As a Windows-based device, the Xbox has a lot in common with a typical Windows PC. The Xbox is one of the best consoles for interacting with a Windows PC, with the power to stream games, share media content, and more than. If you want a seamless multimedia experience, combining the Xbox and a Windows PC makes sense.

Equally long every bit you have the correct network setup, information technology'south an easy process to connect an Xbox to a PC. You lot'll need both devices on the aforementioned network and, if you want to stream content, an ethernet connection is preferred. If you want to know how to connect your Xbox to a Windows PC, here'southward what you'll need to exercise.

Connecting an Xbox to a Windows PC Using the Xbox App

The Xbox Console Companion app gives you lot full command of your Xbox One panel from your Windows PC. Information technology allows you to start up or shut downwards your Xbox, stream Xbox games to your PC over your local network connection, install or remove games, equally well as chat with your Xbox gaming friends.

The Xbox Console Companion app is installed on all Windows PCs, equally part of Microsoft's plan to further integrate the 2 services. If you have a local user business relationship, yous'll need to sign in using your Microsoft account to use the app—existing Microsoft account users should find the app signs them in automatically.

  • While the Xbox app is linked to your Microsoft account, it won't automatically connect to your Xbox—you'll need to practise this manually. To exercise this, printing the Connection icon in the left-hand carte of the Xbox app on your PC.
  • In the Connect to your Xbox One window, click the Add a device icon in the top-correct.
  • Windows will search for your Xbox One console automatically. If it detects it, press the Connect push. If you demand to do this manually, type the IP address for your Xbox in the box provided, and so press Connect to connect to information technology.
  • If you lot can't connect, you may need to allow streaming connections in your Xbox settings. To do this, open your Xbox settings and become to Devices & Streaming > Device connections. Make certain that the Let Play To streaming, Allow game streaming to other devices and Only from profiles signed in on this Xbox settings are selected or enabled.
  • One time the Xbox is added, you lot should see it listed in your Connections tab. From here, you tin can ability the Xbox on or off, view the currently open game or app, examination the streaming quality, or stream the Xbox to your PC by pressing Stream.

Streaming Xbox Games to a Windows PC

You lot can stream Xbox games to your PC from the Connections tab in the Xbox Console Companion app.

  • In the Connections tab, press the Stream button to begin streaming the Xbox One panel to your PC.
  • In one case you've established the stream, you'll need to determine if y'all desire to connect your Xbox One controller to your PC or continue to operate it from your Xbox. If your Xbox is a bit further away, you lot may wish to connect it to your PC. Once you're ready to proceed, press Go on.
  • Using your Xbox controller, y'all tin can navigate your Xbox I carte du jour as normal. Play a game past selecting information technology from the My games and apps menu.

Streaming Media Content to an Xbox Using Microsoft Movies & Idiot box

While most users will probably be interested in connecting and controlling their Xbox to a PC for gameplay reasons, you can stream other media content to an Xbox using the PlayTo feature. This allows other PlayTo-capable apps to stream content from Windows to an Xbox (and vice versa).

  • You lot'll demand to make certain that PlayTo streaming is enabled first. To practise this, open your Xbox settings and go to Devices & Streaming > Device connections, making sure that the Permit Play To streaming setting is enabled.
  • In your Windows settings (right-click the Commencement menu and press Settings to access this), press Devices > Bluetooth & Other Devices > Add Bluetooth or other device.
  • In the Add a device carte du jour, select your Xbox One panel from the listing once the scanning process has completed.
  • Windows will confirm that a connexion has been established. Click Washed to confirm.

You can at present stream content from the Microsoft Movies & TV media app. You lot'll demand the aforementioned app installed on both your Xbox and PC for this to work.

  • To practice this in the Movies & Television receiver app, press the three-dot menu icon in the bottom-right corner of the playback bar as you lot're playing content. From the options menu, click Cast to device.
  • In the Connect menu, select your connected Xbox 1 console. This volition open the Movies & TV app on your Xbox and stream the content from your PC for playback.

Streaming Media Content to an Xbox Using Kodi

If you'd prefer to employ alternative media apps, so apps like Kodi can be installed on your Xbox. Kodi supports a full range of media playback options, including the power to access network shares from a Windows PC or other network fastened storage devices.

  • On Windows, you lot tin can share whatever folder by right-clicking it and pressing Backdrop. In the Sharing tab, click Share to share the folder, ensuring you select your user account in the following window.
  • In Kodi on your Xbox, you'll demand to enable network sharing using the SMB protocol used past Windows. To do this, open Settings > Add-ons > My add-ons > Virtual filesystems and select the SMB back up (libsmb2) option.
  • In the plugin options window, press Enable to enable the plugin.
  • With SMB enabled, you tin now admission Windows network shares from the Settings > File Managing director menu in Kodi. From there, press Add Source.
  • In the Add file source window, press Browse.
  • In the Browse for new share window, select Windows network (SMB).
  • A list of your network devices will appear. Find your PC listed here, and so select the network share from the pick list earlier clicking OK.
  • If you lot need to provide a username and password to connect, select Add network location instead. Select Windows network (SMB) from the Protocol drib-down carte du jour, so select a location, username, and password using the options provided.

In one case the share has been added to your Kodi settings, you should come across it listed under the various media categories (eg. Videos > Files) on your Kodi dwelling house screen. From at that place, you tin select any media files for playback from your PC to your Xbox.

Xbox Gameplay From Your Windows PC

At present you lot know how to connect your Xbox to a Windows PC, y'all can take full advantage of the multimedia capabilities of both devices. Using the Xbox app, y'all tin can stream and control your Xbox from your PC, equally well as stream other types of media content from your PC to your Xbox the other way.

For archetype game fans, the Xbox gives you lot the perfect excuse to pick up the controller, with groovy backwards compatibility with older Xbox consoles. If you're a subscriber to Xbox Game Pass, you can fifty-fifty play your Game Pass games on PC, with access shared across your Microsoft account.