Where to change your Sea of Thieves username

Your Sea of Thieves username is tied to your Microsoft account, not to the game itself. This means you change it through Microsoft's account settings, not through any menu inside the game. Once you update your Microsoft username, the change appears in Sea of Thieves the next time you log in.

The process takes about five minutes and works the same way whether you play on PC, Xbox, or cloud gaming. You do not need to restart the game or contact Rare (the company that makes Sea of Thieves) — the change syncs automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Sea of Thieves usernames are controlled by your Microsoft account, so you change them on Microsoft's website or through the Xbox app, not in the game.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the new name takes effect the next time you log into Sea of Thieves.
  • Your gamertag (the name other players see) and your account email are separate — changing one does not change the other.
  • If you play on PC through Steam, you still log in with your Microsoft account, so the same process applies.

Changing your username through the Microsoft website

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password you use for Sea of Thieves. Once you are logged in, look for "Your info" in the left menu and click it.

On the Your Info page, you will see your current gamertag displayed near the top. Click the "Edit gamertag" button or the pencil icon next to your name. A box will open where you can type your new username. Microsoft will check whether the name is available — if it is taken, you will see a red X and need to try a different one. Once you find an available name, click "Check availability" to confirm, then click "Save".

Microsoft charges no fee for this change. You can change your gamertag once every 30 days. If you try to change it again before 30 days have passed, the system will tell you when you are may be able to access to change it next.

Changing your username through the Xbox app

If you play on PC or console and have the Xbox app installed, you can change your gamertag there as well. Open the Xbox app and select your profile picture in the top right corner. Click "View profile".

On your profile page, look for your gamertag and click the "Edit" button next to it. Type your new username into the box that appears. The system will check availability in real time — if the name is taken, you will see a message saying so. Once you find an available name, click "Save" to confirm the change.

This method is faster if you already have the Xbox app open, but it leads to the same result as the website method. The change will be live in Sea of Thieves within a few minutes.

What happens to your old username

When you change your gamertag, your old name becomes available for someone else to use after a short delay. Any crew invitations, friend requests, or messages sent to your old name will not reach you — they are tied to the old gamertag and will not follow you to your new one.

Your Sea of Thieves progress, gold, cosmetics, and ship customizations all stay with your Microsoft account. Only the name changes. If you have friends in the game, they will see your new name the next time they log in, but they will still be able to find you through their friends list because the friendship is tied to your account, not your name.

Restrictions and things to know before you change

Microsoft has rules about what usernames are allowed. Your gamertag cannot contain profanity, slurs, or references to real people or brands. It cannot be longer than 15 characters. Spaces are allowed, but most special characters are not — stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens.

If you change your username and then want to change it back to your old one, you can do so, but only after 30 days have passed since your last change. You cannot reserve a name or hold multiple usernames at once.

Some players worry that changing their name will affect their rank or reputation in the game. It will not. Your pirate legend status, commendations, and crew history all stay attached to your account regardless of what name you use.

If your change does not appear in the game

After you change your username on Microsoft's website or through the Xbox app, it usually appears in Sea of Thieves within a few minutes. If you still see your old name after waiting 10 minutes, try logging out of Sea of Thieves completely and logging back in. This forces the game to refresh your account information from Microsoft's servers.

If you are playing through Steam on PC, make sure you are logged into the correct Microsoft account. Sea of Thieves on Steam does not use your Steam username — it uses your Microsoft account name. Check that you are signed into the right Microsoft account before you start the game.

If your new username still does not appear after logging out and back in, restart your console or PC entirely. This clears the game's cache and forces it to pull your updated information fresh from Microsoft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once?

Yes, but only once every 30 days. Microsoft enforces this limit to prevent people from constantly switching names and confusing other players. After you make a change, the system will show you exactly when you are may be able to access to change again.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my name?

Yes. Your friends list is tied to your Microsoft account, not your gamertag. They will see your new name, but you will still appear in their friends list and they can still invite you to crews without any extra steps.

What if the username I want is already taken?

Try a variation — add a number, a hyphen, or a different spelling. Microsoft will tell you when ready whether a name is available. If you really want a specific name, you can check back later, since people change their usernames and names become available again.

Does changing my username cost money?

No. Microsoft allows one free gamertag change every 30 days. There is no charge for this service.

If I change my name, do I lose my gold, cosmetics, or progress?

No. Everything on your account stays with you. Your gold, ship cosmetics, commendations, and pirate legend status are all tied to your Microsoft account, not your gamertag. Only the name changes.