Gamertag Recycling - Immediate?

rooster123 · Mar 11, 2020

Hey all,

Microsoft sure has put me in a weird predicament. I've started using Skype for work, but my Skype liveID is certainly less than professional. I wanted to change my Skype liveID, or at least have it reset to random characters (like on new MS accounts) but
I've been told it's impossible.

I'm told that I should create a new Microsoft Account. That's all fine, except for the fact that I'd be losing my Xbox live name of 10 years. So because of my old, unprofessional Skype name, I must get a new Microsoft account, and a new Xbox Gamertag to
go along with it. I really don't know what MS executives are thinking some days. I can't be the only one that this has happened to.

Anyway, my question is this - could my solution be to change my current xbox live gamertag to something else, then create a new MS account with the old Gamertag? If I were to change my current Gamertag, how long would it be until it was placed back in the
pool? I could then reregister the same gamertag with a new Microsoft account. Have I missed something?

Thanks in advance,

- Matt

:)

ThisGameIsSucky

You don't need to create a brand new Xbox Live account just to create a new Skype account. All you seriously need to do is just make a new Microsoft Account and associate its email & Skype use for business only. Last I checked, your Gamertag on Xbox and
SkypeID have nothing to do with each other save for the fact they're just linked to the same/similar login information under your Microsoft Account. By just creating an account for business use specifically, there shouldn't be a problem at all. You keep your
current gamertag (unless you want to change it, don't see why you would if its only Skype that is the problem) and game on one use the other specifically for business. I know there's the whole 'don't go around having multiple accounts thing' but a lot of people
do actually do it like this, one for personal and one for business. No in-between hassle of having to change anything at all.

Smwutches

If you change your current tag it will free it up for use on a different account. It is not immediate though. I've heard anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days before it's freed up. So keep in mind that with the new gamertag system in place, you would still
be able to get the tag (as long as it's 12 characters or less) but you may end up with the suffix added to it if the system still sees the tag as being in use or if someone else manages to take the tag before you do.

SwiftEffect

Is Gamertag Recycling a random process that goes daily, or they just recycle a bunch of gamertags on a specific date?

Jesse E'

Hello, My name is Jesse. I'm an Independent Advisor and a member of the Microsoft community and I'd love to assist you today.

Once a gamertag is released, it can't be taken up immediately. It takes about 2 years for it to be recycled for use by other accounts.

Hope this helps

Inferior-91D30E2D-4F

You just have to be patient, Xbox is working on "recycling" old Gamertags just be patient and keep your eye on the Gamertag and Hopefully it will be Recycled for your use

Gamertag Recycling - Immediate?