Can you play Xbox games on PC? Yes, and there are four different ways to do it: buying games that support Xbox Play Anywhere, subscribing to PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate, streaming with Xbox Cloud Gaming, or streaming from your own console with Remote Play. This guide explains how to play Xbox games on PC with each method, what you need, and which one suits you best.
Method 1: Xbox Play Anywhere
Xbox Play Anywhere means you buy a game once and get both the Xbox console version and the Windows PC version, with shared saves and achievements. More than 1,000 games support it, including most games published by Xbox Game Studios such as Forza Horizon 6, Halo Infinite, Gears 5, Starfield, Sea of Thieves and Grounded, plus many third-party games such as Dispatch, Supermarket Simulator and Quarantine Zone.
- Install the Xbox app on Windows 10 or 11 from the Microsoft Store or xbox.com/apps.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your Xbox.
- Open My library; any Play Anywhere game you own on console appears there.
- Install it and play. Your console saves sync automatically through the cloud.
Look for the Play Anywhere badge on a game’s store page before buying if you want both versions.
Method 2: PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate
PC Game Pass ($13.99 a month) and Game Pass Ultimate ($22.99 a month, which includes PC) give you a large library of PC games through the Xbox app, including every new Xbox Game Studios game on day one. Download games to your PC and play them at full quality with mouse and keyboard or a controller. See the Xbox Game Pass guide for which tier to choose.
Method 3: Xbox Cloud Gaming in a browser
If your PC is not powerful enough to run modern games, you can stream them. Go to xbox.com/play in Microsoft Edge or Chrome, sign in, connect a controller and play. Game Pass tiers include monthly cloud hours, and Ultimate members can also stream many games they own. This works on low-end laptops, Chromebooks and even Macs. Read the Xbox Cloud Gaming guide for settings.
Method 4: Remote Play from your Xbox
Remote Play streams games from your own Xbox console to the Xbox app on your PC. It works with any game installed on the console, including disc games and games that are not on PC. Enable remote features on the console, set it to Sleep mode, then open the Xbox app on your PC, choose your console and select Remote play. Full steps are in our Remote Play guide.
Which method should you use?
- You have a gaming PC: PC Game Pass or Play Anywhere for the best quality.
- You have a weak laptop: Xbox Cloud Gaming.
- You own a game only on console: Remote Play.
- You want to own games long-term: buy Play Anywhere titles so you get both versions.
What about Xbox emulators?
There are no stable emulators for Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S games, and there will not be for a long time because of their complexity and encryption. Emulators exist for the original Xbox (xemu) and Xbox 360 (Xenia), which run some games from discs you own. Downloading game files you do not own is illegal, and “Xbox One emulator” downloads are usually malware. Stick to the official methods above.
Can you play Xbox games on PC with an Xbox controller?
Yes. Windows supports Xbox controllers natively over USB, Bluetooth or the Xbox Wireless Adapter. See how to connect an Xbox controller to PC.
PC requirements
For Play Anywhere and PC Game Pass downloads, you need Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11, enough storage, and a PC that meets each game’s requirements, which are listed on the store page. Modern Xbox games typically need a graphics card at least as fast as an NVIDIA GTX 1660 or AMD RX 5500 XT for 1080p at low to medium settings; the newest releases want an RTX 3060 or better. For cloud gaming you only need a modern browser and a fast, stable internet connection (20 Mbps or more).
Troubleshooting the Xbox app on PC
- Game will not install: run the Gaming Services repair in the Xbox app settings, and make sure Windows is fully updated.
- Saves not syncing: sign in with the same account on both, and wait for the cloud sync icon before closing the game.
- Library missing games: only Play Anywhere games appear for PC; console-only purchases do not.
- Controller not detected: reconnect it and restart the game.
FAQ
Can you play Xbox games on PC for free?
Free-to-play Xbox games such as Fortnite, Halo Infinite multiplayer and Rocket League are free on PC through their own launchers or the Xbox app. Fortnite can also be streamed free with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Do my Xbox console purchases work on PC?
Only if the game supports Xbox Play Anywhere.
Can I play Xbox games on a Mac?
Yes, through Xbox Cloud Gaming in Safari or Chrome, or with Remote Play through a browser-based workaround. The Xbox app itself is Windows-only.
How to set up the Xbox app on Windows
- Open the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 or Windows 11 and install the Xbox app, plus the Gaming Services component if prompted.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your Xbox console, so your Game Pass membership, Play Anywhere purchases and friends list carry over.
- Open Settings in the Xbox app and choose a default install folder on your fastest drive, ideally an NVMe SSD.
- Browse your library. Games marked with the Play Anywhere icon or included with PC Game Pass show an Install button.
- Connect an Xbox controller over USB, Bluetooth or the Xbox Wireless Adapter. See how to connect an Xbox controller to PC.
Which Xbox games are not on PC?
Most first-party Xbox games released since 2016 are on PC through the Xbox app, Steam or both. The exceptions are mainly older Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, which only run on Xbox consoles through backward compatibility, and some third-party console games that were never ported. For those, Xbox Cloud Gaming is often the best route, because it streams the console version directly to your browser.
Xbox app vs Steam for Xbox games
Many Xbox Game Studios titles are sold on both the Xbox app and Steam. The Xbox app is the only one that includes them with PC Game Pass, and Play Anywhere purchases give you the PC version for free if you bought the game on console. Steam offers its own features such as Steam Input and the Steam Deck. Some Xbox games now sync saves between the Xbox and Steam versions, but not all, so check before you switch stores mid-playthrough.
Performance tips for Xbox games on PC
- Update your graphics driver before installing a new game.
- Enable Game Mode and hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows settings.
- Use upscaling such as DLSS, FSR or XeSS if your GPU supports it.
- Close browser tabs and overlays you do not need while playing.
Can you play Xbox games on PC with a Game Pass Core or Essential plan?
No. Game Pass Essential, the plan that replaced Game Pass Core and Xbox Live Gold, is console-focused: it gives you online multiplayer and a small library on Xbox, but it does not include PC games. To play the Game Pass library on Windows you need PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate. Essential and Premium do include a few hours of Xbox Cloud Gaming each month, which you can use in a PC browser, so you can still stream some games on PC with those plans. See the Xbox Game Pass hub for every tier and price.