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. 1
    Open an internet session on your computer. In your internet browser address bar, type account.live.com and press "Enter".
  2. 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.
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  3. 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. 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. 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. 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. 7
    The next screens are the email verification screens.  Click "Send email" and a confirmation message will appear.
  8. 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. 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. 10
    Click "Join Xbox Live Gold".
  11. 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. 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!
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I make an Xbox account?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Go to the website. Tap "Log in" and then tap "Create new". Provide the information needed to set up your account.
  • Question
    How do I login to an Xbox account on a laptop?
    Evan Thomas
    Evan Thomas
    Community Answer
    For a Windows 10 laptop, you just have to be signed in to your Microsoft account and have the Xbox app, which is already pre-installed. Once you go on the app, it will show a window, asking you to sign into your Microsoft account, or if you're already signed in your account, it will ask you to select an account. Then you have your Xbox account. Another way to do this (which works with any device with an internet connection and a web browser) is to go on Xbox.com, then press sign in on the top right of the window, (if not, you're probably already signed in) then you sign into your account. You can press "My Xbox" to access what you would see on the Xbox app, for WIN 10.
  • Question
    How do I sign into Xbox Live?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Go in to Settings, then Network, then Network Settings. Enter the password for the WiFi you choose.
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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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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 80,527 times.
42 votes - 62%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 80,527
Categories: Xbox Live
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