How to Set up Xbox Live

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 4, 2023 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to purchase an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription on your Xbox One, Xbox 360, or the Xbox LIVE website when setting up a new account. You will need to have an Xbox LIVE account in order to set up Xbox LIVE.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Signing into LIVE on an Xbox One (New Account)

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1
Turn on your Xbox One. To do so, press the Xbox button on the right side of the console.
- You can also hold down the Xbox button in the middle of a connected controller to turn on the Xbox One.
To do so, simply flick the left analog stick left while on the Home screen.

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It's the person-shaped icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
This option is below any existing account name.
This option is to the left of any existing accounts.
6
Enter your Xbox LIVE email address. You'll do so in the text field to which this page opens.
- If you don't already have an Xbox LIVE ID, create one before continuing.
It's a button near the center of your controller.
If you'd rather skip through the setup, simply press A until you arrive at the "Xbox Live Gold" screen.
11
Select an option below the "Xbox Live Gold" heading. You'll see three options:
- 1 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $9.99.
- 3 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $24.99.
- 12 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $59.99 and is the best value.
- You can also select Use a code at the bottom of the screen to enter a prepaid code, or you can select No thanks to add a Gold membership later.
12
Press A. This will take you to the payment page. If this is your first time using a card on this account, you'll just see a button that says Get started! here.
- If you've added a card to this account before, skip the next step.
13
Select Get started! and press A. Doing so will take you to a page with two payment options:
- Credit card or debit card - This option will require you to enter your credit or debit card number, security code, name, and expiration date.
- PayPal - If you have a PayPal account linked to your bank account, you can pay for Xbox LIVE through PayPal.
- If you've already set up your card or PayPal account on this page, skip to the checkout step.
Doing so will take you to the payment entry page.
15
Enter your payment information. For a debit or credit card, this will entail the card's details.
- If you selected PayPal, you'll need to log into PayPal to verify your identity.
Doing so will purchase your selected amount of Xbox Live Gold and apply it to your Xbox LIVE account.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Signing into LIVE on an Xbox One (Existing Account)

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1
Turn on your Xbox One. To do so, press the Xbox button on the right side of the console.
- You can also hold down the Xbox button in the middle of a connected controller to turn on the Xbox One.
To do so, simply flick the left analog stick left while on the Home screen.
3
Scroll down to select Settings and press A. It's at the bottom of the sidebar.
- If you aren't signed in, first select your profile at the top of the sidebar and press A to sign in. You may need to enter your Xbox LIVE email address and password depending on your console's security settings.
4
Press A again. Doing so will open All settings.
- All settings is selected by default.
5
Select Subscriptions and press A. This option is in the bottom row of options on the Account page.
- If All settings opens to a tab other than the Account tab, first select Account on the left side of the screen.
It's the only option on the screen if you've never set up Xbox LIVE before.
Doing so will take you to the Xbox LIVE Gold options.
8
Select an option below the "Xbox Live Gold" heading. You'll see three options:
- 1 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $9.99.
- 3 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $24.99.
- 12 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $59.99 and is the best value.
- You can also select Use a code at the bottom of the screen to enter a prepaid code, or you can select No thanks to add a Gold membership later.
9
Press A. Doing so will take you to a page with two payment options:
- Credit card or debit card - This option will require you to enter your credit or debit card number, security code, name, and expiration date.
- PayPal - If you have a PayPal account linked to your bank account, you can pay for Xbox LIVE through PayPal.
- If you've already set up your card or PayPal account on this page, skip to the checkout step.
Doing so will take you to the payment entry page.
11
Enter your payment information. For a debit or credit card, this will entail the card's details.
- If you clicked PayPal, you'll need to log into PayPal to verify your identity.
Doing so will purchase your selected amount of Xbox Live Gold and apply it to your Xbox LIVE account.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using an Xbox 360

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1
Turn on your Xbox 360. You can do so by pressing the "On" button on the right side of the console, or you can press and hold the "Xbox" button in the center of a connected controller.
- If your Xbox 360 isn't connected to the internet, select the "Xbox Live" black box in the center of your Xbox Home screen, press A, and follow the on-screen instructions.
It's the "X" in the middle of your controller.
3
Press X. It's on the right side of your controller. Doing so will open a menu of users from which you can choose your Xbox LIVE account.
- If you don't have an Xbox LIVE account, you'll first need to create one.
4
Select your profile and press A. This will log you into your Xbox LIVE account.
- You can also add an existing Xbox LIVE account to your Xbox by scrolling down to select Download Profile, pressing A, and following the on-screen instructions.
You'll press RB to do so.
This box is toward the bottom of the screen.
It's the next page over from the default page on which you arrive.
This option will likely have "Free" written to the right of it.
9
Select Modify Membership and press A. This option is at the top of the screen. You'll see three membership options on the next page:
- Gold - 12 Month - $59.99.
- Gold - 3 Month - $24.99.
- Gold - 1 Month - $9.99.
Doing so will confirm your choice and take you to a payment page.
11
Select a payment method and press A. You can use either PayPal or a credit/debit card to pay for Gold.
- If you've already added a payment method to your Xbox LIVE account, simply select Confirm Purchase and press A.
12
Enter your payment information. For a debit or credit card, this will entail the card details.
- If you clicked PayPal, you'll need to log into PayPal to verify your identity.
Doing so will purchase your Gold membership and immediately apply it to your currently logged-in account. You can now play games online with friends, access Netflix, and more with your Gold membership.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using the Xbox LIVE Website

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Go to the Xbox LIVE website. You may sign up for an Xbox LIVE Gold membership here; after doing so, it will be available on your Xbox One or Xbox 360 on which you're logged in.
It's below the "Support" tab that's near the top-middle of the page.
This option is near the middle of the "Xbox Live" drop-down menu.
It's a green button in the lower-left section of the page.
5
Click the box below the "Xbox Live Gold" heading. It will say "1 Month Xbox Live Gold" in the box; clicking it will prompt a drop-down menu with three options:
- 1 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $9.99.
- 3 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $24.99.
- 12 Month Xbox Live Gold - This option costs $59.99 and is the best value.
Doing so will select it for your Xbox LIVE account.
This is the blue button below your selected pricing option. Doing so will take you to a login page.
8
Enter your Xbox LIVE email address. You'll need to do this even if you were already signed into the Xbox LIVE website, since this step serves to verify your identity.
- You can also enter your phone number or your Skype name here.
It's below the email field.
This is the password for the email address you entered on the previous page.
It's below the password entry field. This will take you to a verification page where you'll enter a code sent by Microsoft.
12
Verify your account. After doing so, you'll be taken to a payment page where you can proceed with purchasing an Xbox LIVE subscription. To verify your account:
- Select a verification device (phone or email) from the drop-down box.
- Type in the email address you chose or the last four digits of your phone number.
- Click Send code.
- Open your phone's text messages or your email address.
- Open the message from Microsoft and view the seven-digit code.
- Enter the code into the box at the bottom of the verification page.
- Click Submit.
It's a blue button below the "Xbox Live Gold" heading and options on the left side of the page.
14
Click Next. It's in the bottom-right corner of the payment window. Doing so will take you to a page with two payment options:
- Credit card or debit card - This option will require you to enter your credit or debit card number, security code, name, and expiration date.
- PayPal - If you have a PayPal account linked to your bank account, you can pay for Xbox LIVE through PayPal.
Doing so will take you to the payment entry page.
16
Enter your payment information. For a debit or credit card, this will entail the card details.
- If you clicked PayPal, you'll need to log into PayPal to verify your identity.
It's at the bottom of the page. As long as your payment information checks out, you'll be taken to a page where you can review the card (or PayPal) details.
Doing so will keep your card details for use with your Xbox LIVE account.
19
Click Subscribe. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will purchase your selected Xbox LIVE Gold membership package; the next time you log into your Xbox LIVE account on your Xbox One or Xbox 360, your Xbox LIVE Gold membership will be active.
- Your membership begins on the day on which you purchase it.

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Start up Minecraft while you are connected to the Internet, and a text box should pop up, asking you to update Minecraft. Then follow the instructions given.

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