- XBOX mode brings a controller-friendly, full-screen gaming interface to Windows 11, replacing the traditional desktop experience with an interface designed around gaming.
- ViveTool can force-enable XBOX mode when the feature is available in Windows 11 but hasn’t appeared in Settings yet.
- A community-created GitHub tool provides a simpler alternative, allowing users to enable or disable the XBOX full-screen experience without manually changing the Registry.
- Microsoft begins the gradual rollout of the feature with the latest preview of the May 2026 update for Windows 11 in select markets. – April 30, 2026.
- XBOX mode is now rolling out with the release of build 26200.8457, but it’ll take time to reach everyone. – May 12, 2026.
On Windows 11, you can enable the new XBOX mode on your regular desktop computer, even if it’s not a handheld gaming PC, and in this guide, I’ll show you how to complete this configuration.
The XBOX mode (Full Screen Experience (FSE)) replaces the traditional desktop interface with a more controller-friendly, full-screen dashboard, similar to a console interface, but using the XBOX app already available on Windows 11. Additionally, by replacing the standard desktop experience, the system frees up memory and other resources typically used by background processes, resulting in improved performance and battery life for gaming.
The only caveat is that this mode is rolling out slowly, and not everyone has it available on their machines. However, there’s a workaround to force-enable the feature, regardless of its hardware configuration, using the ViveTool.
Also, a community-published GitHub tool exists that lets you enable the XBOX mode feature without extra steps. Both methods work identically. If one doesn’t work, you can try the other.
I tested these methods in August 2026 and can confirm that they work. As part of the testing environment, I have used a virtual machine running Windows 11 25H2 with the latest updates installed.
This device has only 8GB of memory and doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card, relying instead on the virtualized GPU provided by VMware’s drivers.
In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to enable the XBOX experience on any computer running Windows 11 25H2.
- Force-enable XBOX mode on any Windows 11 PC (ViveTool)
- Force-enable XBOX mode on any Windows 11 PC (GitHub)
- Pureinfotech’s Take
Force-enable XBOX mode on any Windows 11 PC (ViveTool)
Microsoft is gradually rolling out XBOX mode, starting with the May 2026 Security Update for Windows 11. As a result, installing the latest cumulative update should make the feature available on your computer. However, if you’ve completed the installation and the option is still missing, you’ll have to try enabling it manually using ViveTool.
If, after installing the latest system for Windows 11, the feature is still missing, then to enable the XBOX mode, follow these steps:
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Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable XBOX mode.
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Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.
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Click the Extract all button.
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Click the Extract button.
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Copy the path to the folder.
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Open Start.
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Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder, and press Enter:
cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x
In the command, remember to change the path to the folder to your path.
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Type the following command to enable the gaming full-screen experience and press Enter:
vivetool /enable /id:59765208,58989070
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Restart the computer.
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Open Settings.
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Click on Gaming.
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Click the XBOX mode page.
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Select the XBOX app in the “Choose home app” setting (if applicable).
Quick note: I have noticed that some Windows 11 installations may show the “Choose home app” option, while others may only include the “Enable Xbox mode” setting. If you have only the “Enable Xbox mode” setting, turn the toggle switch and ignore the option to select the Xbox app. The “Show Xbox mode in Task View” option is optional. -
Turn on the “Enter XBOX mode on startup” toggle switch.
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Turn on the “Show accessibility control hints in Task View” toggle switch.
Quick note: This option will give you the option to switch between the desktop and the new gaming mode from the Task View experience. -
Restart your gaming PC.
After you complete the steps, you’ll be able to access the XBOX mode feature from the “Gaming” settings section.
If you want to undo the changes, you can follow the same instructions outlined above, but in step 10, run the vivetool /disable /id:59765208,58989070 command.
Force-enable XBOX mode on any Windows 11 PC (GitHub)
You can use the GitHub community-created application to enable XBOX mode on Windows 11 25H2 or 24H2 with one click, without opening the Registry.
The only disclosure here is that this is a third-party application, meaning that it’s not supported by Microsoft. You have to use it at your own risk.
To enable XBOX mode on any PC, follow these steps:
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Click to download the XBOXFullScreenExperienceToolSetup-x.x.xx-Full.msi option under the “Assets” section.
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Save the installer on your computer.
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Right-click the “.msi” installer and choose the Open option.
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Click the Next button.
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Continue with the on-screen directions.
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Click the Close button.
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Open Start.
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Search for the XBOX Full Screen Experience Tool and click the top result to open the app.
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Click the “Enable XBOX Full Screen Experience” button.
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Click the OK button.
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Click the Yes button.
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Click the Yes button one more time.
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Click the OK button.
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Click the Close button to restart the computer.
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Open Settings.
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Click on Gaming.
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Click the XBOX mode page.
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Select the XBOX app in the “Choose home app” setting (if applicable).
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Turn on the “Enter XBOX mode on startup” toggle switch.
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Turn on the “Show accessibility control hints in Task View” toggle switch.
Quick note: This option will give you the option to switch between the desktop and the new gaming mode from the Task View experience. -
Restart your gaming PC.
Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will boot directly into the XBOX mode, making it easier to launch and play games with the controller.
I have tested this tool in August 2026 using Windows 11 25H2 with the latest cumulative update, and it worked to enable and disable the feature.
Pureinfotech’s Take
I’m thrilled that Microsoft has finally brought the XBOX experience to Windows 11, but I don’t like how slowly the feature is making its way to users. If the feature is already part of the operating system, I don’t see much value in making people wait for it to appear on their machines.
That’s also why I like having two ways to force-enable it. ViveTool is the better option if you want to control exactly what the system changes, while the community-created tool makes the process much easier if you don’t want to deal with commands. I’ve tested both, and having that choice is useful, especially when one method doesn’t work as expected.
Still, these workarounds shouldn’t be necessary. The company should make the feature available to everyone on supported versions of Windows 11 and let users decide whether they want to turn it on. Until then, I’m glad there’s a way around the waiting.
Have you received Xbox mode on your Windows 11 PC yet, or did you have to force-enable it? Let me know in the comments.
Update November 5, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process. Originally, the computer needed to have the latest preview build of Windows 11 from the Windows Insider Program, and you needed to enable some hidden features using ViveTool, but this is no longer needed, as the feature can now be enabled in the latest update of version 25H2.
Update November 20, 2025: Microsoft has recently announced that it is bringing the Full Screen Experience mode to all handheld gaming devices, and the company also noted that the plan is to expand the feature to “Windows 11 PC form factors through the XBOX and Windows Insider programs soon.”
Update November 25, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.
Update March 11, 2026: This guide has been tested again and updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.
Update April 6, 2026: Starting with build 26300.8155 (KB5083822) and build 26220.8148 (KB5079491), Windows 11 renames the feature from “XBOX Full Screen Experience” to “XBOX mode.” However, if you enable this feature manually in the Stable Channel, it may still appear as “XBOX Full Screen Experience.”
Update April 24, 2026: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.
Update April 30, 2026: Microsoft has announced that XBOX mode is now gradually rolling out to everyone. Some players in select markets will be able to download the XBOX mode experience today, with availability expanding to more players in those markets over the next several weeks
, the company said in the announcement. If you want to start using the feature right now, you have to apply the latest preview of the next Patch Tuesday update by turning on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option in the Windows Update settings.
Update August 13, 2026: This guide has been updated with the latest steps to enable the gaming feature on Windows 11, including a method for users who still haven’t received it.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 23 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].