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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallYou can put a retail Xbox Series X or Series S into Developer Mode by installing the current Xbox Dev Mode app, activating the console through Microsoft Partner Center, and restarting it. You need the Microsoft account used on the console and a completed Microsoft Store developer account enrollment.
Developer Mode is reversible: it does not permanently replace Retail Mode. However, while Developer Mode is active, the Xbox cannot play retail games or run retail apps.
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Before you start
- This procedure is for retail Xbox Series X|S consoles. It also applies to retail Xbox One consoles.
- Do not use it on managed Xbox development hardware supplied through a program such as ID@Xbox. Microsoft specifically warns against running the Xbox Dev Mode app on managed development hardware. See Microsoft’s activation guidance.
- Have access to the Microsoft account signed in on the Xbox.
- You must complete enrollment for a Microsoft Store developer account. Microsoft offers Individual and Company account types through its developer enrollment page.
The activation process is browser- and menu-based. There is no command-line command to enter.
1. Install Xbox Dev Mode
- Open the Microsoft Store on your Xbox.
- Search for Xbox Dev Mode.
- Install the app with that exact name.
Older guides may tell you to install an app called Dev Mode Activation. Microsoft staff have identified the newer green Xbox Dev Mode app as the current app and said the older black app no longer works. If you cannot find the current app, do not rely on an old activation guide.
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2. Get the activation code
- Open Xbox Dev Mode from its Store page or your installed-app list.
- Wait for the app to display an activation code.
- Write down or otherwise record the code before leaving the app.
3. Enroll as a Microsoft Store developer
On a PC, open Microsoft’s Enroll as a developer for Microsoft Store page. Create or complete a Partner Center app-developer account using the same Microsoft account associated with the Xbox.
Partner Center must recognize the account as a valid, current app-developer account. Microsoft says activation links will not work correctly if registration is incomplete; missing options such as Create a new app are a sign that enrollment has not finished.
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4. Activate the Xbox in Partner Center
- On your PC, open the documented Xbox device page: partner.microsoft.com/xboxconfig/devices.
- Sign in with the completed Partner Center account.
- Enter the activation code shown by the Xbox Dev Mode app.
- Select Agree and activate.
- Reload the page and confirm that the Xbox appears in the device table.
Microsoft limits the number of console activations available to an account. A successful activation uses one activation in Partner Center, so avoid repeatedly submitting codes or activating consoles unnecessarily.
5. Switch the console into Developer Mode
- Return to the Xbox and wait for its activation progress screen to finish.
- Reopen Xbox Dev Mode.
- Select Switch and restart.
The restart takes longer than a normal Xbox restart. When it finishes, the console opens in Developer Mode, where you can use the development tools and settings provided by the Xbox developer environment.
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How to return to Retail Mode
- In Developer Mode, open Dev Home.
- Under Quick Actions, select Leave Dev Mode.
- Allow the Xbox to restart.
The console returns to Retail Mode. Leaving Developer Mode does not remove the activation, so you can switch back later.
How to switch back to Developer Mode
From Retail Mode, open the installed Xbox Dev Mode app and select Switch and restart. The Xbox will restart into Developer Mode again.
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Troubleshooting activation
The activation page has no code field
Use the current Partner Center Xbox devices page at partner.microsoft.com/xboxconfig/devices. The activation code from the Xbox app is entered there, not in the console app itself. Older links may show a different Partner Center page or fail to display the expected field.
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The old link redirects to Partner Center home
Microsoft staff have reported that older destinations such as https://aka.ms/activatexbox and /xboxconfig/devices/index can redirect to the Partner Center home page when the account is not fully enrolled in the Xbox Developer Program or is not connected to a valid Partner Center workspace. Complete enrollment, sign in with the correct Microsoft account, and use the current documented URL rather than the old links.
“Dev devices” or “Manage Xbox devices” is missing
This usually indicates that the Partner Center workspace has not been provisioned or linked to the developer account. Microsoft staff have said that re-enrollment or manual account linking may be required. Confirm that your account registration is complete and that you are signed into the intended Partner Center account before seeking Microsoft support.
The console does not appear after activation
Wait for the Xbox activation screen to complete, reload the device page, and verify that you entered the code exactly as displayed. Also confirm that the Partner Center account is the one used for the Xbox and that developer enrollment is complete.
About the hidden developer-settings shortcut
Some Microsoft Q&A material describes a shortcut through Settings > System > Console Info, followed by pressing LB, RB, LT, RT to reveal Developer Settings > Developer Mode. This is a reported workaround, not Microsoft’s current documented activation route. For a Series X|S, use the Xbox Dev Mode app and Partner Center instead.
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Developer Mode is intended for developing and testing software. A retail Xbox has both Retail Mode and Developer Mode, and you can switch between them after activation. The important limitation is that retail games and retail apps do not run while Developer Mode is active; return to Retail Mode when you want to use the console normally.
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