Signing in to the Xbox app is quick and easy, but if you're brand new to Xbox, or if you have multiple Microsoft accounts, we've designed a helpful and easy experience for you.
The Xbox app comes pre-pinned to the Start menu in Windows 10. To start the sign-in process, select the Xbox app for the first time. The app will begin to open and you'll see a smaller box open over the app with several avatars on it. If you've signed in to Windows 10 using a Microsoft account, your experience will slightly vary.
If you signed in to Windows 10 using your Microsoft account, that account will be linked to the user account signed in on the PC. This makes it much easier to sign in to all Microsoft apps (Skype, OneDrive, Office 365, Xbox, Groove Music, Films & TV and much more).
Select the Xbox app for the first time to start the sign-in process. The app will begin to open and you'll see a smaller box open over the app with several avatars on it.
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The Xbox app will take the Microsoft account credentials you used to sign in to Windows 10 and check to see if there's a gamertag associated to this account.
Scenario 1: You have an existing Xbox Live account associated with your Microsoft account
Scenario 2: You don't see your current Xbox Live profile
Scenario 3: You don't have an Xbox Live account associated with your Microsoft account
Scenario 1: You have an existing Xbox Live account associated with your Microsoft account
If there's an Xbox Live account associated with your Microsoft account, you'll see a Welcome back screen with your name and gamerpic on it. The Xbox app will then show you a Here's how you look on Xbox Live screen.
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If this is you and the account you use for gaming on Xbox, select Let's play. This will sign you in and the app will continue to open to your personalised Xbox experience.
Scenario 2: You don't see your current Xbox Live profile
If the account shown is an old account, is not yours or is not the account you currently game with, select Sign in with a different account. This will bring up the account picker screen. The account picker is a new feature that allows you to easily jump between Microsoft accounts without having to enter passwords or verify your credentials again.
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To add a new Microsoft account to the account picker, follow these steps:
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Scenario 3: You don't have an Xbox Live account associated with your Microsoft account
If you don't have an Xbox Live account associated with the Microsoft account you used to sign in to Windows 10, the system will auto-generate a new gamertag for you. Upon acceptance, an Xbox profile, including gamertag, will be automatically assigned to your email. You can change your gamertag for free within the first 30 days. After that, there will be a small fee. For information on how to change your gamertag, see How to change your Xbox Live gamertag.
Note If you get to the Let's get you an alter-ego for Xbox Live (We call it a gamertag) screen and you realise you've signed in with a Microsoft account that doesn't have an Xbox Live account, you can select Sign in with a different account. This will bring up the account picker screen, and you can add the Microsoft account you use to sign in to Xbox Live.
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A local account is a set of credentials other than a Microsoft account. Using a local account is common with users upgrading from Windows 7.
Upon launching any Microsoft app, including the Store, you'll see a prompt to sign in or create a Microsoft account. The first Microsoft account you use to sign in will become the default account your device will use to sign you in across all Microsoft services.
Note For the best experience, use only one Microsoft account for all Microsoft products and services. You can sign in and out of all Microsoft services, and you can change the default account, but you can't merge two accounts, so be careful when creating new accounts.
Select the Xbox app for the first time to start the sign-in process. The app will begin to open and you'll see a smaller box open over the app with several avatars on it.
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Because there is no Microsoft account entered yet, you'll be asked to Add your Microsoft account.
Scenario 1: You have a Microsoft account that you use for other Microsoft services, but you don't have an Xbox Live account
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Scenario 2: You have a Microsoft account that you use for your Xbox Live account, but you don't use any of the other Microsoft services yet
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Scenario 3: You have a Microsoft account that you use for your Xbox Live account, but you also have a different Microsoft account that you use for other Microsoft services
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Scenario 4: You don't have a Microsoft account yet, but you want to start taking advantage of Microsoft services offered through Windows 10
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How do I sign in with a different gamertag? What if I want to sign in to the Xbox app or a game with a different Xbox account than the one I originally used to sign in?
To sign out, go to the Settings screen in the Xbox app. At the top of the General tab, select Sign out.
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To sign back in, select Sign in, and on the Here's how you look on Xbox Live screen, select Sign in with a different Microsoft account.
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On the account picker screen, select a previously entered account, or select Microsoft account to sign in as a new user. The new user account will be added to the account picker for later use.
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Why do I get an error when I sign in?
If you get an error or are unable to sign in, there are a few common issues that could be causing this:
United States only: Why am I being asked to pay 50 cents for creating a child account?
This is a Microsoft account policy for the creation of all child accounts in the United States. The policy requires an adult account to be set as their parent and for the parent to make a 50-cent charge on a verified credit card to prove the account is an adult account. This policy is in compliance with Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). For more information, see Microsoft fee for creating a child account FAQ.
I purchased the game as “Account X” but want to play as “Account Y”. Can I do that?
Yes. From inside the game, choose Switch account (on the home screen or wherever the profile is located). If the game doesn't have a Switch account button, in the Xbox app, select Settings, and then select Sign out. Then sign back in as the account that you want to use and re-launch the game.
You can sign in with any Xbox profile, just remember that account will be used for all Xbox games until you switch it back.
I get an error message saying “You are already signed in to this game on another device”. What does that mean?
Some games only let you play them as the same Xbox account on one device at a time.
On the error screen, you'll have the option to sign out of that account on the other device and play on the device that you want to use, or you can switch to a different Xbox account.
Note You can be signed in to the Xbox app on as many devices as you like, but you can only sign in on an Xbox Live-enabled game in one place at a time to avoid collisions with your saved games and achievements.
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