How to Recover Xbox Passkey

The trouble with using an Xbox passkey is that you can lose it when you need it most. Although unfortunate, doing so was the right decision, as is continuing to use it after recovery. The passkey acts as a bonus layer of security against intruders. It can also allow for additional measures if other people use your Xbox Series X/S, or Xbox One console, especially children and their parents. Additionally, the Xbox passkey carries over to every Xbox you use. On top of that, purchases trigger it, thus preventing accidental or malicious charges. With that said, here’s how to recover Xbox passkey.

1. Delete the old passkey, then create a new one

As the title suggests, instead of retrieving the old Xbox passkey, you can create a new one. This won’t work for children’s accounts unless they have their parent’s personal Xbox passkey beforehand. Follow these steps to recover Xbox passkey by erasing the old, then setting up a new one:

1. Press the Xbox button on the controller.
2. The guide opens on the left-hand side.
3. Select Settings under Profile & system.
4. Go to Account.
5. Select Sign-in, security & passkey.
6. Choose Delete my passkey.
7. Confirm the decision.
8. You can now choose the Create my passkey option.
9. Tip. If you can’t, go back to the home screen, and re-trace the steps. If needed, restart Xbox.
10. Decide on a 6-digit passkey, and enter it twice.

2. Recover Xbox passkey via your Microsoft account

The problem with the steps above is that you might be asked to enter a current Xbox passkey when trying to erase it. If that happens, here are the instructions to Recover Xbox passkey using a Microsoft account:

1. Re-do the activity that requires you to enter an Xbox passkey.
2. Enter any 6-digit passkey for Xbox three times in a row, and Xbox will detect it was incorrect.
3. You are prompted to re-enter the password for the Microsoft account tied to the console to confirm identity.
4. Once you do so, you’ll be prompted to select the Make a new passkey option.
5. Enter the new passkey twice.

3. Recover Xbox passkey by deleting Xbox profile

Some Xbox users who have auto-login set up might not remember their password, especially if it was complex or generated. For that reason, you can remove your Xbox profile and sign back in like this:

1. Follow steps 1-4 in method 1.
2. Select the Remove accounts option.
3. Highlight the Xbox profile you want to get rid of.
4. Choose the Remove option to confirm, then Close.
5. Go back to the Profile & system option, and select Add or switch.
6. Select Add new. Enter/auto-fill the e-mail address for your Xbox Live/Microsoft account, and choose Enter.
7. Enter or auto-fill the password, then select Enter.
8. Select I Accept and configure your account preferences.
9. The Xbox passkey should be gone. You can set up a new one using steps 1-5, 8, and 10 in method 1.

4. Clear Xbox cache

Clearing the cache on Xbox One or Xbox Series X or S can also wipe the passkey, and allow you to re-sign in with your Microsoft/Xbox Live account. Here’s how clearing cache on Xbox works:

1. Power down your console by pressing and holding the Power button.
2. Unplug the power cable both from the outlet and the console.
3. After a minute or two, plug the power cable on both sides.
4. On Xbox One, wait for the white light to turn orange. On Xbox Series X/S, proceed to the next step after a minute.
5. Press the Power button to turn your Xbox on.

5. Contact Xbox Customer Support

If you can’t recover your Microsoft account needed for the Xbox Live service, it’s time to reach out for help. And who better than the service provider, Microsoft’s Xbox department? Visit their Contact Us page, and select a method that fits you best.