Xbox game sharing lets other people use many of your digital games on another Xbox console without buying a second copy. It works through a feature called Home Xbox, which allows other profiles on one selected console to access eligible games and subscription benefits connected to your account.
You can use game sharing on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. Each account can have only one Home Xbox at a time, so setting up game sharing correctly is important if you use more than one console.
How Does Xbox Game Sharing Work?
When you buy a digital Xbox game, the purchase is connected to your account. Setting a console as your Home Xbox also gives that console access to many of your digital licenses.
This means another person can sign in with their own Xbox profile on your Home Xbox and play eligible games you own. You do not normally need to remain signed in on that console.
| Setup | What happens |
| Your Home Xbox | Other profiles can play many of your digital games |
| Another Xbox | You can play your games while signed in to your account |
| Physical game | The game disc is still required |
The owner can also sign in on a different Xbox and access their digital games. An internet connection may be required on the non-Home console to verify ownership.
How to Game Share on Xbox
To share your games with another Xbox, you need to make that console your Home Xbox.
- Sign in on the Xbox with the account that owns the games.
- Press the Xbox button on the controller.
- Go to Profile & system > Settings.
- Select General.
- Open Personalization.
- Select My home Xbox.
- Choose Make this my home Xbox.
- Sign out of the game owner‘s account.
The other person can then sign in using their own Xbox profile. Eligible digital games owned by the account that set the console as Home Xbox should become available to them.
You do not need to leave your account signed in after completing the setup.
How to Game Share Between Two Xbox Consoles
If two people want to share games with each other, each person can set the other person’s console as their Home Xbox.
For example, if you have Xbox A and your friend or family member has Xbox B, sign in with your account on Xbox B and make Xbox B your Home Xbox. They can then use their own profile to access eligible games from your library.
If they also want to share their games with you, they can sign in with their account on Xbox A and set Xbox A as their Home Xbox. After the setup is complete, both people should return to using their own accounts.
What Games Can You Share on Xbox?
Most eligible digital games purchased through your Xbox account can be shared with profiles using your Home Xbox.
Games obtained through an eligible Game Pass subscription may also be available to other profiles on the Home Xbox while the subscription remains active.
Physical games work differently. A disc-based game still requires the physical disc to be inserted into the console. Setting an Xbox as your Home Xbox does not turn a physical game into a shareable digital copy.
Some downloadable content, in-game currency, preorder bonuses, and account-specific items may also remain connected to the account that originally purchased or redeemed them.
Can You Share Xbox Game Pass?
Many Game Pass console benefits can be shared with other profiles on your Home Xbox. This means another person may be able to download and play eligible Game Pass titles using their own profile on that console.
However, not every benefit is shared. Account-specific perks, rewards, cloud gaming access, certain consumable items, and similar extras may remain available only to the account that owns the subscription.
Access also depends on the subscription remaining active. If the subscription expires or a game leaves the Game Pass library, access to that title may end unless someone owns it separately.
Can Two People Play the Same Xbox Game at the Same Time?
In many cases, yes.
One person can play the shared digital game on the owner’s Home Xbox using their own profile. At the same time, the owner can sign in on another Xbox and play the game using the account that purchased it.
The important part is that each person uses a separate Xbox profile. Trying to use the same account for gaming in two places at once can cause sign-in or session problems.
How Many People Can You Game Share With?
Xbox game sharing is based on a console rather than giving you a specific number of friends you can add.
Your account can have only one Home Xbox at a time. Multiple profiles that use that console may be able to access your eligible shared games, but you cannot designate several different Xbox consoles as your Home Xbox at the same time.
If you change your Home Xbox, the sharing benefits move to the newly selected console.
How Often Can You Change Your Home Xbox?
You can change which console is your Home Xbox a limited number of times. The current limit is generally five changes within a one-year period.
This means you should avoid repeatedly switching your Home Xbox between different consoles unless necessary.
If you reach the limit, your Xbox should show when you will be able to make another change. Changing consoles because you bought a new Xbox also counts as a Home Xbox change.
Why Is Xbox Game Sharing Not Working?
If shared games are not appearing, first check that the correct console is still set as the Home Xbox for the account that owns the games.
Also make sure the game was purchased using the account you used to set up sharing. If the game comes from a subscription, confirm that the subscription is still active and includes access to that game.
Some content cannot be shared. In-game currency, certain bonuses, account-specific content, and some downloadable items may remain tied to the account that purchased them.
If a game appears but will not start, restarting the console and checking for system or game updates may also help.
Is Xbox Game Sharing Safe?
Game sharing itself is a built-in Xbox feature, but you should be careful when signing your account into someone else’s console.
The safest approach is to enter your login details yourself rather than giving another person your password. After setting the console as your Home Xbox, sign out and let the other person use their own profile.
It is also a good idea to protect your account with additional sign-in security and require authentication for purchases. This can prevent someone using another console from buying games or other content through your account without permission.
Only set a console you trust as your Home Xbox.
How to Stop Game Sharing on Xbox
If you no longer want another console to have access to your shared games, you can change your Home Xbox.
On the console you want to use instead, go to Settings > General > Personalization > My home Xbox and select Make this my home Xbox.
The previous console will lose the Home Xbox licenses connected to your account. Remember that changing your Home Xbox uses one of your available changes.
If you previously signed your account into someone else’s console, you may also want to remove the account from that device and review your account security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Home Xbox game sharing works on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, as well as Xbox One. The setup is handled through the My home Xbox settings.
Usually, yes. One person can play on the Home Xbox with their own profile while the game owner plays on another console while signed in to the purchasing account.
Not in the same way as digital games. A physical game still requires the disc to be inserted into the console, so Home Xbox does not let two consoles use one disc simultaneously.
Many eligible Game Pass console games and benefits can be shared with profiles on the subscriber’s Home Xbox. Some account-specific perks and features may remain limited to the subscriber.
No. An account can have only one Home Xbox at a time. Setting a different console as Home Xbox moves the sharing benefits to that console.
The Home Xbox may have been changed, the subscription may have expired, or the content may not be shareable. Check the Home Xbox setting and confirm that the owning account still has access to the game.
