Xbox (app) - Wikipedia

Software

Xbox
Screenshot of the new Xbox app on Windows 11
Developer	Microsoft Gaming
Stable release(s) [±]
Windows December 2025 Update (2512.1001.36.0) / January 20, 2026; 50 days ago (2026-01-20)[1] Android 2512.1.5 / December 8, 2025; 3 months ago (2025-12-08)[2][3] iOS 2512.1.5 / December 10, 2025; 3 months ago (2025-12-10)[4]
Operating system	Android, iOS, Windows, Tizen
Predecessor	Games for Windows - Live Xbox Games
Website	https://www.xbox.com/xbox-app (Mobile) https://www.xbox.com/xbox-on-pc (PC)

The Xbox app, also known as Xbox on PC and formerly known as Xbox PC, developed by Microsoft Gaming for Windows, Android, iOS and Tizen, is a companion app for users of Xbox video game consoles, providing access to Xbox network community features, remote control, as well as second screen functionality (formerly branded as SmartGlass) with selected games, applications, and content.

With the release of Windows 11, the Xbox app became a pre-installed component of the operating system. The application serves as the primary interface to access the Xbox Game Pass catalog on PC and integrates with system gaming features such as the Xbox Game Bar, DirectStorage, and Game Mode.

On Windows 10, the app additionally serves as a launcher for PC games installed on a device (including games obtained from Microsoft Store, Bethesda.net, Battle.net, Steam, GOG.com, Epic Games Store, Humble Bundle, Origin and Ubisoft Connect), provided access to the system's screen recording functions, and streaming of games from an Xbox One console on a local network.

During E3 2019, the existing version of the Xbox app for Windows 10 was renamed Xbox Console Companion, and a new Xbox app was introduced in beta. This app is more specifically oriented towards PC gaming, serving as a front-end to games distributed on Microsoft Store, and as the client for PC Game Pass.

Features

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Through the app, users can access their activity feed, Xbox Live friends and messages, manage their party, watch saved Game DVR clips, browse OneGuide, and view their achievements. Some games and apps can provide second screen integration via the app, displaying supplemental content. The app can also be used as a remote control for the console.[5][6]

The Xbox app integrates with Windows gaming features such as the Xbox Game Bar to allow uses to record gameplay, capture screenshots, and share clips with friends. Captured media can be uploaded to the user's Xbox profile and shared across the Xbox Network.

The Windows 10 version of Xbox Console Companion allows users to stream games from an Xbox One console over a local network, and has the ability to view and edit Game DVR recordings from an Xbox One console. It also serves as a front-end for a PC version of Game DVR on supported hardware (Game DVR settings were moved to the Settings app on Windows 10 version 1703),[7] and has a library display for games installed on the device. The library view can also aggregate games installed from various third-party game launchers and stores.[8][9][10]

Support for Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as Remote Play from Xbox consoles was added to the app for Windows 10 on September 14, 2021.[11]

The Windows 11 version of the Xbox app was revamped for improved performance, faster game downloads, and enhanced library management compared to earlier versions of Windows 10. The app also supports cloud gaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming, allowing users to stream supported titles directly from Microsoft servers.

History

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Xbox 360 SmartGlass was originally announced at E3 2012, for Windows 8, Android and iOS. Microsoft demonstrated use cases for the new app within both games and entertainment, including a minimap for Ascend: New Gods, a second screen experience for School of Rock with supplemental content, and Game of Thrones (with interactive maps and family tree diagrams).[12] With the release of Xbox One in November 2013, Microsoft released an accompanying Xbox One SmartGlass app for Android, iOS, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone, which contained more extensive functionality for controlling the console.[13][14][15]

Windows 10 introduced a revamped version of SmartGlass referred to simply as Xbox, which notably added a library display for PC games, and the ability to stream games from an Xbox One console on a local network.[16] On June 12, 2016, the mobile versions of the Xbox One Smartglass apps were updated for parity with the desktop version, and renamed "Xbox" as well.[17] Xbox 360 SmartGlass was not updated and was discontinued in May 2018.

The mobile apps were updated alongside the Xbox One's May 2019 software update, adding cross-platform status indicators to friends.[18] In May 2019, Microsoft also revamped the Xbox Game Bar feature of Windows 10 into a widget-based overlay, which features pop-up windows for features such as screen recording, managing audio inputs, viewing the Xbox Live friends list, and monitoring system components.[19]

On June 9, 2019, coinciding with Microsoft's E3 2019 press conference, Microsoft released a new Xbox app in beta exclusively for Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), which has a redesigned interface, and serves as the client for Xbox Game Pass on PC.[20] In advance of the conference, Microsoft rebranded the existing Xbox app on Windows 10 as Xbox Console Companion.[21] The new Xbox app is pre-loaded software on Windows 11.[22][23]

Microsoft updated its Xbox mobile app on Android in November 2024, allowing U.S. users to purchase and play Xbox games directly on their devices. This follows a U.S. court ruling that prevents Google from requiring its Play Billing system, enhancing choice for developers. The update facilitates immediate streaming of purchased games via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Additionally, Microsoft is developing a browser-based Xbox mobile store, initially focusing on first-party games and later including deals and in-game items.[24]

See also

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• PlayStation App
• Game Center
• Google Play Games
• Nintendo Switch Online
• Comparison of screencasting software

References

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1. ^ "Xbox". Microsoft Apps. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
2. ^ "Xbox". Google Play. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
3. ^ "Xbox 2512.1.5". APKMirror. 2025-12-08. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
4. ^ "Xbox". App Store. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
5. ^ "Xbox One's SmartGlass App Does Essential Stuff Your Xbox One Won't". Time. November 21, 2013.
6. ^ Warren, Tom (2013-11-19). "Xbox One SmartGlass lets you snap apps from your phone or tablet". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
7. ^ "Review: Windows 10 Creators Update is quite a small major update". Ars Technica. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
8. ^ "Xbox on Windows 10: social features, game DVR and more". Engadget. AOL. 21 January 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
9. ^ "Xbox app coming to Windows 10, Microsoft confirms". Polygon. Vox Media. 21 January 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
10. ^ "Windows 10 will let you stream Xbox One games to any Windows 10 PC or tablet". Polygon. Vox Media. 21 January 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
11. ^ Clark, Mitchell (September 14, 2021). "xCloud and Xbox Remote Play are officially available on Windows". The Verge. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
12. ^ Stein, Scott. "E3 2012: A closer look at Xbox SmartGlass". CNET. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
13. ^ "Microsoft releases SmartGlass Xbox One app for Android, iOS, Windows". PCWorld. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
14. ^ Phillips, Tom (2013-11-19). "Microsoft releases Xbox One SmartGlass app". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
15. ^ Peter, Roy. "Robloxo Pedia". Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
16. ^ Machkovech, Sam (2015-08-13). "Xbox on Windows 10: What it is, what it isn't, and what's missing [Updated]". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
17. ^ "New Xbox apps for iOS and Android look just like Windows 10". The Verge. Vox Media. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
18. ^ Bright, Peter (2019-05-17). "Xbox, PC get a little bit closer with the latest Xbox updates". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
19. ^ Warren, Tom (2019-05-22). "Microsoft's new Xbox Game Bar launches for Windows 10 as a useful overlay with widgets". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
20. ^ Gaming, Darren Allan 2019-06-10T10:12:06Z (10 June 2019). "This is our first look at the new Xbox app on Windows 10". TechRadar. Retrieved 2019-06-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
21. ^ "Microsoft readies a renamed Xbox Console Companion app for Xbox management on Windows". PCWorld. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
22. ^ Sarkar, Samit (June 24, 2021). "Xbox Game Pass is built into Windows 11". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
23. ^ Machkovech, Sam (June 24, 2021). "DirectStorage on Windows 11: Next-gen gaming performance, with PC requirements". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
24. ^ Warren, Tom (2024-10-10). "Xbox will sell games directly in the Android app next month". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-10-12.

External links

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• Official website
• Xbox (beta) on Microsoft Store
• Xbox Console Companion on Microsoft Store

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