What is an Xbox account region change
Microsoft lets you update the country/region on your account at account.microsoft.com. People do this after moving to a new country or to activate a key issued for a different market. The catch: region changes are limited to once every 365 days — not once per calendar year, but exactly 12 months from the date of your last change.
What stays safe after changing regions
Your game library. Every digitally purchased game remains in your library regardless of which region your account is set to. You will not lose any titles.
Active subscriptions. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Core, and all other active subscriptions keep running. Your remaining subscription time is not affected.
Microsoft Store wallet balance (usually). The balance is generally preserved. However, when switching between regions with different currencies, Microsoft may freeze the balance until you switch back or convert it. The safe move is to spend your balance before changing regions.
Purchase history and achievements. All transaction records and gaming achievements remain fully intact.
What can go wrong
Pending purchases and pre-orders. Active pre-orders or instalment payments may be cancelled when you change regions. Complete or cancel all pending transactions first.
Region-restricted content. Some games and DLC carry regional restrictions. After switching regions, certain items may not appear in the store — though content you already own is typically still accessible.
Game Pass catalogue changes. The Game Pass library varies by country. After a region switch, some games may drop out of the catalogue for your new region while others become available.
Xbox Family Group. If you are part of an Xbox Family Group, changing your region may temporarily disrupt access to shared resources or require re-verification.
Step-by-step region change without losing anything
- Spend your Microsoft Store balance or note the exact amount before proceeding.
- Complete or cancel all pending purchases and pre-orders.
- Go to account.microsoft.com → Your info → Country/Region → Update.
- Select the new region and accept the terms of service.
- Wait for the change to apply — this can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours.
- Redeem your key at redeem.microsoft.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my region more than once a year? No. Microsoft enforces a hard limit of one region change per 365 days. There is no workaround through the official interface, so plan your change carefully.
Will I be able to buy games in the new region immediately? Yes. Once the region change goes through, you can purchase from the new region's store right away. You'll need a payment method accepted in that region: a local card, PayPal, or a prepaid top-up code.
What happens to Game Pass titles from my old region? Games you purchased outright stay in your library permanently. For Game Pass titles, availability depends on whether those games are in the catalogue for your new region.
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