Changing your Xbox username costs money on your first change, then becomes free

Your first Xbox username change costs $9.99. After that, you can change it once every 30 days for free. This applies whether you use Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or the Xbox app on PC — the price and cooldown are the same across all platforms.

The $9.99 charge appears when you select a new name through your Xbox account settings. Microsoft processes it when ready, and your new name goes live right away. If you change your mind within a few minutes, you can request a refund, but after that the charge sticks.

Key Takeaways

  • Your first username change costs $9.99; all changes after that are free once per 30 days.
  • You change your username through your Xbox account settings on any device, not through a game or the store.
  • The name becomes active when ready after purchase, and you cannot undo it without contacting support.
  • If you want to change your name again within 30 days of a free change, you will pay $9.99 for that extra change.
  • The charge applies to your Microsoft account, not to individual games or subscriptions.

Where to change your username and what happens next

Go to your Xbox account settings on Xbox.com, the Xbox app, or directly on your console. Select "Customize your profile," then "Gamertag." Type in the name you want, and the system will tell you when ready whether it is available. If it is, you will see the price — $9.99 for your first change, or free if you are within your 30-day window.

After you confirm the purchase, your new name is live within seconds. Your friends list updates, your profile shows the new name, and any messages you send will come from that name. Games you own will still be tied to your account, and your achievements and game progress do not move or reset.

The 30-day waiting period between free changes

Once you use your free change, you have to wait 30 days before you can change your name again for free. The 30 days starts from the moment your new name goes live, not from when you purchased it. If you try to change it again before 30 days have passed, the system will ask you to pay $9.99 for the extra change.

This means if you change your name on January 15, your next free change is available on February 14. If you change it again on February 10, you will pay $9.99 for that change, and then your next free change will be available on March 12 (30 days after February 10).

Why the first change costs money

Microsoft charges for the first change to prevent spam accounts and name-squatting. When creating a new account, you get a default gamertag for free — something like "Player 12345678." That free name is yours to keep. The $9.99 charge only applies if you want to replace it with something custom.

After that first paid change, the free monthly option is meant to let you fix mistakes or adjust your name without penalty. The system assumes that if you are willing to pay once, you are a real user, not a bot cycling through names.

What you cannot do with a changed username

You cannot reserve a name before you change to it. The name has to be available at the moment you purchase the change. If someone else takes it while you are deciding, you will have to pick something else.

You also cannot change your name back to a previous one without paying again if you are outside your 30-day free window. If you changed from "OldName" to "NewName" and then want to go back to "OldName" after 30 days, that counts as a new change and costs $9.99 (unless "OldName" is still available and you are within 30 days of your last free change).

Refunds and what to do if something goes wrong

If you change your name by mistake, contact Xbox Support through your account on Xbox.com. Explain what happened and ask for a refund. Microsoft will usually refund the $9.99 if you request it within a few minutes of the purchase. After a few hours, refunds become harder to get.

If your account was compromised and someone else changed your name without permission, that is a security issue. Change your password when ready, enable two-factor authentication, and contact Xbox Support with details about when the change happened. They can investigate and may reverse the change or issue a refund depending on what they find.

How this compares to other platforms

PlayStation charges $9.99 for your first username change and $4.99 for each change after that. Nintendo Switch does not let you change your username at all — you have to create a new account. Steam lets you change your display name for free as many times as you want, but your account ID (the number behind the scenes) never changes.

Xbox's model — one paid change, then free monthly changes — sits in the middle. It is more flexible than Nintendo but costs more than Steam. If you plan to change your name often, the free monthly option on Xbox makes it cheaper than PlayStation over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Xbox username on my phone?

You can start the process on the Xbox app for iOS or Android, but you will need to complete the purchase on a web browser or console. The app will direct you to Xbox.com to finish the transaction.

What if the name I want is already taken?

The system will not let you buy the change if the name is unavailable. You will see an error message and can pick a different name instead. You are not charged unless the name is free and you confirm the purchase.

Do I lose my achievements or game progress if I change my name?

No. Your achievements, game library, and progress are tied to your account, not your username. Everything stays with you when you change your name.

Can I change my username more than once in 30 days without paying?

No. You get one free change every 30 days. Any additional changes within that 30-day window cost $9.99 each.

What happens if I change my name and then want to change it back?

If you change back within 30 days of your last free change, it counts as your free change for that month. If you are outside the 30-day window, changing back costs $9.99.