How to Change Your Real Name on the Xbox Live Gaming Service

Key Takeaways:

  • You can easily change your real name that displays on your Xbox profile through your Microsoft account settings
  • Your first free gamertag change does not affect your real name – that must be updated separately
  • Updating your real name will change how you appear to friends on Xbox, but won’t impact your gamertag

As an avid Xbox gamer for over 15 years, I’ve become very familiar with managing my Xbox Live profile and account settings. One common question I see from fellow players is how to change the real name that displays on their Xbox profile, separately from their gamertag. Your real name is what friends see when you connect on Xbox Live, so it’s important to keep it up to date. Luckily, the process is quite simple once you know where to look.

Changing Your Real Name on Xbox

To modify the real name associated with your Xbox Live profile, you’ll need to update it through your Microsoft account page, since Xbox profiles are tied to your overarching Microsoft account. Here’s how:

  1. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the Microsoft account tied to your Xbox gamertag
  2. Click on “Your info” from the top menu
  3. Under your name, select “Edit name”
  4. Enter your updated first and last name in the fields provided
  5. Click “Save” to confirm the name change

Your name change will take effect immediately across Xbox Live and other Microsoft services. Friends on Xbox will now see your new name when you’re online, in their friends list, and in any Xbox Live activity.

It’s important to note that changing your real name does not affect your gamertag. Gamertags can only be changed separately through Xbox’s gamertag settings, and your first gamertag change is free. Any further gamertag updates will cost a small fee. But your real name can always be edited at no cost through your Microsoft account.

Why Change Your Xbox Real Name?

There are a few reasons why you may want to update the real name on your Xbox account:

  • Your name has legally changed due to marriage, divorce, or other reasons
  • You initially set up your account with a fake name or nickname and want to correct it
  • You want to add more privacy and use a generic name instead of your real one
  • You’re updating your name across all your online accounts for consistency

Whatever the reason, changing your Xbox Live real name is a straightforward process that you can do at any time from your Microsoft account page. It’s totally separate from your gamertag, so you don’t need to worry about losing your gamerscore, achievements, or social reputation when updating your name.

Changing Other Xbox Profile Details

In addition to your real name, there are a few other elements you can customize on your Xbox Live profile:

  • Gamerpic: This is the avatar image that represents you on Xbox. You can change it to various preset images or upload a custom picture.
  • Bio: Add a short description or tagline to express your gaming style or personality. Keep it clean!
  • Location: Enter your city, state, or country to connect with local players if desired.

All of these options can be edited directly on your Xbox console by going to Settings > Account > Customize profile. You can also access them through the Xbox website after logging into your account.

Conclusion

Updating your real name on Xbox Live is a quick process that can be done at any time through your Microsoft account settings online. It won’t affect your gamertag, gamerscore, or any other part of your Xbox gaming experience. So if your real name is out of date or you want to change it for privacy reasons, now you know exactly how to do it in just a few clicks. Happy gaming!