Fix: Can’t Change Gamertag for Xbox Community

Gamertags in Xbox Live are essential for identification

4 min. read

Updated onApril 2, 2024

updated onApril 2, 2024

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Gamertags are alter ego names for players within theXbox gamingworld. Microsoft permits players to change their gamertags if they want to. However, some readers have reported that they can’t change their gamertags.

How can I fix the issues and change my gamertag?

1. Check the payment method

If you’ve changed your gamertag before, you’ll need to select a suitable payment method for the $9.99 charge. Make sure you have a valid payment set up by clickingPayment & billingon your Microsoft account page. Then click+ Add a new paymentmethod to set up a valid method.

If a credit or debit card is your chosen payment method, check your card details. It might be the case that your card has reached its expiration date. If so, you’ll need to add a new replacement card to your Microsoft account.

2. Change your gamertag via Xbox console

How come I can’t change my gamertag?

Players might see a few error messages when trying to change their gamertags. These are some of the more common gamertag errors:

Do any of the above gamertag errors sound familiar? If so, something might be wrong with the new gamertag you’re entering. For example, the tag might include inappropriate content, not meet the formatting requirements, or be unique (already taken).

There are also situations when thegamertag changes by itselffor the same reasons as the ones above.

Microsoft allows players to change their gamertags without charging only once. After that, however, the Big M charges players $9.99 to change gamertags. Therefore, payment (billing) issues can also sometimes stop players from changing their gamertags.

Aside from that, general Microsoft service outage issues can also occasionally arise. Players can’t change their gamertags because of such issues.

Additional solutions:

As theXbox Live serviceis available in many regions, it’s not always entirely obvious what inappropriate content amounts to.

If you still can’t change your tag with the above fixes, contact Microsoft’s support service for Xbox. To do that, click theContact usbutton on theHow to change your Xbox gamertagpage. Then selectAccount & profileandI want to change my gamertagoptions.

We also have a guide on how tochange Xbox name on mobile, so you might want to check it for additional information.

The agents on Microsoft’s support forum might also be able to help. Click theAsk a Questionbutton on the Xbox section of theMicrosoft forumto add a post there. Describe the gamertag issue in your forum post, and an agent will then reply soon after.

Overall, it’s relatively straightforward to fix most issues that arise fromchanging gamertags. In most cases, players usually need to choose different tags or modify their chosen ones slightly to resolve such issues.

Fix: Can’t Change Gamertag for Xbox Community#

How can I fix the issues and change my gamertag?#

1. Check the payment method#

2. Change your gamertag via Xbox console#

Fix: Can’t Change Gamertag for Xbox Community

How can I fix the issues and change my gamertag?

1. Check the payment method

2. Change your gamertag via Xbox console