How to Switch Accounts on Xbox App Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / October 9, 2025

If you use the Xbox App on Windows 11 to play games, chat with friends, or manage Game Pass titles, you might have multiple Microsoft accounts — one for work, one for personal gaming, or maybe one you share with family. But switching between them isn’t always obvious.

Whether you want to log out and sign in with a different Xbox account or simply manage multiple profiles, this guide will walk you through how to switch accounts on Xbox App in Windows 11, step-by-step.

We’ll also cover how to handle common errors, sync issues, and alternative methods to manage accounts smoothly.

Table of Contents

What Is the Xbox App on Windows 11?

The Xbox App is Microsoft’s central hub for PC gamers. It lets you:

  • Browse and install PC Game Pass titles

  • Chat with Xbox friends

  • Manage achievements and game clips

  • Stream games from your Xbox console

  • Connect to your Microsoft gaming profile

But because the app is tied to your Microsoft account, it’s common for users with multiple accounts to need to switch between them — for example:

  • Using a personal account for Game Pass

  • Logging into a work/school account for another game license

  • Managing a child’s Xbox account

Luckily, switching accounts in the Xbox App is simple once you know where to look.

💡 Why You Might Need to Switch Xbox Accounts on Windows 11

Here are a few common scenarios where switching accounts becomes necessary:

Reason Description
🎮 Different Game Pass subscriptions One account may have an active Game Pass, while another doesn’t.
👥 Multiple users sharing one PC Each gamer can sign into their own Xbox profile.
🧾 Separate billing or region settings Different accounts may use different payment methods or regions.
🧠 Syncing cloud saves or achievements Each Xbox account maintains unique progress.
💬 Personal vs. professional accounts Keep gaming separate from your work Microsoft account.

⚙️ How Xbox Accounts Work on Windows 11

Windows 11 uses your Microsoft account to connect various services — including Xbox, OneDrive, and Microsoft Store.
So, the Xbox App on Windows 11 automatically signs in using whichever Microsoft account is linked to your system.

That means to switch Xbox accounts, you often need to sign out of your current one and sign in with another.

Let’s go through all the available methods.

🪜 Method 1: Switch Accounts Directly in the Xbox App

This is the most straightforward method and works in most cases.

✅ Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Open the Xbox App

    • Click the Start menu, type “Xbox,” and open the app.

    • Or press Win + S → Xbox.

  2. Access Your Profile

    • In the top-left corner, click your profile picture (or gamer tag).

  3. Select “Sign Out”

    • From the dropdown menu, choose “Sign Out.”

    • The app will close your current session.

  4. Sign In with Another Account

    • Click Sign In again on the home screen.

    • Choose “Use a different account.”

  5. Enter New Account Details

    • Type in the email and password for your other Microsoft/Xbox account.

    • Follow the verification prompts if required (2FA, PIN, etc.).

  6. Wait for the Sync

    • The Xbox App will load your new profile, Game Pass library, and achievements.

💬 That’s it! You’ve successfully switched accounts in the Xbox App.

🪜 Method 2: Use Windows Settings to Switch the Linked Microsoft Account

If the Xbox App keeps signing you into the same account automatically, you may need to switch your Microsoft account at the system level.

✅ Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Open Settings

    • Press Win + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to Accounts

    • Navigate to Accounts → Your Info.

  3. Check Your Current Sign-In Account

    • You’ll see the Microsoft account currently used for Windows sign-in.

  4. Sign Out and Use Another Account

    • Click Sign in with a local account instead (if you’re currently signed in with Microsoft).

    • Follow the on-screen steps.

  5. Restart Your PC.

  6. Now Sign In with a Different Microsoft Account

    • After restarting, go back to Settings → Accounts → Email & Accounts.

    • Click Add a Microsoft Account.

  7. Launch the Xbox App

    • It will now prompt you to sign in again.

    • Choose the new Microsoft/Xbox account you just added.

This method ensures your PC and Xbox App are both linked to the same new account.

🪜 Method 3: Switch Xbox Game Bar Account

The Xbox Game Bar and Xbox App sometimes use different authentication sessions. If your Xbox App doesn’t reflect the right account, check the Game Bar.

✅ Steps to Switch Xbox Account in Game Bar

  1. Press Win + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.

  2. Click the Settings (gear) icon.

  3. Navigate to Accounts → Xbox Network.

  4. Click Sign Out.

  5. Choose Sign In again and enter your preferred Xbox/Microsoft account.

Once done, reopen the Xbox App — it will often sync automatically with the Game Bar account.

🪜 Method 4: Sign Out of Microsoft Store (Linked Account Reset)

Sometimes, the Xbox App pulls credentials from the Microsoft Store account. Changing that can help switch accounts cleanly.

✅ Steps:

  1. Open the Microsoft Store.

  2. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner.

  3. Select Sign Out.

  4. Then, click Sign In → choose your new Microsoft account.

  5. Restart the Xbox App and check if it now uses the new account.

🧠 Pro Tip: Make sure the Xbox App, Game Bar, and Microsoft Store all use the same Microsoft account to prevent sync conflicts.

🪜 Method 5: Use the Xbox Console Companion App

If you still have the Xbox Console Companion App (pre-installed on older Windows versions), you can manage account switching there too.

✅ Steps:

  1. Open Xbox Console Companion (search “Xbox Console” in Start menu).

  2. Click the profile icon → Sign Out.

  3. Sign in again using your preferred account.

  4. Close and reopen the Xbox App — it usually syncs automatically.

Although Microsoft is gradually replacing this app with the Xbox App, it still serves as a backup for managing logins.

🧰 Bonus: Add Multiple Accounts Without Signing Out (For Microsoft Store)

If you want to add another Microsoft account but not log out of your main one, you can do this:

  1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Email & Accounts.

  2. Under Accounts used by other apps, click Add a Microsoft account.

  3. Enter your alternate credentials.

This lets you switch accounts in the Xbox App without logging out of Windows — useful if you manage multiple Game Pass profiles.

🧩 What to Do If Xbox App Won’t Switch Accounts

Sometimes the Xbox App doesn’t switch accounts properly due to cached credentials.
Here’s how to fix it.

🧹 Fix 1: Clear Xbox App Cache

  1. Press Win + R, type:

    %localappdata%\Packages

  2. Find the folder:

    Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe

  3. Delete or rename the folder LocalCache inside it.

  4. Restart your PC and relaunch the Xbox App.

🧹 Fix 2: Reset the Xbox App

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed Apps.

  2. Search Xbox App.

  3. Click the three dots → Advanced Options.

  4. Click Reset.

  5. Open the app again and sign in with your new account.

🧹 Fix 3: Sign Out of the Xbox Identity Provider

  1. Open Settings → Accounts → Email & Accounts.

  2. Remove all unwanted Microsoft accounts.

  3. Reopen the Xbox App — it’ll ask for new sign-in credentials.

🧹 Fix 4: Unlink Xbox Account from Windows Credentials

  1. Press Win + S and type Credential Manager.

  2. Open Windows Credentials.

  3. Look for entries like:

    XBL|... or XboxLive|...

  4. Remove them.

  5. Restart your PC and log in again with the new Xbox account.

This clears cached tokens, forcing the Xbox App to use fresh login data.

🔒 How to Keep Personal and Shared Accounts Separate

If multiple people share your PC, use separate Windows user accounts instead of switching Xbox profiles each time.

✅ Steps:

  1. Press Win + I → Accounts → Family & Other Users.

  2. Click Add Account → Add a user without a Microsoft account (or with one).

  3. Set up a new user profile.

  4. Each user can log in to Windows and the Xbox App with their own credentials.

This method keeps achievements, saved games, and settings fully isolated.

⚙️ How to Verify Which Xbox Account Is Signed In

To confirm you’re using the correct account:

  1. Open the Xbox App.

  2. Click your profile picture at the top left.

  3. Check your gamertag and email address under your name.

  4. If it’s not the right one, click Sign Out → Sign In with another account.

🧠 Common Problems When Switching Xbox Accounts (and Fixes)

Problem Cause Solution
Xbox App keeps signing into the wrong account Cached credentials Reset Xbox App or remove stored credentials
Microsoft Store shows a different account Store linked differently Sign out and sign in with the same account as Xbox App
Game Pass library missing Different subscription account Verify Game Pass subscription under correct account
Game progress missing Different cloud save profile Log into the correct gamer tag
Can’t sign in Network or credential issue Run Xbox Network troubleshooter

🧰 Run the Xbox Troubleshooter (If Errors Persist)

  1. Open Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other Troubleshooters.

  2. Find Xbox Networking → Click Run.

  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to detect and fix account sync or network issues.

🧠 Pro Tips for Managing Xbox Accounts

  • 🔁 Use one account for Game Pass and purchases — to avoid losing access to games.

  • 💾 Backup cloud saves — switching accounts changes where your progress is stored.

  • 🚀 Use Xbox Family Settings if you manage multiple accounts in one household.

  • 🔐 Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on each account for security.

  • 🧩 Keep all Xbox services updated from Microsoft Store (Xbox App, Gaming Services, Xbox Identity Provider).

📱 Bonus: Switching Xbox Accounts in Microsoft Store and Game Bar (Quick Summary)

App Where to Switch Steps
Xbox App Profile → Sign Out → Sign In Simple account switch
Game Bar Settings → Accounts Manage Xbox Live login
Microsoft Store Profile → Sign Out → Sign In Syncs Game Pass ownership
Windows Settings Accounts → Email & Accounts Change default login
Xbox Console Companion Profile → Sign Out → Sign In Legacy management option

🧩 How to Prevent Account Conflicts

If you use multiple Microsoft accounts (for Office, OneDrive, or Xbox), here’s how to prevent login conflicts:

  1. Use Microsoft Edge Profiles for different accounts.

  2. Sign out of unused accounts in the Microsoft Store.

  3. Clear Xbox Identity tokens occasionally.

  4. Use unique gamertags to easily identify which account is active.

🏁 Conclusion: Easily Switch Xbox Accounts on Windows 11

Switching accounts on the Xbox App in Windows 11 may seem tricky at first, but once you know the right steps, it’s a breeze.

To summarize:

✅ Quick Recap:

  1. Open the Xbox App.

  2. Click your profile icon → Sign Out.

  3. Click Sign In → Use a different account.

  4. Enter your new Microsoft credentials.

  5. (Optional) Match the same account in Microsoft Store and Game Bar.

Now you can easily manage multiple Xbox profiles, switch Game Pass accounts, and keep your achievements synced properly — all without reinstalling or losing data.

❓ FAQs: Switching Accounts on Xbox App (Windows 11)

1. Can I use multiple Xbox accounts on one Windows 11 PC?

Yes! You can either sign in and out manually or create separate Windows user profiles for each account.

2. Does switching Xbox accounts delete my games?

No. Your installed games remain, but some Game Pass titles may only launch under the account that owns the subscription.

3. Why does Xbox App keep signing in with my old account?

It’s likely cached credentials. Reset the Xbox App or clear Windows Credential Manager entries.

4. Can I play Game Pass games from another account?

Yes, but only if that account has an active Game Pass subscription tied to it.

5. Is switching Xbox accounts safe?

Absolutely — as long as you use verified Microsoft logins. Your game data stays stored in the cloud under each account.

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