How to Enable or Disable Xbox Mode in Windows 11

What is Xbox Mode?

Xbox mode is a built-in Windows 11 feature that changes your desktop into a console-like, full-screen view focused on your games. The layout is built for game controllers, so you can move around from the couch without a mouse or keyboard. It also focuses system resources on your current game to improve performance.

Xbox mode suits controller users best. A mouse and keyboard still work, but the interface is designed around a controller. If you mostly play at your desk with a keyboard, the normal desktop may feel more natural, and the toggle lets you switch back at any time.

Microsoft’s release notes for KB5083631 add that you can enter Xbox mode from the Xbox app, from the Game Bar settings, or by pressing the Win+F11. This is the newest way to start it. The same notes list the feature in Beta build 26220.9739 and Experimental build 26340.9750, both dated 16 October 2026. PCs without that update need the methods below.

What You Need

Xbox mode requires Windows 11 build 26220.7271 or newer, which is currently available through the Dev or Beta channels. You also need the Xbox app and membership in the Xbox Insider Program. You join the program with the Xbox Insider Hub app on your PC, which gives you the feature before it rolls out to everyone.

Here is what you need before you start:

• Windows 11 build 26220.7271 or newer (Dev or Beta 25H2)
• Xbox app installed (it comes with Windows 11)
• Xbox Insider Program membership
• Xbox Insider Hub app

If you are not sure which build you have, press Win+R, type winver and press Enter. The build number appears in the window that opens. If it is lower than the one above, the Xbox mode setting will most likely not appear, and the other methods in this guide will not help either. Check this first, because it saves a lot of time later.

These steps enroll your PC in the preview that delivers Xbox mode:

1. Open the Xbox Insider Hub app. If it is not installed, get it from the Microsoft Store first.
2. Go to Previews › PC Gaming Preview. The details of the preview should appear.
3. Select Join. Follow any prompts to finish enrolling.

That’s it. Your PC is now enrolled in the preview. Enrolment is not always instant, and updates for the preview can take a while to arrive, so check Windows Update before you try the workarounds below.

How to Enable or Disable Xbox Mode

Option 1Using Settings

The Settings app is the safest way to enable Xbox mode, because you do not touch advanced system files. It works the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro, and the same toggle turns Xbox mode off again. If you are wondering how to enable Xbox mode on a PC that meets the requirements, start here.

If your PC has the KB5083631 update, you can also press the Win+F11 to enter Xbox mode, or start it from the Xbox app or Game Bar settings. The steps below work with or without that update. They turn the Xbox mode setting on or off:

1. Press Win+I to open Settings⚙️. The Settings window opens.
2. Click Gaming on the left side. The gaming options appear on the right.
3. Click Xbox mode on the right side. If you do not see it, your build or Insider enrolment is likely not ready, so check the requirements above or try the registry or ViVeTool methods below.

4. Set the toggle to On (the default) or Off. The switch should move to the position you picked.

5. Close Settings. Your choice is saved as soon as you change the toggle, so there is nothing to confirm.

That’s it. Xbox mode is now set the way you chose. To undo the change, repeat these steps and set the toggle back.

Option 2Using Registry Editor

The registry is the database where Windows stores its settings. This is an advanced method and requires administrator access. Follow the exact path shown, because a change in the wrong place can cause other problems on your PC, and create a restore point first if you are unsure.

⚠️ Admin Required: You need administrator privileges for this method.

To enable Xbox Mode:

1. Press Win and search for “Registry Editor”. It should appear in the results.
2. Right-click it and select Run as administrator. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
3. Go to this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GamingConfiguration. Expand the folders on the left one by one, or paste the path into the address bar at the top of the window.
4. Find the key named GamingHomeApp. If it is not there, create it with exactly that name.
5. Set the value to: Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App
6. Click OK and close Registry Editor. Check Settings › Gaming to see whether Xbox mode now appears, and sign out and back in or restart if it does not.

That’s it. The registry value is now set, and Xbox mode should be available after you sign in again or restart.

To disable Xbox Mode:

1. Follow steps 1-3 above. You should be back at the same path in Registry Editor.
2. Set the GamingHomeApp value to nothing (leave it blank).
3. Click OK and close Registry Editor. Sign out and back in, or restart, if the setting does not change right away.

You should now have Xbox mode switched off through the registry.

If you prefer the command line, you can make the same change from Windows Terminal. Open it as administrator, as with the registry method, and run the command below.

Enable:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GamingConfiguration" /v GamingHomeApp /t REG_SZ /d "Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App" /f

Disable:

Xbox Mode allows users to enter a special gaming screen by pressing the Win and F11 together. Pressing these keys again exits Xbox Mode. This mode helps focus your computer for gaming, making your gaming experience smoother.

If You Don’t See Xbox Mode Yet

Use it if the Xbox mode option is still missing from your Windows 11 settings after you have met the requirements and installed updates. It forces the hidden feature to appear when standard updates fail to show it. You run one command in the terminal with administrator rights, then restart.

⚠️ Admin Required: This method needs administrator privileges.

These steps force the Xbox mode setting to appear:

1. Open Windows Terminal as administrator. Right-click Start and choose the Terminal (Admin) entry, or search for Terminal and select Run as administrator. A terminal window opens.
2. Run this command: vivetool /enable /id:59765208. The tool should report that it set the feature configuration. If you get an error, check that you started the terminal as administrator and that ViVeTool is available where you run the command.
3. Restart your🔄 computer. The change does not take effect until you restart. Afterwards, open Settings › Gaming and look for Xbox mode.

That’s it. After the restart, Xbox mode should show up in Settings › Gaming, where you can switch it on or off with the toggle.

For more information, visit Full screen experience expands to more Windows 11 PC form factors, Full screen experience expands to more Windows 11 PC form factors for Windows Insiders, Starting today, Full Screen Experience for Windows 11 PCs is available for Xbox Insiders! – Xbox Wire, Windows Gaming: Full screen experience – Microsoft Support, Open Xbox mode settings.

Summary

Xbox mode in Windows 11 helps you focus on games by creating a distraction-free, full-screen view. Start with the Settings toggle, since it is the safest option, and use the Win+F11 shortcut if your PC has the KB5083631 update. If the setting is missing, check your build and Insider enrolment, and then use the Registry Editor or ViVeTool if needed.