Sea of Thieves uses your Microsoft account name, not a separate game username

Your character name in Sea of Thieves is tied to your Microsoft account. You cannot change it inside the game itself. To change how your name appears to other players, you change your Microsoft account display name, and that change shows up in Sea of Thieves within a few hours.

This is different from many other games that let you pick a username just for that game. Sea of Thieves pulls your identity directly from Microsoft, so the two are linked. If you change your Microsoft display name, it changes everywhere you use that account — Xbox, Windows, Minecraft, and Sea of Thieves all at once.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Sea of Thieves name comes from your Microsoft account display name, not from a setting inside the game.
  • You change your name by going to account.microsoft.com, signing in, and editing your profile display name.
  • The change takes effect in Sea of Thieves within a few hours, but you may need to restart the game to see it.
  • Changing your Microsoft display name affects your name on Xbox, Windows, and any other Microsoft service using that account.
  • You can change your display name as often as you want, but Microsoft may flag very frequent changes as suspicious activity.

Steps to change your name through Microsoft account settings

Go to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in with the Microsoft account you use for Sea of Thieves. Once you are logged in, look for your profile picture or name in the top right corner and click it. Select View profile or My profile from the menu that appears.

On your profile page, find the Edit profile button or pencil icon. Click it, then locate the Display name field. This is the name that shows to other players in Sea of Thieves. Type your new name into that field. Microsoft allows display names up to 256 characters, but Sea of Thieves may display only the first portion depending on screen space.

After you type your new name, click Save or Next depending on which version of the Microsoft account page you see. Microsoft may ask you to confirm your identity by sending a code to your email or phone. Enter that code when prompted. Once confirmed, your display name is saved.

When the change appears in your game

Your new name usually shows up in Sea of Thieves within a few hours. However, you may need to restart the game or even restart your console or PC for the change to display. If you still see your old name after restarting, wait another hour and try again — Microsoft's servers sometimes take longer to sync the change across all services.

Other players will see your new name the next time they encounter you in a session. If you are already in a game when you change your name, they may still see the old one until the session ends and you rejoin.

What happens if you change your name frequently

You can change your Microsoft display name as often as you want from a technical standpoint. However, if you change it many times in a short period — for example, five times in one week — Microsoft's security systems may flag the account as potentially compromised and temporarily lock you out of making further changes. This is a safety measure to prevent account takeover.

If this happens, you will see a message saying you cannot change your display name right now. Wait a few days before trying again. If you need to change it urgently and cannot wait, contact Microsoft Support through account.microsoft.com and explain the situation.

Changing your name affects all Microsoft services

Your display name is not specific to Sea of Thieves. When you change it on Microsoft's account page, the new name appears on Xbox Live, Windows, Minecraft, Outlook, and any other service connected to that Microsoft account. If you use the same account for work email or other purposes, consider whether a name change is appropriate across all those places.

If you want a different name just for Sea of Thieves and do not want to change your name everywhere else, your only option is to create a second Microsoft account, set it up with the name you want, and use that account to play Sea of Thieves on a separate profile on your console or PC.

If you cannot access your Microsoft account

If you have forgotten your Microsoft account password or no longer have access to the email or phone number associated with it, you will need to recover your account before you can change your display name. Go to account.live.com/password/reset and follow Microsoft's account recovery process. You may be asked to verify your identity using a backup email, phone number, or security questions you set up previously.

If you cannot recover your account on your own, contact Microsoft Support. The process can take several days, so plan ahead if you need your name changed by a specific date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Sea of Thieves name without changing my Xbox name?

No. Sea of Thieves uses your Microsoft account display name, which is the same across Xbox, Windows, and all Microsoft services. If you want a different name only for Sea of Thieves, you would need to create a separate Microsoft account and use that to play the game on a different profile.

How long does it take for my new name to show up in the game?

Usually a few hours, but it can take up to 24 hours in rare cases. Restart the game or your console to speed up the process. If you still do not see the change after a day, sign out of your Microsoft account and sign back in.

What if another player is using the name I want?

Microsoft display names do not have to be unique — multiple people can have the same display name. You can use any name you want as long as it does not violate Microsoft's code of conduct. However, other players will see your full account identifier (which includes a number) if there are duplicates, so you will still be distinguishable.

Can I revert to my old name?

Yes. Go back to account.microsoft.com, edit your display name again, and type your old name. There is no waiting period or limit on reverting, though very frequent changes may trigger Microsoft's security flags.

Does changing my name affect my progress or cosmetics in Sea of Thieves?

No. Your character, level, gold, cosmetics, and all progress are tied to your Microsoft account, not your display name. Changing your name does not affect any of your in-game items or achievements.