With a free Xbox Network account, you can play demos, watch trailers, and download apps from the Xbox Marketplace. With an Xbox Live Gold subscription, you can play online and get free games every month.

How Much Is an Xbox Network Subscription?

The basic Xbox Network subscription is free. Anyone can sign up for an Xbox Network account. If you want more perks and features, you’ll need to purchase a Gold account subscription.

What Comes With a Free Xbox Network Account?

When you register your Xbox Network account, you’ll choose a nickname (called a Gamertag), which is how you will be known to other people in any games you play. You can have friends lists to keep in touch with real-life friends or new people you meet online you like to play with.

Accessing the Xbox Network on the original Xbox console is no longer available. To use the Xbox Network, you must have an Xbox 360, Xbox One, or X Series as well as a broadband internet service provider.

That said, you don’t need an Xbox game console to take advantage of the Xbox Network. Since Microsoft also makes Windows, your Xbox Network account will automatically integrate with many PC games. That way, you can share your achievements and utilize other social features to interact with fellow gamers.

What Is the Xbox Live Gold Membership?

Xbox Live Gold is a subscription-based service that can be purchased in one month, three month, and one-year periods. Xbox Live Gold subscriptions are $59.99 for 12 months, $24.99 for three months, and $9.99 for one month.

The paid Xbox Live Gold service gives you all of the free features along with the ability to play games with friends online as well as early access to demos. Gold members also benefit from discounts and free games every month, making the price well worth it for frequent gamers.

How to Purchase an Xbox Live Gold Subscription

You don’t necessarily need a credit card to sign up for an Xbox Live Gold subscription. You can use one, but you can also buy Xbox Gift Cards or Gold subscription cards at retailers. Purchase a Gold subscription card at a retailer and then enter the code on your Xbox. You can also purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription from the official Xbox Network website and through your Xbox console.

An Xbox Live Gold subscription is no longer required to use Party Chat, Looking 4 Groups, and free-to-play multiplayer features.

Xbox Live Gold Subscriptions on Xbox 360 vs. Xbox One vs. Series X

Your Xbox Network account will work on your Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox X Series. You’ll sign in with the same Gamertag on both systems. On Xbox One and X Series, a single Xbox Live Gold subscription applies to all of the profiles on the system, whereas Xbox 360 requires each profile to have a separate Gold subscription to play online.

For security protection, it’s better to buy Xbox Gift Cards and Gold Subscription cards at retailers instead of using a credit card online.

  • How do I cancel my Xbox Live subscription?
  • In a web browser, go to account.microsoft.com/services and sign in to your account. In the Xbox Live Gold section, select Manage > Turn off auto-renew > Confirm cancellation.
  • How do fix Xbox Network connection issues?
  • Determine whether the Xbox Network is down or if you need to troubleshoot your own internet connection. For a more stable connection, connect your console directly to your modem or router with an Ethernet cable.
  • How do I transfer my Xbox Network subscription?
  • There’s no way to transfer Xbox Live Gold subscriptions between users, but you can sign in to your account on any Xbox console to access your Gold benefits. The catch is that you can’t be signed in to more than one of each Xbox model simultaneously (so, you can’t be signed in to two Xbox Ones at the same time).

In a web browser, go to account.microsoft.com/services and sign in to your account. In the Xbox Live Gold section, select Manage > Turn off auto-renew > Confirm cancellation.

Determine whether the Xbox Network is down or if you need to troubleshoot your own internet connection. For a more stable connection, connect your console directly to your modem or router with an Ethernet cable.

There’s no way to transfer Xbox Live Gold subscriptions between users, but you can sign in to your account on any Xbox console to access your Gold benefits. The catch is that you can’t be signed in to more than one of each Xbox model simultaneously (so, you can’t be signed in to two Xbox Ones at the same time).

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