Set Up a Free Xbox Live Account on a PC or Laptop

This is a brief tutorial on how to set up a Free Xbox Live account from your PC or laptop.  These are very basic instructions for those who may not be computer savvy.

Steps

  1. Open an internet session on your computer. In your internet browser address bar, type account.live.com and press "Enter".
  2. You should see a log in screen.  If you have an existing Hotmail, SkyDrive or a Windows phone, you can sign in using your email address and account password.  If you do not have any of these accounts, leave the sign-in fields blank and click the Sign up now hyperlink located on the bottom right of the screen to create a Microsoft account.
  3. Enter your name, birth date, and gender.  If you already have a Gmail or Yahoo! email address, you may use that as your account name if you wish. If you choose to do this, create a password, enter it again to confirm, and click "Next".  Note: At this point you have the option of creating a Hotmail or Live email account by clicking on the "Or get a new email address" hyperlink below the "Microsoft account name" field.
  4. The next screen is used to enter information needed in case you lose or forget your password.  Enter a phone number where you can be reached, select a security question, and type the answer. Enter your country and zip code and click "Next".
  5. Next you must confirm that you are not an automated Spamming program by typing in the characters shown on the screen.  If you cannot read them, click either the New hyperlink above the characters to display different ones or the Audio hyperlink to hear them (your sound or speakers must be enabled).  Make sure to uncheck the box if you do not wish to receive promotional emails from Microsoft. Click the Service Agreement and privacy & cookies statements hyperlinks to review the information.  Close the individual windows when you've read each one and click "I accept".
  6. Next you must confirm that your information is correct and verify your email address.  If everything looks okay, click on the Verify your email address hyperlink at the top.  Note: If you need to make corrections to any of the information, click on the associated hyperlinks first.
  7. The next screens are the email verification screens.  Click "Send email" and a confirmation message will appear.
  8. Navigate to your email account, open the email from Microsoft account team, and then click the blue box that reads "Verify<your email address here>".  Another window will appear confirming that your email address has been verified.
  9. You have successfully created your Microsoft account. Now you must create your Xbox Live account.  To do this, open another tab or internet session and type Xbox.com in the address bar and press "Enter". Click "Join Now" at the top right of the screen.
  10. Click "Join Xbox Live Gold".
  11. On the next screen, enter your Microsoft account email address you previously established. After you've clicked and read the Xbox Terms of Use and Privacy Statement and set your country , click "I Accept".
  12. Congratulations!  You have just set up your free Xbox Live account!  Your auto-generated "gamertag" will appear at the top right of your screen.  The box on the left side of the screen also displays your gamer-tag as well as some other options.  Note:  You can change your gamertag one time for no charge.   You are now able to upgrade to a Gold Account, customize your avatar, or hook up your Xbox and start playing.  Have fun!

Tips

  • When you are creating your security question, it's a good idea to use something that won't change in a few months to ensure that you won't forget it.  For example, "What's your eldest sibling's middle name?" is much better than "What's your favorite movie?"

Warnings

  • Some have reported navigation errors when typing www. before account.live.com and Xbox.com in their browser's address bar. 

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