How to Set Your Home Xbox One to Share Game Pass with Friends
Xbox Game Pass is one of the best values in gaming, but did you know you can effectively cut the cost in half by sharing your subscription with a friend? By using the “Home Xbox” feature, you can grant another console access to your entire digital library and Game Pass benefits, even when you aren’t signed in.
At AwesomeGaming101.com, we’re all about maximizing your gaming budget. Here is the straightforward guide to setting up game sharing on your Xbox One.
🛠️ The “Home Xbox” Setup Guide
To share your games with a friend, you must designate their console as your Home Xbox. This allows anyone on that console to play your games.
- Sign in to your friend’s console with your Xbox account.
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization.
- Select My home Xbox.
- Select Make this my home Xbox to confirm.
Note: Your friend should do the same for you on your console if you want to access their library in return.
What Exactly Gets Shared?
Microsoft is generous with what can be shared across a Home Xbox. When you set a console as your “Home,” the following benefits extend to every other profile on that machine:
- Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions.
- Digital games and downloadable content (DLC) purchased from the Microsoft Store.
- The ability to play your digital games offline on that specific console.
You can only change your Home Xbox five times per year. This limit resets on a rolling basis exactly one year after your first switch. If you hit this limit, even Xbox support cannot grant you additional switches, so choose your sharing partner wisely!
Sharing Comparison: What Works and What Doesn’t
| Feature | Shared? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Games | ✅ Yes | Includes all titles in your “Owned” library. |
| Game Pass Library | ✅ Yes | Friends can download and play any GP title. |
| Cloud Gaming | ❌ No | Access to Xbox Cloud Gaming is tied to the account, not the console. |
| In-Game Currency | ❌ No | V-Bucks, FIFA Points, etc., are account-locked. |
| Pre-order Bonuses | ⚠️ Varies | Consumables (like skins) are often account-locked. |
❓ FAQ: Game Sharing Mastery
Q: Can I still play my own games on my own console? A: Yes! As long as you are signed in and online, you can play all your digital games and use Game Pass on any Xbox. You only need the “Home” setting for other people to play your games. Q: Can we play the same game together at the same time? A: Absolutely. This is the biggest perk of game sharing. Since you are playing on your account (online) and your friend is playing on your “Home” console, you can both launch the same game and play co-op or multiplayer together. Q: Does this work between an Xbox One and an Xbox Series X? A: Yes. The “Home Xbox” system is cross-generational. You can set a Series X as your Home Xbox even if you are still playing on an older Xbox One.Final Pro Tip
Never share your login credentials with someone you don’t trust implicitly. Since game sharing requires signing into another console, you are giving that person access to your payment methods and account security. Use the “Lock it down” setting during the login process to require a passkey for purchases.
Ready to double your library? Tag your best gaming buddy in the comments and get your sharing started! If you’re looking for more ways to save, check out our guide on Where to Buy Cheap Xbox One Games!