Simple Steps to Change Xbox Gamertag

If you’re an Xbox player, you probably already know that your gamertag is important. It’s the way others can identify you in the Xbox community, which helps friends find you easily. Still, there may come a day when you’re sick of your current moniker and want something more fitting.

If that sounds like you, this guide will show you all the different ways you can easily update your Xbox gamertag, as well as what gotchas you should keep in mind so you can get back to playing your favorite games in no time.

Guide: How to Change Your Gamertag

The biggest gotcha you need to know if you want to change your Xbox gamertag is that you get one free update. Yes, just one. After that, if you want to change it again, it will cost you a whopping $9.99 USD each time, depending on your region and the associated fees. Yikes! Supposedly the reasoning is that it keeps players from needlessly changing names all the time and hogging the unique gamertags.

It also helps to offset costs of these updates for Xbox, itself, and it keeps players from constantly changing identities for no good reason. 

So make sure whatever name you choose doesn’t suck.

Other things to know before you pick your new gamertag: 

• For Xbox 360, your gamertag can be up to 15 characters (including any spaces). You also can’t start it with a number
• Other Xbox consoles (like Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One) only give you 12 characters to work with, and the same restrictions apply with starting it with a number
• If you get an alert that the gamertag you’re trying to use isn’t available you’ll have to choose another one
• Once you’ve updated your tag, your friends lists will automatically show this update so you don’t have to inform them

Now, on to the actual instructions.

How to Change Xbox Gamertag on Your Console

1. Push the Xbox button your controller.
2. Go to Profile and System.
3. Go to your profile.
4. Scroll to Customize Profile.

5. Select your present gamertag.
6. A “choose your new gamertag” screen will appear, showing you your current name and giving you a field to input your new gamertag.

7. You can also choose the “Check Availability” option to be sure your new tag is available.
8. Once you’ve chosen an available gamertag, it will give you a preview of how it will look.
9. If you’re happy with it, choose Change gamertag.

Changing Your Gamertag on the Web

To use the web to update your tag: 

1. Go to the official Xbox website.
2. Sign into your account using the login information associated with your Xbox profile.
3. You should see your current Xbox gamertag and profile. You may see two options, one to sign in for your Microsoft account, and one for your Xbox. If that applies to you, choose the Xbox profile. These are likely located on the upper right of your screen.
4. Your current gamertag and information should show, as well as the heading “Customize Profile.”

5. Click on the little pencil icon next to your current gamertag. This redirects you to a new page where you can choose your new tag and check availability.

6. When you’re satisfied, select Change gamertag.
7. It will show you a preview of what your new tag will look like.
8. Confirm Change gamertag or select Claim it.

Change Your Xbox 360 Gamertag

1. On your 360 console go to Social.
2. Go to Sign In or Out.
3. Sign into your profile.
4. Go to Settings (by scrolling right).
5. Choose Profile.
6. Choose Edit Profile.
7. Choose Gamertag.
8. Enter New Gamertag.
9. With Xbox 360, you get up to 15 characters. If you can’t use the gamertag you input, there will be a prompt to try a different one
10. When satisfied, choose “Yes, use this gamertag.”  

5 Amazing Gamertag Ideas

We’ve already established that if you want to change your gamertag, you’d better make it good; otherwise it will cost you every time you want to change it. With that in mind, here are 5 tips to help you pick the perfect gamertag for your Xbox profile: 

Use an Xbox Gamertag Generator

There are plenty of gamertag generator sites out there that help you pick yours by giving you randomized options from billions of words and names. Just keep going through this randomizer until you either find something you like, or it sparks a brilliant idea for you. Plus, it’s just plain fun. Some names one of the generators came up with include:

Panickylynx

BalanceLemon

KrakenUndead

LatePheasant

CousinDemon

See? Random.

Puns, Puns, and More Puns

You really can’t go wrong with puns, especially if they have anything to do with your name. If it sounds like a dad joke, it’s probably brilliant. Some examples could be: Amanda Hugandkiss (thank the Simpsons for that one), Mostly-great Scott, Katy-didn’t (instead of katydid), Mattrick Swayze…you get the idea. 

Inside Jokes or Anecdotes

This is especially fun if you game with your friends, and you have a shared story or inside joke. Think of something funny that happened and use it as inspiration for your gamertag. We’ll leave whatever that is to you.

Hobbies, Interests, or Something You Just Plain Love

Really into Gouda cheese? You could go nuts with that. Examples could be GoudaGeek, GoudaGuru, GoudaGod, Goudastic, you get the idea. If there is something that you absolutely love to do, eat, watch, whatever the case may be…you can probably get a good gamertag out of it.

Just Go Random With It

Sometimes you can just be silly, and it doesn’t have to mean anything. Some of the best gamertags out there are the ones that take you by surprise. Think something like LemonElbows, MuffinStud, HotDrinkz (yes, that is a reference to the awesome Wendy’s song). Whatever amuses you and is unexpected. You’ll also have a better chance of the gamertag being available the more random it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I log into Xbox with my gamertag?

To log into Xbox, you really can’t escape the need to use a password and valid email or phone number associated with your account. A gamertag by itself just isn’t enough. For Xbox 360 users, however, it’s a little more helpful. 

You can use your gamertag if the information is already downloaded to the console and has an associated email address and other login information. If you haven’t signed out of your 360 console and can still get in but need Microsoft to reset your password, you can find out the associated email address for them to send the password to. 

Assuming you have access to your Xbox 360, sign in: 

1. Go to your home screen.
2. Sign in with your gamertag.
3. In the top-right corner, it will show the email address that’s associated with your account. If you weren’t sure about this before, this gives you the information you need to request a new password sent to that email address so you can access your login information again.

Can Xbox gamertags have profanity?

Nope! Offensive gamertags are prohibited. Here are some things to avoid, lest you get in trouble:

• Profanity
• Sexual topics or other inappropriate topics
• Anything considered hate speech
• Controversial religious topics that could infringe on other players’ rights and identities
• References to hate groups, terrorists, well-known criminals and other controversial figures
• Words that are made to mimic profane words, such as by changing one letter or changing letters out for other characters
• Sensitive historical and current events
• Threatening speech

Can you add a second gamertag?

Yes! Here’s how: 

1. On your console, Push the Xbox button.
2. Choose Profile and System.
3. Go to Add or switch.

4. Go to Add new.
5. Enter your email address that is linked to the Microsoft account you’re going to add.
6. Choose Enter, but only do this if you actually want to make a new Microsoft account.
7. Put in the password for your account.
8. Enter.
9. Accept the privacy statement and service agreement.
10. Follow prompts to configure PIN, security, and sign-in information.
11. You can only have one profile signed in at a time.