You might have heard about Xbox Game Sharing on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S before, but is it really as good as it sounds, and can you really share all of your Xbox games with someone else? For the most part, yes!
Ultimately, Microsoft suggests you can use this Xbox Game Sharing feature to share your entire Xbox digital library of games with one friend or family member. So, how does it work? Let's take a look at what you'll need to do:
Step 1: Sign Into Your Xbox Account On Their Console
The first step is to give your Xbox login details to your friend or family member (so make sure they're 100% trusted, as they will be able to do anything with your account, including make purchases and access personal details!), and get them to add your account and then sign into it on their Xbox One, Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console.
Step 2: Designate Their Console As Your 'Home' Xbox
While they're still signed into your account, you'll then need to ask your friend or family member to designate their console as your 'Home' Xbox, which is what will allow them to get access to your games.
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, and then select My home Xbox.
- Select Make this my home Xbox to designate the console as your home Xbox.
Step 3: Repeat The Process If You Want Their Games Library As Well
If you want access to your friend or family member's games library, you'll again just need to follow the same process. Obtain their login details, sign into their account on your console, and designate it as their 'Home' Xbox.
This might sound like it's too good to be true, but it really works! There are a few key things to remember though, as we've highlighted below. As for why Xbox Game Sharing works like it does? Here's what Microsoft says about it:
"Your digital game licenses have two access points: your home Xbox, and your gamertag. When you change your home Xbox, all console licenses for digital content will move to your new home Xbox, and the licenses will no longer be available on your previous one.
In other words, when you switch your home Xbox, access to your content comes with you to your new home Xbox, and anyone signed in can enjoy it. Your gamertag access means that you can download and play your digital games on any Xbox you sign in to.
Key Things To Remember About Xbox Game Sharing
- You should only use this feature with a family member or a very close friend you trust
- You can change your 'Home' Xbox a max of five times per-year.
- You will need to be connected to Xbox Live to access your digital games this way, otherwise you won't see them
- This feature only works for digital games, not disc-based titles
Can I Get Banned For Using Xbox Game Sharing?
As far as we know, Xbox Game Sharing isn't something that's against the rules. Microsoft advertises that you can "share your games with your friend", and elsewhere on the official Xbox website, it notes that "Xbox Live Gold subscribers can extend their Gold subscription benefits to friends and family."
"If you want to share your games with your friend, sign in to their Xbox with your account and make that console your home Xbox. You can then remove your account from their Xbox. If your friend wants to share games with you, just do the reverse."
We can't guarantee anything, of course, so use Xbox Game Sharing at your own risk, but we haven't seen any reports to suggest Microsoft is against the idea of Game Sharing, or has issued any bans because of it.
Do you use Xbox Game Sharing with a friend or family member? Let us know down below.
Comments 18
Great. How many consoles can you share your account with ?
Please remember you can only change and do so many Xbox Home Consoles per year I think.
This article should have warned about this.
@Dezzy70 It's mentioned halfway down the article.
"Additionally, keep in mind that you can only change your 'Home' Xbox five times per-year."
@Fouabs You can only do Game Sharing with one other person at a time. This isn't something you want to be using with multiple people.
@FraserG
Sorry did not see that bit.
Just didn’t want anyone to mess up and do it fives times etc.
Side effect of this: if you lose internet for any reason, or XBL goes down, your friend gets to play your games but you won't be able to.
Many I hear do this do so as an exchange, so they get their friends account as home on their console, and they agree on buying every other game they want to play so technically they spend half as much on games.
I would never do this because I would rather have my home console at home, and might just do the second console with a second device at home, on a different screen.
Don Mattrick is probably flipping out at this idea. 😂
I do this with my brother. We share the cost of some games and gamepass. The only downside from this is not being able to play single-player games offline. Other than that this is a great way to play more games and save money,
@Dezzy70 Yeah, absolutely. I've made a couple of changes to make it as clear as possible in the text.
This is the same as game sharing on Nintendo Switch for those interested. Like @Tharsman said it’s great unless your internet isn’t working then you can’t play. I know on my Switch I have eShop under password- can you do that with Xbox? That way you don’t have to worry about your account buying something that you don’t want to buy?
I've been doing this for years as I have my main Xbox console downstairs, and my wife has her own upstairs.
Another key thing to point out, say if the main guy/girl with the subscriptions has Game Pass, the guy sharing your access can't download these games himself/herself.
You have to sign back in on your profile on that Xbox, download the game for them, then they can take advantage of a Game Pass game.
This was at least the case the 3 or 4 times my wife has wanted to play something on Game Pass on her gamertag.
@Tasuki Fortunately we have a product for people who can’t get some form of connectivity, it’s called Xbox 360.
@notleks_ I shuddered just reading that.
@FraserG Oh Christ, I remember watching it for the first time, my jaw literally just dropped. Essentially just gave everyone the middle finger and near ended his career. I dread to know what they all thought and said behind the scenes.
@Blinx01
I believe there is a work around of sorts. Lets say your account is Blinx01 and then your wife's is MrsBlinx
If her console is set to sign into your account when switched on but the controller is set to sign into MrsBlinx, when the console is switched on via the controller, it'll sign MrsBlinx in ready to play but Blinx01 will still be signed in (in the background). She should then be able to download gamepass games etc
At least thats how it works in my setup
@VOODOO85
Ah right, I didn't know you could do that.
I'd assume it will auto sign me out if we wanted to play together online?
@notleks_ I saw it when it happened. I remember looking at my son and saying well someone just cost themselves a job. One of the reasons In went with a PS4 last gen first.
It’s worth mentioning that subscriptions carry over as well so your friend or family members can take advantage of game pass and live at no additional cost.
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