The old Xbox Console Companion app was phased out rather than simply renamed. Microsoft redistributed its features across the Xbox app for Windows, Xbox Game Bar, and the Xbox mobile app. Which replacement you need depends on whether you want PC Game Pass, achievements, captures, social tools, console streaming, or cloud gaming.
Which Xbox app disappeared?
| What you remember | Most likely product |
|---|---|
| A Windows 10 app named Xbox Console Companion | The old Windows companion app |
| Xbox friends, achievements, clubs, captures, or console activity | Xbox Console Companion |
| Installing PC Game Pass games | Xbox app for Windows |
| The Win + G gaming overlay | Xbox Game Bar |
| Xbox messages, console downloads, or remote play on a phone | Xbox mobile app |
| Features tied to one game, such as Halo or Destiny | A game-specific companion app |
Xbox Console Companion was primarily a Windows companion to Xbox consoles and Xbox Live. Depending on the Windows version and period, it provided friends and messaging, activity feeds, clubs, achievements, captures, console connections, and console streaming.
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It was still being documented in official Xbox Insider notes in October 2019, including reports about console-streaming problems. That helps establish what the app was, but Microsoft did not publish a single authoritative public notice confirming one exact shutdown date. The safest description is that Console Companion was phased out, functionally superseded, and split into several newer experiences.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →It was not simply renamed into an identical modern app. Some functions moved elsewhere, while others were removed or became available only on another platform.
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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.
What replaced Xbox Console Companion?
| Your goal | Use now | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Install PC Game Pass games or manage Xbox PC games | Xbox app for Windows | Catalog, storefront, region, hardware, and subscription availability vary. |
| See achievements while playing | Xbox Game Bar | Support depends on the game and account integration. |
| Record screenshots and clips | Xbox Game Bar | Storage, permissions, and capture settings affect results. |
| Browse game hubs and related captures | Xbox app for Windows | It does not restore every historical Console Companion workflow. |
| Use Xbox social and console features on a phone | Xbox mobile app | Features vary by region, device, console, account, and app version. |
| Stream from your own console | Supported Xbox Remote Play path | Requires a configured console, compatible device, and suitable network. |
| Play supported games without installing them locally | Xbox Cloud Gaming | Requires an eligible plan, supported region, device, and catalog title. |
What to install on Windows
For PC gaming, the modern replacement is the Xbox app for Windows. It is used for PC Game Pass browsing and installation, Xbox PC game purchases, installed-game management, PC game discovery, friends and social features, and game hubs.
- Open the Microsoft Store.
- Search for Xbox.
- Install or update Xbox or Xbox app.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account connected to your Xbox profile or subscription.
- Update Windows, the Microsoft Store, Xbox, and Gaming Services before troubleshooting installations.
Microsoft has continued expanding the Windows PC app rather than reviving Console Companion. In April 2024, game hubs began rolling out inside the Xbox PC app, including access to captures associated with those hubs. In December 2024, Microsoft also described broader catalog and discovery changes, including newly discoverable PC titles and Xbox Play Anywhere games. See Microsoft’s game-hubs announcement and its Xbox app updates.
If the Xbox app is already installed but broken
On current Windows releases, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Xbox > Advanced options, then choose Repair. If that does not help, try Reset. Exact labels can vary between Windows 10, Windows 11, and Microsoft Store versions.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
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 minuteIf games still will not launch, check these common causes:
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.
- The Microsoft Store and Xbox app are signed into different accounts.
- Gaming Services is missing, damaged, or outdated.
- Windows or the Store has pending updates.
- The game belongs to another storefront or the subscription entitlement has changed.
- The title is incompatible with the Windows edition or PC hardware.
Update everything, restart the PC, verify the account and entitlement, repair the app, and sign out and back in. Avoid relying on old Gaming Services removal commands without checking Microsoft’s current support procedure; those commands can change.
Where did the old features go?
Achievements
Achievements were one of the clearest examples of feature migration. In October 2019, Microsoft announced that new achievement notifications would open Xbox Game Bar instead of Xbox Console Companion. While playing a compatible PC game, press Win + G and open the achievements widget or another pinned widget as appropriate. Microsoft’s Game Bar update announcement also covered achievement tracking and the FPS counter.
Captures
For screenshots and clips made on a Windows PC, Xbox Game Bar remains the main entry point. Press Win + G, open Captures, and check the capture settings and storage location if files are missing.
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Captures associated with Xbox game hubs may also appear through the Xbox PC app. That does not mean every capture made through Console Companion, or every old sharing workflow, remains available. Local files may have been moved, deleted, or affected by storage settings; console captures are a separate category managed through Xbox services.
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.
Friends, messages, and social activity
PC-oriented Xbox friends and social functions are now handled primarily through the Xbox app and Game Bar. Console-focused social and management features increasingly belong in the Xbox mobile app or on the console itself. Do not assume that the Windows app contains every social screen that existed in Console Companion.
Game hubs
Game hubs returned to the Xbox PC app during Microsoft’s April 2024 rollout. They provide game information and related activity, including associated captures where supported. The modern hub experience is not a promise that the old Console Companion interface or all of its profile screens has returned.
Custom gamerpics and profile tools
Some Console Companion users remember custom gamerpic and profile-management options that are not obvious in the current PC app. There is no guaranteed one-to-one Windows replacement for every legacy profile function. Depending on the feature, use the Xbox account, mobile, web, or console experience, and expect current moderation and interface requirements to apply.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Console streaming, Remote Play, and Cloud Gaming are different
Installing the Xbox PC app will not necessarily restore the old Console Companion console-streaming workflow. These services should be separated:
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- 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 | Cloud Gaming | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs from | Your own Xbox console | Microsoft’s cloud servers |
| Requires a console | Yes | No |
| Requires local installation | No on the client device | No |
| Main constraints | Console settings, power state, and network | Eligible plan, region, device, network, and catalog |
| Best for | Accessing your console library remotely | Starting supported games without a local installation |
For Remote Play, enable the relevant remote features on the console, connect it to the internet, sign into the correct Xbox account, update the console and app, and confirm that the network meets Microsoft’s current requirements. Availability varies by console model, country, device, account settings, and app build.
For Cloud Gaming, the game runs from Microsoft’s servers and is not streamed from your personal console. A supported plan, region, device, browser or app, network connection, and cloud-enabled title are required. Do not confuse either service with installing a PC version through Game Pass.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Windows 10 and Windows 11 are not identical
Many guides that mention Console Companion were written for Windows 10. Current Windows gaming development is increasingly focused on Windows 11, including controller-oriented experiences and the newer Xbox Mode rollout announced for Windows 11 PCs in April 2026. Availability is still rolling out and is not universal across every PC.
Microsoft’s current Windows gaming direction also brings together Xbox PC games and, in some experiences, games from other PC storefronts. That does not make the Xbox app a replacement for Steam, Epic Games Store, or GOG account features. Check the supported Windows version and current app build before following an old screenshot-based guide.
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- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
What did not survive?
The important practical answer is that Microsoft did not preserve the exact Console Companion interface as one official successor. Some features were moved to Game Bar, the Xbox PC app, the mobile app, the console interface, or Remote Play. Some profile, social, streaming, and capture workflows were changed or removed.
That is why two readers can both say “the Xbox companion app disappeared” while needing different solutions. The Xbox PC app is the right answer for PC games; it is not automatically the answer for console streaming, custom profile editing, or every legacy social feature.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not search only for “Xbox companion app.” Search for the exact product: Xbox app, Xbox Game Bar, Xbox mobile app, Remote Play, or Cloud Gaming.
- Do not trust an exact shutdown date without an official source. The evidence supports a gradual phase-out and feature migration.
- Do not install Game Pass just to get achievements or screenshots. Game Bar is the relevant free Windows tool for those functions.
- Do not confuse Microsoft Store games with Steam or Epic games. Entitlements and launchers can be separate.
- Do not assume Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer the same Xbox features.
- Do not rely on old screenshots. Xbox app labels and layouts have changed substantially.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Xbox Console Companion was phased out and its functions were divided among multiple products. Use the Xbox app for Windows for PC gaming and Game Pass, Xbox Game Bar for achievements and captures, and the Xbox mobile app plus supported Remote Play tools for console access. There is no guaranteed one-to-one replacement for the old app.
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