Your Forza Horizon 5 username comes from your Xbox account, not the game itself

Forza Horizon 5 does not have its own username system. The name that appears in the game is your Xbox gamertag — the same username you use across Xbox, Windows, and other Microsoft services. To change what shows up in Forza Horizon 5, you change your Xbox gamertag through your Microsoft account settings.

You can change your gamertag once for free, and each change after that costs $9.99. The change takes effect when ready in Forza Horizon 5 and everywhere else you use that Xbox account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Forza Horizon 5 username is your Xbox gamertag, which you manage through your Microsoft account, not through the game.
  • Your first gamertag change is free; subsequent changes cost $9.99 each.
  • You can change your gamertag on Xbox.com, the Xbox app on Windows, or the Xbox console itself.
  • The new gamertag appears in Forza Horizon 5 within seconds of confirmation.
  • Microsoft blocks certain words and will reject a gamertag if it violates their code of conduct.

Change your gamertag on Xbox.com

The fastest way is through the web. Go to xbox.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and select your profile icon in the top right corner. Click My profile, then select Customize profile. You will see your current gamertag at the top of the page.

Click on the gamertag itself or look for an Edit button next to it. Type your new gamertag into the field. Xbox will check in real time whether the name is available and whether it violates their code of conduct — if the name is taken or contains blocked words, you will see a red message when ready. Once you find an available name, click Save or Confirm. The change is live within seconds.

Change your gamertag on the Xbox app for Windows

Open the Xbox app on your Windows computer and sign in. Select your profile icon in the top left corner and click View profile. On your profile page, select Customize profile. You will see your gamertag near the top.

Click on the gamertag to edit it. Type your new name and wait for the availability check to complete. If the name is available and passes the content filter, click Save. The change takes effect when ready and will show in Forza Horizon 5 the next time you launch the game.

Change your gamertag on an Xbox console

If you are playing on Xbox Series X, Series S, or Xbox One, you can change your gamertag directly from the console. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide, then go to Profile & system and select Profile. Choose Customize profile and select your gamertag.

Enter your new gamertag and wait for the availability check. Once Microsoft confirms the name is available, press Save. You will see a confirmation message, and the change will be active when ready. Restart Forza Horizon 5 to see the new name in the game.

What happens if your chosen name is unavailable or blocked

Microsoft blocks gamertags that contain profanity, slurs, or references to illegal activity, even if the words are spelled creatively or use numbers in place of letters. If you see a message saying your gamertag violates the code of conduct, try a different name.

If a name is taken, you will see "This gamertag is not available." You can add numbers, underscores, or spaces to make it unique — for example, if "RacerJohn" is taken, "RacerJohn42" or "Racer_John" might be available. Keep trying variations until you find one that works.

Understand the cost and frequency limits

Your first gamertag change is free. If you change it again, Microsoft charges $9.99 per change. There is no limit to how many times you can change your gamertag, but you can only change it once every 30 days — you cannot change it again until 30 days have passed since your last change.

The $9.99 charge appears on the payment method linked to your Microsoft account. If you do not have a payment method on file, you will be prompted to add one before you can complete a paid change.

Your old gamertag and what happens to your progress

When you change your gamertag, your old name becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days. Your Forza Horizon 5 progress, cars, credits, and multiplayer history all stay with your Xbox account — they do not depend on your gamertag. Friends will see your new name when ready, and your leaderboard history will show under your new gamertag.

If you were known by your old gamertag in the Forza community, other players will see the new name going forward. There is no way to keep your old gamertag linked to your account after you change it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Forza Horizon 5 username without changing my Xbox gamertag?

No. Forza Horizon 5 pulls your name directly from your Xbox account and does not allow a separate in-game username. The only way to change what appears in the game is to change your Xbox gamertag.

Will my friends see my new gamertag right away?

Yes. Your new gamertag appears in their friends list, in multiplayer lobbies, and on leaderboards within seconds of confirmation. They do not need to restart their game or do anything on their end.

What if I want to change my gamertag back to my old one?

You can reclaim your old gamertag, but only after 30 days have passed since you changed away from it. After 30 days, your old name becomes available again. You can change to it like any other gamertag, and it will cost $9.99 if it is not your first change.

Do I need to be online to change my gamertag?

Yes. You must be signed into your Microsoft account and connected to the internet, whether you are changing it on Xbox.com, the Xbox app, or a console. The change requires Microsoft to check availability and process the request.

What if I see an error message when I try to save my new gamertag?

Common errors include "This gamertag is not available" (someone else has it), "This gamertag violates our code of conduct" (blocked content), or a connection error. Try a different name, check your internet connection, and make sure you are signed into the correct Microsoft account. If the error persists, wait a few minutes and try again.