Setting up a Games for Windows LIVE account

Games for Windows LIVE lets you connect to millions of other gamers just like yourself. But to get started, you first have to create your free Games for Windows LIVE account. This page will show you how.

Note In order to set up a Games for Windows LIVE account, you must set up a Microsoft account. Formerly known as Windows Live ID, Microsoft accounts are used to validate customer identification. After you create a Microsoft account, you can use the email address when you sign up for any Microsoft online service.

The following account types are example Microsoft accounts:

• Hotmail.com
• Live.com
• MSN.com
• Outlook.com
• Passport.net
• Zune.net

If you don’t already have a Microsoft email account, go to Microsoft account Sign In to create one.

Here’s how to create your Games for Windows LIVE account:

1. Go to Games for Windows Marketplace Client and click Download.

2. When prompted with the question "Do you want to run or save gfwlivesetup.exe (627 KB) from download.gfwl.xboxlive.com?" click Run.

3. In the Games for Windows Marketplace dialog box, click Launch.

4. In the next dialog box:
• If you already have a Microsoft account, use it to sign in and access the free Games for Windows LIVE account for which you are already registered. Under Sign in to Xbox, type the email address and password associated with your Microsoft account, then click Sign in.

• If you don’t have a Microsoft account, click Create New Account.
1. On the Let’s get started! page, type your email address in the text box, and then click Next.

2. In the Password and Confirm Password fields, type a password.

   Note Make sure that you create a password that is obscure and that other people cannot easily guess.

3. Click the Secret Question list to select a question. Type your response in the Secret Answer field.

   Important To maintain sufficient security, provide an obscure Secret Answer that other people cannot easily guess. In the example that is shown in step 4, the Secret Question of Your two best childhood friends is given a Secret Answer of Tom & Jerry Cartoon. Although Tom and Jerry are fictional characters, this approach adds an additional layer of security in the future if you require assistance to recover your password.

4. In the SMS Phone Number or Alternate Email Address field, type an alternate phone number or email address where you can be contacted. This information can help us protect your account.
5. In the Character Verification box, type the characters that are shown. If you can’t read the characters, click the speaker icon to hear the characters spoken. Or, you can click the redraw icon to cycle a new set of characters.

6. In the Date of Birth field, type your date of birth.
7. Click I Accept.

8. On the Welcome page, you’ll see that you have been assigned a gamertag.

To change your gamertag:

a. Click Continue.
b. On the Xbox LIVE Home page, click My Account.

c. On the My Account page, click View Profile.

d. On the View Profile page, click EDIT MY PROFILE.

e. On the Edit Profile page, click Change gamertag.

f. On the Change gamertag page, in the Gamertag field, type a unique name, and then click Check Availability to see whether the gamertag is available.

Important Your gamertag is unique to you and is your Games for Windows LIVE online identity. We encourage all gamers to be creative when they create a gamertag. However, remember that some names, or the context of words in a sentence, can be seen as offensive by other people.

g. If the gamertag that you entered is not available, select another one.
h. If the gamertag that you entered is available, click Claim It!

i. Click Done.

j. On the Edit Profile page, select a gamerpic, a motto, and anything else you would like to change in your profile.
k. Click Save.

You can now use your Games for Windows LIVE account to log on to the Games for Windows LIVE website.