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Xbox Play Anywhere not working? Here are 5 ways to fix it
6 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Xbox Play Anywhere digital game is perhaps one of the best things to happen in any gamer’s life.
Besides allowing you to play digital games bought through the Xbox Store or Microsoft Store, you get it at no additional cost whatsoever! How cool is that?
However, when the Xbox Play Anywhere isn’t working, it definitely spoils the party because you lose out on both sides – your console and your PC.
Worry not, because there are ways to fix Xbox Play Anywhere when it suddenly stops working.
What can I do if Xbox Play Anywhere won’t launch?
1. Check Xbox Live service status
In case you see any alerts when you check the Xbox Live service status, wait till the service is back up running (in green color), and then try again.
2. Check which version of the game you’re playing
Xbox Play Anywhere only works with digital games, so you need to ensure you’re playing a digital version of the game you downloaded. You cannot use it with a game disk.
Purchase a digital version from Xbox Store or Windows Store from your console, a Windows 10 device, or from Xbox and/or Microsoft official websites.
You can also buy a code from a retailer, or redeem on your console or Windows 10 device.
Note: This doesn’t mean you cannot earn achievements or take your games’ progress between consoles when you’re online.
3. Check the game’s compatibility with cross-platform play
Visit the game’s product detail page to check whether its compatible for cross-platform play on Windows 10 and Xbox One console.
4. Check your cable modem or ISP
Sometimes the Xbox Play Anywhere may not work because of a problem with your cable modem, or with yourInternet Service Provider.
If other games or apps are not working, restart your router, then check network connection issues in Windows 10 for additional troubleshooting information.
5. Check Windows system requirements
Ensure your Windows device or PC meets the digital game’s hardware system requirements.
In order to ensure your device meets the hardware system requirements, you need to check on the following:
Check your device’s system info
Follow the steps below to do this:
You’ll need to install an update if your device doesn’t have the minimum or later version of Windows to run the game. Version K or KN requires additional software that are available for free download on Microsoft website.
Check the amount of free space on your device
Different games need different disk drive space capacities depending on the title, and if you’re playing the game on your console or PC.
If you’re using Xbox One,check for available disk spaceusing these steps:
If using a Windows PC or device, follow these steps to check the available disk space:
Check which graphics card is installed, and the amount of video memory available
Here’s how to check this:
Check the DirectX versioninstalled on your computer
Here’s how to do this:
Check minimum system requirements for your game
To locate the game’s minimum system requirements on Windows 10 Store, do the following:
If you bought the game from an online location, go to the website you bought it from, then do the following to check minimum game requirements:
If you purchased the game from a retail store instead, check the packaging for the minimum requirements and ensure your device meets them.
How to fix various Xbox Play Anywhere bugs
Troubleshoot: Can’t play with someone else on a different platform
Troubleshoot: Can’t continue playing a game saved elsewhere
Troubleshoot: Can’t see downloaded content on other platforms
Troubleshoot: Game play issues with Xbox Play Anywhere game
Troubleshoot: Can’t download games on a different platform
We trust these solutions were helpful. Let us know in case your experience is different, or the issues persist, in the comments section.
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
