Enable Xbox Full Screen Experience on ANY standard PC on Windows 11 25H2

To enable the Xbox Full Screen Experience on any gaming PC, you have to be running Windows 11 25H2.
You also need to use the Physpanel and PSExec command-line tools, and you’ll have to modify the Registry to configure the feature.
Alternatively, there’s now a GitHub tool that automates the process of enabling the FSE on any PC running version 25H2 and 24H2.
Microsoft has renamed the feature from “Xbox Full Screen Experience” to “Xbox mode” in the latest preview builds available in the Beta and Dev Channels.
I have tested this method using builds 26200.8246 and 26200.8313, and the instructions work.

On Windows 11, you can enable the new Xbox mode (formerly Xbox Full Screen Experience) 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 currently limited to handheld devices (such as the Xbox Ally X from Asus ROG), not standard computers. However, a workaround exists that tricks the operating system into recognizing it as a handheld gaming device, thereby enabling the feature on any computer, regardless of its hardware configuration.

I tested this method in April 2026 and can confirm that it works. 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.

Additionally, for this process to work, you’ll need to use two command-line tools, including Physpanel, which queries and modifies the internal panel dimensions reported by the system, and the Microsoft PSExec tool, which enables an interactive Command Prompt session with the highest possible privilege level.

It’s important to note that a GitHub tool has now been published by the community that lets you enable the FSE feature without downloading additional tools or using the Registry. Both methods work identically. If one doesn’t work, you can try the other.

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to enable the Xbox experience on any computer running Windows 11 25H2.

Enable Xbox mode on any Windows 11 PC (GitHub)
Enable Xbox mode on any Windows 11 PC (Registry)
Enable Xbox mode on any Windows 11 PC (preview)
Pureinfotech’s Take

Warning: It’s important to note that modifying the Registry can cause serious problems if not used properly. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and have created a full backup of your system before proceeding.

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 (build 26200.8037 or newer) with one click, without opening the Registry.

To enable the Xbox mode (Full Screen Experience) on any PC, follow these steps:

Open this GitHub page.
Click to download the XboxFullScreenExperienceToolSetup-x.x.xx-Full.msi option under the “Assets” section.
Save the installer on your computer.
Right-click the “.msi” installer and choose the Open option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button a second time.
Click the Next button one more time.
Click the Close button.
Open Start.
Search for the Xbox Full Screen Experience Tool and click the top result to open the app.
Click the “Enable Xbox Full Screen Experience” button.
Click the OK button.
Click the Yes button.
Click the OK button.
Click the Close button to restart the computer.
Open Settings.
Click on Gaming.
Click the “Full screen experience” page.

Quick note: In the Stable Channel, the feature currently shows up as “Full screen experience,” but the name has already been updated to “Xbox mode” in the latest preview of the operating system. The new name will be reflected after the Windows 11 May 2026 Security Update.
Select the Xbox app in the “Choose home app” setting.
Turn on the “Enter full screen experience on start-up” toggle switch to allow the system to start directly in this new console-like experience.
(Optional) Turn on the “Show accessibility control hits in Task View” toggle switch to display a one-button alternative to a combo button press.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will boot directly into the Xbox FSE, making it easier to launch and play games with the controller.

Enable Xbox mode on any Windows 11 PC (Registry)

To enable the Xbox Full Screen Experience (Xbox mode) on any regular desktop PC running Windows 11 25H2, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.
Turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch.
Click the “Download & install” button for the “Windows 11, version 25H2 is available” option.
Click the Restart now button.
Open Start.
Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

Open the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\OEM

Right-click the OEM key, select the New submenu, and choose the “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.
Name the new key DeviceForm and press Enter.
Right-click the recently created key and select the Modify option.
Change the value to 2e (Hexadecimal).
Click the OK button.
Restart the computer.
Open the PSTools page.
Click the “Download PsTools suite” option and save the file to the computer.
Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.
Click the Extract all button.
Click the Extract button.
Copy the path to the folder.
Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to navigate to the PSTools folder and press Enter:
```
cd c:\folder\path\PsTools
```
In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.
Type the following command to run the tool once (and leave Command Prompt open) and press Enter:
```
psexec -s -i cmd.exe
```
Open the Physpanel page.
Click the download physpanel (physpanel_0.1.1_x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip) tool option and save the file to the computer.
Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.
Click the Extract all button.
Click the Extract button.
Copy the path to the folder.
Type the following command to schedule the task using the Command Prompt session you opened in the previous steps (remember to update the path), and press Enter:
```
schtasks /create /tn "SetPanelDimensions" /tr "C:\path\to\physpanel.exe set 155 87" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM /rl highest /f
```
Restart the computer.
Open Settings.
Click on Gaming.
Click the “Full screen experience” page.
Select the Xbox app in the “Choose home app” setting.
Turn on the “Enter full screen experience on start-up” toggle switch to start the system directly in this new console-like experience.
(Optional) Turn on the “Show accessibility control hits in Task View” toggle switch to display a one-button alternative to a combo button press.

After completing the steps, the next time you restart your traditional desktop computer, Windows 11 will boot directly into the full-screen experience with the Xbox app, making it easier to launch and play games with the controller. All without having to spend money on a new “Xbox Ally X” or standard “Xbox Ally.”

To access the desktop, use the “Windows key + Tab” keyboard shortcut, then click the “Windows desktop” button and the “Continue” button. Also, if you want to close the app, right-click the Xbox icon and choose the “Close window” option.

Switch Xbox full screen to Windows 11 desktop / Image: Mauro Huculak

To access full-screen mode again to play Xbox games, simply sign out and then sign back in to your Windows 11 account.

Enable Xbox mode on any Windows 11 PC (preview)

Microsoft is already gradually rolling out Xbox mode through the Windows Insider Program. As a result, installing the latest preview build from the Release Preview Channel may already include the feature. However, if you’ve completed the installation and the option is still missing, you can try enabling it manually using ViveTool.

Enable Xbox mode using Settings

To enable the Xbox mode on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app.
Click on Gaming.
Click the Xbox mode page.
Select the Xbox app in the “Choose home app” setting (if applicable).
Turn on the “Enter Xbox mode on startup” toggle switch.
Turn on the “Show accessibility control hints in Task View” toggle switch.

Quick note: This option will give an 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, as you sign in, Windows 11 will enter into the Xbox console-like experience.

Enable Xbox mode using ViveTool

If, after installing the latest preview through the Release Preview Channel, the feature is still missing, then to enable the Xbox mode, follow these steps:

Open the GitHub website.
Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable Xbox mode.
Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.
Click the Extract all button.
Click the Extract button.
Copy the path to the folder.
Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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 with your path.
Type the following command to enable the gaming full-screen experience and press Enter:
```
vivetool /enable /id:59765208
```
Restart the computer.
Open the Settings.
Click on Gaming.
Click the Xbox mode page.
Select the Xbox app in the “Choose home app” setting (if applicable).
Turn on the “Enter Xbox mode on startup” toggle switch.
Turn on the “Show accessibility control hints in Task View” toggle switch.

Quick note: This option will give an 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 command.

Pureinfotech’s Take

Microsoft is clearly shaping Xbox mode as the future of gaming on Windows, but right now, it still feels like a work in progress. The feature is officially limited to handheld devices, yet it can run on almost any PC with a few tweaks, which suggests the restriction is more artificial than technical.

What makes Xbox mode interesting is how it transforms the experience. Instead of the traditional desktop, you get a full-screen, controller-friendly interface powered by the Xbox app. It also reduces background processes, which can improve performance, especially on lower-end hardware.

However, enabling the feature isn’t always simple. The manual method requires Registry changes and tools such as PsExec and PhysPanel, which can be risky if you’re not careful. The GitHub tool makes things easier, but it still relies on community support rather than an official Microsoft solution.

The rename from “Full Screen Experience” to Xbox mode also hints at a bigger plan. Microsoft appears to be aligning Windows more closely with Xbox, and the gradual rollout through the Windows Insider Program shows the company is still testing before a wider release.

In the end, Xbox mode already works well and can deliver a console-like experience on Windows 11. However, until Microsoft removes these limitations and makes it fully official for all PCs, it remains a feature mainly for enthusiasts willing to experiment.

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.

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