Password protect your Xbox LIVE profile

If you have more than one Xbox 360 console or you want to play games at a friend’s house, you can download your Xbox LIVE profile or gamertag to multiple consoles. For security purposes, you might want to password protect your Xbox LIVE profile so no one can sign in using your profile.

“Microsoft account” is the new name for what used to be called “Windows Live ID.” It’s the email address and password you use to sign in to Microsoft services (including Xbox LIVE). Your Xbox console may still refer to your Microsoft account as your “Windows Live ID.” Keep in mind that these two terms mean the same thing. Your Xbox LIVE sign-in information has not changed. Find out more.

After you download your Xbox LIVE profile to a console, you are asked if you want the console to remember your password.

Remember password

This option determines whether you need your Microsoft account password to sign into your profile. The Remember Password option is off by default, which means you’ll be prompted for your Microsoft account password when you sign in with your Xbox LIVE profile.

If you don’t want to be prompted for your Microsoft account password every time you sign into Xbox LIVE, select the Remember Password option.

The Remember Password option is set after you download your Xbox LIVE profile. But you can change the password protection on your profile at any time. Here’s how:

Don’t require a password to sign in

If your Xbox LIVE profile is password protected, you can change this the next time you sign into your Xbox LIVE profile. When you’re prompted for your Microsoft account password at sign in, select the Remember Password option.

If you select the Remember Password option, you won’t be prompted for your Microsoft account password the next time you sign in to your Xbox LIVE profile.

Require a password to sign in

You can use your Microsoft account password to restrict access to your Xbox LIVE gamertag on a console. Here’s how:

1. Sign in using your Xbox LIVE gamertag.
2. Go to Settings, select Account and then select Account Security.
3. Select Password at Sign In.
4. Select Require Password Here.

The next time you sign in with your Xbox LIVE gamertag, you’ll be prompted for your Microsoft account password.

If your Xbox LIVE profile is downloaded to another console and it’s not password protected or your password becomes compromised, you can remotely remove the password so that your profile can’t be accessed. Here’s how:

Step 1: Change your Microsoft account

1. Go to accounts.live.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. Under Account information, click Change next to Password.

Alternatively, you can change your Microsoft account password from your console by following the steps at  Change your Microsoft account password.

Note If your downloaded Xbox LIVE profile doesn’t require a password at sign in (the Remember Password option is turned on), changing your Microsoft account password won’t prevent someone from signing into your Xbox LIVE profile. In this case, you need to complete the next step.

Step 2: Require a password to sign in

Remove your Microsoft account password so that your Xbox LIVE profile can’t be accessed from other consoles. Here’s how:

Computer steps: Remotely require a profile password

1. Go to My Account.
2. Under Settings & Preferences, click Xbox 360 Profile Protection.
3. Sign in with the Microsoft account (email address and password) that is associated with your Xbox LIVE account.
4. Select Protect Profile to require that your profile be redownloaded from Xbox LIVE, using your Microsoft account and password, before it can be used on a console. Any existing copies of your profile will no longer work, and profile changes or achievements that are not saved to Xbox LIVE will be lost.

Console steps: Remotely require a profile password

1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE with your account.
2. Go to Settings, select Account and then select Account Security.
3. Select Password at Sign In.
4. Select On All Other Consoles.

If you choose this option, all other consoles will require your Microsoft account password for sign in (or redownloading of your Xbox LIVE profile).

If you believe your Xbox LIVE account has been compromised go to Xbox LIVE account security.

Important Unfortunately, Xbox LIVE customer support cannot reset Microsoft account passwords. If you need to request a Microsoft account password reset, please contact customer support.