You’ll need a Microsoft account to use Xbox services, which means you’ll need to know your sign-in details to use any Xbox console you own. Here’s how to reset your password if it’s been a while since you last logged in.
before we start
For the methods below to work, you’ll need to know the email address associated with your Xbox account. If you don’t know this email address, you’ll first need to recover your Microsoft account using the Microsoft account recovery website.
If you haven’t set up two-factor authentication (2FA), you also won’t be able to reset your password using the methods below. Instead, you’ll need to recover your account in its entirety, also using the Microsoft account recovery website.
For best results, set up 2FA with an authenticator app like Google Authenticator on Android and iPhone, Authy on Android and iPhone, or iCloud Keychain on iPhone.
Reset your Xbox password via the web
To start the recovery process, enter your email address on the Microsoft password reset website.
You will now need to verify your identity. You can choose to enter a code generated by an authenticator app you’ve previously linked, or click “Use a different verification option” and choose an email or phone number instead.
Enter your authentication code or press “Get Code” to have Microsoft send you a code. Once it arrives, enter it in the field to continue.
Once you have verified your identity, you will be able to choose a new password which you will need to enter twice. Your password is now reset and you can use it to sign in on a console or use the Xbox mobile app (you’ll still need to verify who you are, using two-factor authentication).
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Reset your password on an Xbox One or Series X
You can do this directly on your Xbox console, but Microsoft requires that you have access to an alternate phone number or email that you previously provided.
To do this, go to the “Sign in” screen you see when you first start a new console, or when you try to add a new account from the Xbox home menu.
Type in the email address of the account you are trying to access and press the “Forgot Password” button. Verify that you are a real person by entering the characters you see on the screen.
On the “Prove it’s you” screen, you’ll have a few options to verify your identity. This includes an alternate phone number or email address that you’ve previously linked, or an authenticator app if you’ve chosen to use one.
Select the method you would like to use. If you’re using an authenticator app, you can just enter the code; Otherwise, you’ll need to verify your phone or email address and enter the code that Microsoft sends you.
If all goes well, you will be prompted to set a new password. You will need to enter this twice for your password to reset successfully. Make a note of this password using a good password manager.
Reset your password using the Xbox app
A slightly more convenient way to reset your password than doing it on your console is to use the mobile app instead. This allows you to generate a strong password and save it directly to your password manager, instead of manually entering it if you were doing this in a console.
Download the Xbox app for your iPhone or Android smartphone. When prompted to sign in, type your email in the required field and press Next.
On the password screen, tap “Forgot your password?” Link.
You’ll be prompted to verify your identity using an authenticator app if you’ve set one up. If you haven’t set one up, click the “Use a different verification option” link.
You can also choose to have a code sent to your email address, alternate email addresses that you have set up, and the phone number that you have associated with your account.
When you receive your code, enter it to verify your identity.
From here you will be able to enter your new password and then verify it. You can then use your new password to sign in to an Xbox Series, Xbox One, or Xbox 360 console.
Reset your password on an Xbox 360
You can reset your password on an Xbox 360, but the process depends on a browser. This is not ideal due to the slow interface, so we recommend doing it from a browser.
To access the password reset interface on an Xbox 360, go to the “Download Profile” or “Sign In” screen by first pressing the Xbox button on your controller, then selecting “Can’t access your account?” option.
From here, the method is identical to the “Reset your password via the web” section at the top of this article. You’ll need to tell Microsoft why you’re having trouble signing in, verify your identity with a code, and then create a new password by entering it twice.
Get the most out of your Xbox
Signing in to your Xbox console with a valid Xbox account is the first step in getting the most out of your new console. Next, consider signing up for Game Pass, trying out games using cloud gaming, and installing emulators on your Xbox console.
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