Xbox Game Pass on PC: Play Hundreds of Games
Xbox Game Pass gives you access to a large library of PC games for a monthly fee. Learn how to subscribe, download, and start playing on Windows.
4 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Sign up for Game Pass
Go to xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass in your web browser and click "Join Game Pass." You will need a Microsoft account — if you use Outlook, OneDrive, or Windows with a Microsoft sign-in, you already have one. Choose the PC Game Pass or Ultimate tier, enter your payment information, and confirm your subscription. First-time subscribers often receive a discounted first month.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip: Check for a current trial offer before subscribing at full price. Microsoft often offers a discounted first month for new subscribers.
Step 2. Install the Xbox app on your PC
Click the Start button and open the Microsoft Store. Search for "Xbox" and click Install on the official Xbox app (made by Microsoft Corporation). Alternatively, you can download it from xbox.com. Once installed, open the Xbox app and sign in with the same Microsoft account you used to subscribe to Game Pass.
Step 3. Browse and find a game to download
Inside the Xbox app, click "Game Pass" in the left sidebar to see the full library of available games. You can browse by category (Action, Sports, Puzzle, etc.) or use the search bar to look for a specific title. Click any game to see its description, requirements, and rating. When you find one you want, click "Install."
Warning
Check your computer's storage before downloading many games. PC games range from a few gigabytes to over 100 gigabytes each. Make sure you have enough free space on your hard drive.
Step 4. Download and launch a game
After clicking "Install," the Xbox app begins downloading the game. You can see download progress in the "My Library" section of the app. Once the download finishes, click "Play" to launch the game. The Xbox app may need to update itself or the game before launching — allow this to complete.
Step 5. Manage your subscription
To view your subscription status, cancel, or change your plan, go to account.microsoft.com/services in your web browser and sign in. Here you can see when your subscription renews, update your payment method, or cancel. Canceling stops future charges but keeps your access until the end of the billing period you already paid for.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip: Game progress and achievements are saved to the cloud through your Microsoft account, so if you subscribe again in the future, your progress in many games will still be there.
Xbox Game Pass for PC (sometimes called PC Game Pass) is a subscription service from Microsoft that gives you access to a library of over 100 PC games for a monthly fee. Think of it like Netflix, but for video games. You pay a flat monthly price and can download and play any game in the library as long as your subscription is active. When you stop subscribing, those games are no longer accessible, but your progress and save files are usually kept if you resubscribe later.
The service is particularly good value if you enjoy trying many different games rather than buying individual titles. Games in the library range from major releases — including all new games from Microsoft's own studios on their launch day — to smaller independent games. The library changes over time, with games being added and sometimes removed.
To use Game Pass on a PC, you need a Microsoft account (the same account you might use for Outlook email, OneDrive, or Windows itself) and the Xbox app installed on your computer. The Xbox app is available free from the Microsoft Store and acts as the launcher for all your Game Pass games. You can also find and manage your subscription through the Xbox website.
There are different subscription tiers. PC Game Pass covers only PC games. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate covers PC games, console games (if you own an Xbox), and includes Xbox Cloud Gaming — a feature that lets you stream certain games to your PC without downloading them. Prices change periodically, so check the official Xbox website for current pricing.
An internet connection is required to download games and to verify your active subscription each time you play. Games must be downloaded to your computer's storage — streaming is available for some but not all titles.
Official sources
- Microsoft Support — support.microsoft.com
- Windows Help — support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft 365 Help — support.microsoft.com
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