Cannot Switch Xbox Account - Windows 11 PC

riche90 · Jul 1, 2022

It feels like the Xbox app has now been intentionally designed to stop you being able to switch accounts for Xbox on PC.

I have an email address for Windows which is separate from my old grandfathered Xbox account. I can change my store account but that doesn't change my gamertag to the appropriate one, I am quite literally stuck on the wrong gamertag as clicking 'Sign out' and then 'Sign in' just instantly logs you back in to the same gamertag.

There are Microsoft support articles saying to (in the xbox app) click sign out, click sign in then click a button to choose another account... but this button doesn't exist. The only article I can find with any promise recommends I delete registry directories for the XboxApp.. this has to be a joke!

Also if I go to switch Microsoft Store account (which doesn't help anyway), when switching to the store app to take my new credentials.. it tells me to enter a Work or School email not a personal one? My device is set up as a personal device, what the hell is going on? I am absolutely gobsmacked by how horribly butchered this process is.

:)

MR1Reaper7

I was able to get it to work with signing out of the xbox app and the Microsoft store then signing in with the second account through the store first. Then logging in on the xbox app it gave me the option to pick a different account.

kovalev nyr94

It's a brand new desktop with Win 11 Home and so far only used for < 24 hrs and I pushed through all Windows updates. It appears to have fixed itself slowly. First it had the Xbox account logged into Microsoft Store app while the Xbox app had the Windows account. Then it allowed me to successfully download a game from Gamepass. After playing the game, Windows is now using the Xbox gamerpass on the Xbox app. I have no idea how it all of a sudden did it on its own, but it works and I hope it stays that way.

SwordofWhedon

If there is only one account on the system it won't give you the option

SwordofWhedon

It does that because most people want to use the same account again.

One thing that may help you, invest in a camera that supports windows Hello. It can then recognize you and in theory sign in the correct accounts. I haven't tried this myself, but it saves me a lot of sign in hassle in general for my computing because I don't have to sign in

kovalev nyr94

Thank you for your response. To me, that doesn't make sense since it let's me switch to his account for the Microsft Store app and install the Xbox app as him. I did add his account under the accounts setting since I thought that may be the issue. I feel that's like saying I can't check any other Hotmail email if only one user account is on the machine.

Nevertheless, if that's the case it shouldn't give the "Not you? Switch accounts" option and automatically keep logging into that account. Also, Microsoft help should add that since I'm not the only one having this issue and some steps others took to fix it, stopped working some time later.

Cannot Switch Xbox Account - Windows 11 PC