Game sharing on Xbox lets two people share one digital game library and one Game Pass membership, legally and with Microsoft’s own settings. It works because of the “home Xbox” feature: any account that signs in to your home Xbox can play the games and use the Game Pass benefits of the account that set it as home. This guide shows how to game share on Xbox step by step, what you get, the limits, and the safety risks to think about first.
How Xbox game share works
Every Microsoft account can choose one console as its home Xbox. On that console, anyone who signs in can play the digital games and use the Game Pass membership of the home account, even when the owner is not signed in. The owner can still play their own games on any other console while signed in to their own account. So if you and a friend each set the other’s console as your home Xbox, you both get both libraries.
| You get on your friend’s console | Your friend gets on yours | |
|---|---|---|
| Digital games | All of your friend’s games | All of your games |
| Game Pass | Your friend’s Game Pass tier | Your Game Pass tier |
| Online multiplayer | Yes if the shared account has Essential or higher | Yes, same rule |
How to game share on Xbox (step by step)
- On your friend’s Xbox, add your account: press the Xbox button, go to Profile & system > Add or switch > Add new, and sign in with your Microsoft account.
- While signed in as you on their console, go to Settings > General > Personalization > My home Xbox.
- Select Make this my home Xbox.
- Now repeat on your console: your friend signs in with their account on your Xbox and makes your console their home Xbox.
- Sign back in to your own account on your own console. You can now play your friend’s games and use their Game Pass, and they can do the same on theirs.
That is how to game share on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. The steps are identical on both.
Rules and limits
- You can change your home Xbox up to five times a year.
- Each account can only have one home Xbox at a time.
- Shared games are available on the home console only; they do not follow your friend’s account to your other devices or PC.
- Disc games are not shared; only digital purchases and Game Pass.
- Some add-ons and consumables (like in-game currency) stay with the buyer’s profile.
Is Xbox game sharing allowed?
Yes. Microsoft designed the home Xbox feature for families who share a console, and it is part of the Xbox settings. But Microsoft’s terms say you are responsible for anything done with your account, and you should only share with people you trust completely. Game sharing with strangers on Reddit or Discord is a common way to lose an account.
Security risks to understand
To set up game share, the other person needs your Microsoft account email and password on their console for a few minutes. That means they could see your email, change your password if they learn your security info, or make purchases with saved payment methods. Before you share:
- Only share with family or a friend you know in real life.
- Turn on two-step verification on your Microsoft account.
- Require a passkey for purchases in Settings > Account > Sign-in, security & passkey.
- Remove saved cards if you do not want any purchases made.
- After setup, remove your account from their console if you want; game share still works because the home Xbox setting stays.
Game sharing with Game Pass: which tier is shared?
The home console gets the Game Pass tier of the account that set it as home. If your friend has Ultimate and makes your console their home Xbox, you get Ultimate benefits on that console: the full library, day-one games, EA Play and online multiplayer. If they only have Essential, you get Essential. This is why many families use game share so that one Ultimate membership covers two consoles in the same house. Note that cloud gaming and PC Game Pass benefits stay with the paying account and are not shared through home Xbox.
Game sharing in the same house
The easiest use of game share is one household with two consoles, for example a Series X in the living room and a Series S in a bedroom. Set the second console as the home Xbox for the account that owns most of the games. Everyone who signs in on the second console can then play that library, while the owner plays on the first console with their own account. Kids’ accounts managed through Xbox Family Settings work fine with this setup.
How to stop game sharing
- On any console where you are signed in, go to Settings > General > Personalization > My home Xbox.
- Select Make this my home Xbox on your own console instead. This removes the home status from the old one.
- If you cannot access your console, sign in at account.microsoft.com/devices and remove the old console from your devices, which also clears home status.
- Change your password and sign out of all devices from account.microsoft.com/security if you no longer trust the other person.
Game share troubleshooting
- Games say you need to buy them: make sure the owner’s account set your console as home, and that the console is online so it can check licenses.
- Game Pass games locked: the owner’s membership may have expired or downgraded.
- “You’ve changed your home Xbox too many times”: wait until the yearly limit resets.
- Save files missing: saves belong to the profile that played, not the game owner; sign in with your own profile to keep your progress.
Game sharing on PlayStation
PlayStation has a similar feature called Console Sharing and Offline Play: the account that enables it on a PS5 shares its games and PlayStation Plus with every user on that console. It also allows one console per account. See our Xbox vs PlayStation guide for a side-by-side comparison.
Xbox game share FAQ
Can more than two people game share?
Each account can only have one home Xbox, so sharing works in pairs. Larger groups trying to chain accounts quickly run into the five-changes limit and security problems.
Can my friend play my games while I play them too?
Yes. You both can play the same digital game at the same time, as long as you are on your own account on your console and your friend is on your home Xbox.
Does game sharing work on PC?
No. Home Xbox applies only to consoles.
Used carefully with family or a close friend, game share is one of the best-value features on Xbox: two consoles, one library and one Game Pass membership.
Related: learn how to protect your account in our Xbox account and settings guide, including two-step verification and purchase passkeys.
Game sharing and Xbox Family accounts
If you are setting up game sharing for children, combine it with the Xbox Family Settings app. Make the console your Home Xbox so every child account on it can play your games, then use Family Settings to set screen time, content ratings and spending limits for each child. This is safer than sharing your password, because each child keeps their own account and achievements, and you stay in control of purchases. If a child moves to their own console later, they can sign in with your account as a guest or you can buy separate copies of the games they play most.