Microsoft has started testing a rebuilt Xbox app for PC that launches up to 60% faster than the current version. The new app is available now to members of the Xbox Insider programme, and Microsoft says Store and Game Pass pages also load up to 50% faster.
Speed has been the most common complaint about the Xbox app on Windows, especially for players with large libraries. This update goes straight at that problem, and also tidies up how you find games, friends and add-ons.
Up to 60% faster to open, up to 50% faster to browse
These are Microsoft’s own figures, as reported by iXBT.games, and they are “up to” numbers, so real-world gains will depend on your PC and your library size.
| Area | Improvement Microsoft claims |
|---|---|
| App launch time | Up to 60% faster |
| Store pages | Up to 50% faster |
| Game Pass pages | Up to 50% faster |
Early hands-on testing backs up the direction, if not the exact numbers. Windows Central’s Jez Corden tried an early build of the new app, codenamed Garrison, with a library of more than 1,400 Xbox games and found it “a lot faster than the previous app” at loading it. That is exactly the kind of library that used to make the old app crawl.
The friends list moves to the main menu
The rebuilt app also changes how you get around. The Library has new filters for sorting your games. The friends list now sits in the main menu, so you can message someone without digging through extra screens. Search has been unified, so one search box now finds games, add-ons and other players in one place.
Light, dark and high-contrast themes are also on the way. The high-contrast option is a welcome accessibility addition for players who find the current dark interface hard to read.
Cloud gaming in the browser gets its own Library tab
The changes go beyond the Windows app. On the Xbox website, cloud gaming is getting a new Library tab that collects every cloud game you can play, whether you own it or have it through Game Pass. The web version is also getting a Desktop mode designed for large screens.
Microsoft says the updated interface and faster menus will also come to Xbox Cloud Gaming apps on compatible smart TVs and VR headsets. In other words, this is one design rolling out across every place you can play Xbox games, not just a Windows patch.
Built for handhelds as much as desktops
According to Windows Central, the new app has layouts for both mouse and keyboard and for controllers. The controller layout is the default in Windows 11’s Game Mode, which suits handheld PCs such as the ROG Xbox Ally. You can also set the app as the home screen when Windows boots into Game Mode, which brings PC handhelds closer to the feel of a console.
Not an Insider? The wider rollout is still undated
For now, you need to be in the Xbox Insider programme to try the new app. Microsoft has not given a date for a wider release on Windows. If you want in early, you can join through the free Xbox Insider Hub app on PC. More details are on Xbox Wire. For the latest additions to the service, see our Xbox Game Pass November 2026 games list.
