PSN or Xbox Account Hacked? How to Get It Back and Protect Your Wallet

If your PlayStation or Xbox account has been hacked, speed matters more than anything else. Thieves usually go straight for anything with value: wallet funds, saved cards and gift card balances. Work through these steps in order: lock the account down, stop new spending, then deal with what's already been taken.

Key facts

• Change the account password and the email password first, then turn on 2-step verification.
• Sign out of all devices to remove anyone still signed in.
• Remove saved payment methods and check transaction history.
• Contact PlayStation Support or Xbox Support about unauthorised purchases before involving your bank.
• A chargeback without contacting support first can get a PlayStation account suspended for debt.

Start with your email

Before anything else, check the email account linked to your gaming account. If a hacker can read your email, they can reset any password you change. Change that password first, turn on 2-step verification there too, and check that no forwarding rules or recovery addresses were added.

PlayStation (PSN)

If you can still sign in

1. Change your password in your account's security settings, or on the PlayStation website.
2. Turn on 2-step verification, using an authenticator app or text messages.
3. Sign out of all devices from your account management page. This kicks out anyone who's signed in.
4. Remove saved payment methods so nothing more can be charged.
5. Check your transaction history in account management and note anything you didn't buy.

If the password or email was changed

Use Trouble signing in? on the sign-in page to reset the password. If the hacker has changed the email address, contact PlayStation Support directly. They'll ask questions only the real owner can answer, so have your online ID, date of birth and details of a recent purchase ready.

Xbox (Microsoft account)

If you can still sign in

1. Change your password at account.microsoft.com under Security.
2. Turn on two-step verification, ideally with the Microsoft Authenticator app.
3. Review your recent sign-in activity in the Security section and mark anything unfamiliar as "This wasn't me".
4. Sign out everywhere from the security settings.
5. Check order history under Payments and billing.

If you're locked out

Use Microsoft's account recovery form, linked from the "Forgot password" flow. Fill it in from a device and network you've used before, and give as much detail as you can: old passwords, subjects of recent emails, gamertags of friends. The more you can prove, the more likely it succeeds.

Getting stolen money back

Once the account is secure, contact the platform's support about unauthorised purchases or missing wallet funds. Have the dates, amounts and screenshots ready. Refunds are decided case by case. Neither Sony nor Microsoft promises to restore funds, but reporting quickly gives you the best chance.

Be careful with bank chargebacks. Disputing a PlayStation or Xbox charge with your bank before talking to support can lead to the account being suspended until the dispute is settled. Try the platform's support first unless your bank tells you otherwise.

Mistakes that make it worse

• Paying a "recovery service". People on social media offering to recover hacked accounts for a fee are scammers, and often the same people who took it.
• Giving your new password to "support" over DM or chat. Real support staff never ask for your password.
• Re-using the old password anywhere. If it leaked once, it's on a list.
• Waiting. The longer a thief has access, the more they can spend or sell.

How accounts usually get hacked

Most gaming account thefts come from one of a few things: a password reused from a site that was breached, a fake login page, a "free gift card" or "free currency" site, or a scam message pretending to be support. Our guides to gift card payment scams and Steam account scams cover the tricks to recognise, and most apply on PlayStation and Xbox too.

Protect your balance going forward

• Keep 2-step verification on, permanently.
• Use a unique password for each gaming account.
• Don't keep a card saved if you don't need to. Topping up with gift cards means there's never more at risk than what's in the wallet. Adding money to Xbox without a credit card and PSN wallet without a credit card show how.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get my PSN wallet funds back after a hack?

Possibly. Contact PlayStation Support with the dates and amounts of the unauthorised purchases. Refunds are decided case by case, and reporting quickly helps.

How do I recover a hacked Microsoft account if the email was changed?

Use Microsoft's account recovery form from a familiar device and network, and give as much account history as you can, like old passwords and recent email subjects.

Should I do a chargeback for hacked PlayStation purchases?

Talk to PlayStation Support first. A chargeback can lead to the account being suspended until the dispute is resolved.

How do I stop my PSN or Xbox account being hacked again?

Use a unique password, keep 2-step verification on, secure the linked email account, and never sign in through links in messages or "free" reward pages.

Sources

Facts checked on 2 November 2026 against:

• PlayStation Support: Phished accounts and unauthorised charges
• Microsoft Support: Unusual sign-in activity