between changes

Once you change your gamertag, you must wait 30 days before changing it again. This applies even if you change it back to your original name. The timer starts the moment you confirm the change, not when it appears in your games.

If you change your mind within a few minutes, you can go back to your account settings and change it again — the 30-day timer has not started yet. After you leave the settings page, the change is locked in for a month.

How your old gamertag appears to other players

When you change your gamertag, your old name disappears from your profile and from new games you play. However, in games where you already earned achievements or played before the change, your old gamertag may still appear in leaderboards or match history for a few days while the system updates.

Your friends will see your new gamertag when ready in their friends list. If someone searches for your old name, they will not find you — they will need to search for your new name or find you through a mutual friend.

Changing your gamertag on a shared console

If multiple people use the same Xbox console, each person has their own profile and their own gamertag. To change a different profile's gamertag, sign into that profile first, then follow the same steps. You can only change the gamertag for the profile you are currently signed into.

If you are the account owner and want to change someone else's gamertag, you will need their password or permission to sign into their account. You cannot change another person's gamertag from your own profile.

Gamertag length and character rules

Your gamertag must be between 3 and 15 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or most special characters. Underscores are not allowed. The system will tell you when ready if your choice breaks these rules.

Capitalization does not matter — Xbox treats "MyName" and "myname" as the same gamertag, so you cannot have both. If you want to change only the capitalization of your current gamertag, you will need to change it to something else first, wait 30 days, then change it back with different capitalization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my gamertag delete my achievements or game progress?

No. Your achievements, game saves, and play history all stay with your account. Changing your gamertag is purely cosmetic — it only changes the name that displays. All your data remains exactly as it was.

Can I change my gamertag if I have been reported or suspended?

You can change your gamertag at any time, even if your account is under review. However, if you are suspended for a violation, changing your name will not lift the suspension. The suspension applies to your account, not your gamertag.

What if someone else has the gamertag I want?

If the name is taken, you cannot use it. Xbox will suggest similar alternatives, or you can type a different name. If you really want that specific gamertag, you could try again later — if that person stops using Xbox and their account becomes inactive, their gamertag may eventually become available, though this can take months or years.

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

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

Can I change my gamertag on mobile?

Yes. Go to account.microsoft.com on your phone's web browser, sign in, and follow the same steps as on a computer. The Xbox mobile app also has a profile settings option where you can change your gamertag, though the web browser method is usually faster.