How to Not Get Banned From Xbox Live

Microsoft's Xbox Live service upholds strict community standards that all users must follow. Before you begin playing, you should know which types of behaviors can lead to a ban from Xbox Live and what to do if your account gets suspended or banned.

Information in this article applies to Xbox Live on all platforms including Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows 10.

Xbox Live Standards and Policies

When you create an Xbox Live account, you agree to the Microsoft Service Agreement and the Community Standards for Xbox Live. If another user reports you for violating the rules, a Microsoft employee will attempt to verify the accusation and determine if punishment is necessary. Microsoft has a full list of things that can get you suspended from Xbox Live including:

Cheating by using mods or exploiting game glitches
Account tampering
Gamerscore or achievement tampering
Account theft
Marketplace theft
Impersonation
Harassment
Phishing
Solicitation
Offensive Gamertags, real names, or club names
Offensive images or DVR content uploads

What to Do if Your Xbox Live Account Is Suspended

You can visit the Xbox Enforcement Actions page to find out why your Xbox Live account was suspended and request a review.

If you are banned from Xbox Live for violating community standards, you cannot get a refund for your subscription.

Types of Xbox Bans and Suspensions

Depending on the policy violation, Microsoft can issue different types of penalties.

Temporary Bans

For minor offenses, you can get suspended from using specific Xbox Live features. For example, you may be unable to upload content or chat with other players. More egregious violations, such as cheating or harassment, can lead to your entire account getting suspended. Temporary bans can last from 24 hours to two weeks depending on the severity of the infringement and any previous offenses.

Gamertag Bans

Microsoft does not tolerate racist, sexist, or otherwise offensive language in Gamertags. Microsoft will give you a free chance to change your Gamertag if it gets reported. If you don't comply, your Gamertag will be banned.

Permanent and Device Bans

Repeated violations of the Xbox Live Community Standards can result in your account getting permanently banned. Modding your Xbox system or attempting online fraud can lead to a device ban, which prevents all accounts on your console from connecting to Xbox Live.

Some games have separate community rules in addition to Microsoft's. It's possible to get suspended from individual games for violating such policies.

Xbox Live Reputation System

Microsoft introduced the Xbox Live reputation system to help users avoid problem players and cut down on the number of enforcement complaints. It allows gamers to provide feedback about each others' behavior online. This system is separate from the Community Standards, so having a poor reputation will not result in a ban; you'll just be matched with other players with similar reputations in multiplayer games.