How to use Xbox Mode on your Windows PC

2026 is the year Microsoft finally seemed to notice how nightmarish the Windows 11 experience had become. Windows 11 has received updates to make it less crappy and even new features to make it feel fresh.

One of the most important new features in Windows 11 is Xbox Mode. It’s hard not to see this as a response to Valve’s SteamOS, which gamers are increasingly talking about in messianic tones in hopes of leaving Microsoft’s fraught ecosystem. When you enable Xbox Mode on a PC, Windows ditches the taskbar and adopts a controller-friendly layout, immersing you in a redesigned Xbox app with all your game libraries loaded.

Xbox Mode started arriving on Windows 11 PCs in May, so anyone who installs updates regularly should have it already. But it’s not obvious how to make it work, nor how to use it once you do. Before diving in, make sure you have a gamepad connected: Xbox, PC, and PlayStation controllers all work based on our testing. It will also speed up the process later if you open your digital storefront of choice now.

The first step to using Windows 11’s Xbox Mode is to make sure it’s enabled, which may not be the case by default. To do this, open Settings using the Win + I shortcut, then select Games > Xbox Mode.

Here if you see a Enable Xbox Mode cursor, activate it. You can also see a Choose the home app section, where you need to select Xbox. If you want faster access to Xbox Mode from the desktop, also enable Show Xbox Mode in Task View. And if you end up loving this feature and only use your PC for gaming, Enter Xbox mode at startup will save you time.

Xbox Mode is accessible via multiple paths. The keyboard shortcut Win + F11 Switches between desktop mode and Xbox mode. You can also use Win + G To open the game bar, click the gear icon in the bar centered at the top of the screen, then choose Enter Xbox Mode. If you’re in the Xbox app, you’ll see a shortcut at the top right of the home page. Finally, if you have activated the Task view option above, tap Win + Tab and you will see a Xbox Mode shortcut to the right of your open desktops at the bottom of the screen.

During playback, press the button Windows The key on your keyboard takes you to a task view where you can access the Windows desktop, as well as shortcuts at the top of the screen. To exit Xbox mode, return to the Xbox app home screen and click the button Exit Xbox Mode button at the top right. You can also use Win + F11 Again.

A common misconception is that Xbox Mode provides hidden performance improvements while gaming, but Microsoft has made no such claim. This is handled by a separate toggle: Settings > Games > Game Modewhich “turns off things in the background” to improve your gaming experience. Although vague, it’s worth enabling if you haven’t already enabled it.

Xbox Mode eliminates most of the computing parts of Windows, replacing them with a dedicated full-screen gaming experience that’s friendly to use with a controller or keyboard and mouse. In other words, it’s Microsoft’s answer to Steam’s Big Picture mode.

You’ll benefit more from Xbox Mode if you have game libraries from multiple providers. If you have World of Warcraft, Fortnite And Counter-strike on your PC, you need at least three launchers to run them (Battle.net, Epic Games and Steam respectively). Xbox Mode shows you games from all of these libraries, plus Ubisoft Connect and Humble Launcher, in one centralized place. We have not tested other launchers like the EA app. If you don’t see a particular title, you can rip it in the Xbox app by selecting the icon more icon at the top right of the Library tongue.

Launching a game from the Xbox app avoids having to open its launcher, as Xbox will simply target the game’s executable, which starts the necessary software in the background. This process wasn’t the fastest or smoothest in our testing. Although games launch every time, we recommend opening third-party launchers before starting Xbox Mode to speed up the process.

If you are an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you will be able to access its library through Xbox Mode. Surprisingly, the Cloud gaming The tab does not lock you out of Microsoft services. You can set Nvidia GeForce Now as your default streaming service in the Xbox app settings.

Ultimately, Xbox Mode in its current form is little more than an enhanced Xbox app with controller mapping and a few extra settings to save you having to interact with Windows. This is more useful on handhelds and living room PCs than on a standalone gaming PC. Either way, with more gamers than ever switching to Linux, it’s good to see Microsoft exploring improvements to the Windows 11 gaming experience.