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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMicrosoft ended support for the Xbox Console Companion app for Windows in 2023. It announced the deprecation on July 28, with August 28, 2023, as the end-of-support date. The Xbox app for Windows is Microsoft’s recommended replacement, but it is not a one-for-one clone: current Xbox tasks are split among the Xbox app, Xbox Game Bar, Xbox mobile app, Xbox.com and, for console streaming, Remote Play.
What happened to Xbox Console Companion?
Microsoft announced that the Xbox Console Companion app on Windows would be deprecated on July 28, 2023, and set August 28, 2023, as the end-of-support date. Its Xbox app for Windows support page directed users to the newer Xbox app. That deadline has passed; this is no longer an upcoming shutdown.
Microsoft’s notice concerned this Windows app, not Xbox Network, Game Pass, Xbox Game Bar, the Xbox mobile app or Remote Play as a whole. “Deprecated” and “unsupported” also do not necessarily mean an app was automatically removed from every PC. An old installation may remain visible, but its presence does not make it a supported way to access Xbox services.
What replaces it—and where did its tasks go?
The Xbox app for Windows is the primary replacement Microsoft recommended, but former Console Companion tasks do not all live in that app. Choose the current tool by what you want to do:
The Tool Desk
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
| Task | Where to start now | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Find, install and manage Xbox PC games | Xbox app for Windows | Use it for the current Windows Xbox gaming experience and PC Game Pass access where eligible. It is not a complete Console Companion feature clone. |
| Take a Windows screenshot or record a game | Xbox Game Bar | Press Win + G to open the overlay on supported configurations. Availability can depend on Windows settings, Game Bar version and device policy. |
| Stream a game from your Xbox console | Xbox Remote Play setup | Follow current Xbox guidance; console, account, network, client and game compatibility requirements apply. |
| Console-related social or capture access away from the PC | Xbox mobile app | Some social, console and capture workflows are available there, but features vary by app version, device, account and region. |
| Account or web-accessible profile tasks | Xbox.com | A browser can handle some web-based functions; it does not replace local capture tools or game installation. |
| Keep or share media through cloud storage | OneDrive, where the current Xbox capture workflow supports it | OneDrive can be part of some capture workflows; it is not a direct replacement for every old browse, upload or download function. |
What changed for captures, friends, clubs and achievements?
Captures and clips
Use Game Bar for captures made on a Windows PC. For captures made on an Xbox console, check the current Xbox app, mobile app or supported OneDrive workflow rather than expecting Console Companion’s old browsing and transfer flow. Microsoft Community users reported difficulty finding or using capture functions after the transition, but those reports do not establish a universal limitation across every current app version. The retirement itself does not establish that existing media was deleted; access depends on where a capture was stored, whether it was uploaded or synced, and applicable retention limits.
Friends, activity and clubs
The Xbox app and Xbox mobile app provide current Xbox social entry points, but Microsoft did not promise that every Console Companion social feature would appear in the same place or form. Users in a Microsoft Tech Community discussion specifically cited clubs, activity, captures and custom gamerpic workflows as missing or changed. Treat these as user reports about the experience, not an official feature-parity list.
Rank #2
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Achievements and console management
For current account and game information, start with the Xbox app or Xbox.com; for console-specific tasks, check the Xbox mobile app and current Xbox support guidance. Do not assume an old Console Companion screen or workflow still has a direct equivalent in the Windows app.
Custom gamerpic workflows
Community users also reported changes to custom gamerpic tools. The available retirement notice does not confirm that this workflow moved intact to a particular Windows app, so consult current Xbox profile options rather than downloading an old client to restore it.
Rank #3
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
How to switch to the current Windows Xbox setup
- Open Microsoft Store and install or update the Xbox app for Windows from Microsoft’s official listing at xbox.com/en-US/apps/xbox-app-for-pc.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your Xbox profile. Use the app to discover, install and manage PC games and access eligible PC Game Pass titles.
- For Windows screenshots or game clips, open Xbox Game Bar with Win + G, if enabled on your system, and use its capture controls.
- For console streaming, use Microsoft’s Remote Play instructions and confirm the console, account, network and client meet the current requirements.
- For console captures or social tasks, check the Xbox mobile app, Xbox.com and supported cloud-storage options. The available route depends on the task; none should be assumed to reproduce every legacy feature.
If the old app is still installed
Its continued presence is not evidence that Microsoft still supports it. It may no longer sign in reliably, load social data, show captures or connect to console services. Do not reinstall an abandoned package from an unofficial download site: use Microsoft’s official app and support channels instead.
Fix common problems with the replacement
The Xbox app will not install or games will not install
- Install available Windows updates, then update Microsoft Store and the Xbox app.
- Confirm you are signed into the intended Microsoft account and restart the PC.
- If the problem remains, follow Microsoft’s official Xbox and Microsoft Store troubleshooting guidance. School or work device policies, regional availability and account issues may also affect access.
You cannot find an old Xbox capture
Check the current Xbox-supported interfaces and any cloud location where you previously saved or synced the media. The app retirement alone does not prove a capture was erased, but neither does it guarantee recovery: availability depends on its storage and upload history and Microsoft’s retention rules.
Rank #4
- BREAKER SERIES — Hold nothing back. Ice Breaker keeps it forever fresh with a mix of iced and frosted blues. Part of the collective debut of the Breaker special edition series.
- BOLD STYLE, BUILT TO PERFORM — Define your swagger with a wild, head-turning design. Stay elegantly on target with textured triggers built for every moment.
- RUBBERIZED GRIPS — Hold on to the action with rubberized grips on the back cases, designed for comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of battery life so you can keep playing without stopping to recharge.
- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between devices including console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
Remote Play is unavailable
Check Microsoft’s Remote Play setup guidance. Confirm remote features are enabled on the console, that it is online and signed into the expected account, and that the client, network and game are compatible. Console Companion should not be treated as a supported fallback.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does this mean Microsoft ended UWP?
No such broad conclusion follows from this app retirement. Console Companion is commonly described as an older UWP-era Windows app, but Microsoft’s notice concerned the Console Companion app and directed users to the Xbox app; it did not announce a company-wide end to UWP. Microsoft separately documents deprecated Windows features on its Windows client deprecation page. That separate documentation does not establish UWP as the stated reason for retiring Console Companion.
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