Turn ANY PC Into An Xbox! HUGE Windows 11 Gaming Update, by ETA PRIME on YouTube. 12 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 12 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open Settings, go to Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install every update offered, including optional ones, then restart so the Xbox mode files land on your PC.
Open the Xbox mode startup settings and turn on the option that launches Xbox mode when Windows starts. This makes the machine boot to a console-style screen instead of the desktop.
Install Xbox Insider Hub from the Microsoft Store, sign in, and join the preview so the newer Xbox mode features show up. Restart your PC after joining.
Move around the dashboard with a controller or with your mouse and keyboard. Use the d-pad or arrow keys to change tiles and the A button or Enter to open one.
Open the library and add games from Steam by pointing Xbox mode at your Steam install and folders. For games on an external drive, connect the drive and add its game folder to your library.
Open the Game Bar and pin, remove or rearrange the widgets you want on screen. Keep the ones you check often, such as performance or capture, and hide the rest.
Change resolution and refresh rate from the display settings while a game is running. Test a lower resolution first if a game stutters, then raise it back once frames are steady.
Use the app switcher to jump between open games without closing them. Launch two titles, switch back and forth, and check that each one resumes where you left it.
Tips and common mistakes
Plug in or pair your Xbox controller before you enable startup mode, or you may land on a dashboard you cannot easily navigate.
Xbox mode is still new, so expect rough edges in customization and keep Windows Update on so fixes arrive.
Add only the game folders you actually play to the library, otherwise the dashboard fills with clutter.
Test the app switcher with two light games first, since switching between heavy titles can use a lot of memory.
Questions
Do I need an Xbox console for this?
No. Xbox mode runs on your existing Windows 11 PC, laptop, mini PC or tablet. You only need the Windows update and, ideally, a controller.
Will my Steam games show up in Xbox mode?
Yes, you can add Steam titles and games stored on an external drive to the Xbox mode library. You point it at the install folders rather than reinstalling the games.
Can I go back to the normal Windows desktop?
Yes. Turn off the startup option in the Xbox mode settings, or exit Xbox mode, and Windows boots to the regular desktop again.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
