How to share your Xbox account, games and Xbox Game Pass? If you've just purchased an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, account sharing on Xbox should definitely interest you. How to enable sharing? Can you share your games and Xbox Game Pass? Are there any changes since sharing to Xbox One? We take stock of these questions.
What is account sharing on Xbox?
Account Sharing is a feature introduced with the Xbox One called “Home Gold”. Presented at the launch of the console in 2013, it allows, on the same console and for all profiles, to enjoy the games and subscriptions of the main account.
For example, if I play on my console, pay for Xbox Game Pass and purchase games from the Microsoft or Xbox store, each account connected to this same console will access the content with the aim of only charging once products/services that remain in the same household.
The other account sharing, more known and less “official”, is used a little differently. To enable and use Xbox Account Sharing, you need two accounts and two consoles, and you don't have to be on the same network for it to work. For example, you can share your content and your subscriptions with your brother even if he does not live in the same household.
With the new consoles, we could wonder if Microsoft would continue to operate this “diverted” account sharing and the answer is ultimately no. Account sharing on Xbox Series X|S works perfectly, just like on Xbox One.
How to share your Xbox account
Before sharing your Xbox account, we advise you to first verify that you are doing so with someone you trust. For what ? Because the two people will have to exchange their Xbox identifiers (email address and password) to connect their respective profiles on the other's console. They will therefore have easy access to account-related information such as banking data, and will be able to make purchases on the market. You will find the complete tutorial in video below, or in writing in the steps below.
1. Xbox account sharing: you must first share your Xbox
Setting up account sharing requires just one setting called “Primary Xbox”. This allows you to link the console to an account that connects to the console. What interests us here is therefore to put our friend's account on our console on Xbox Main and for him to do the same on his with our account. Both accounts must be registered at the same time on both consoles.
To do this, we must connect our friend's account to our console. This can be done in several ways. If the console is new and has never been powered on, then, at the first start, after updates and basic configuration, we are offered to create a new account or log into an existing account. We must therefore choose “Connect”, and enter our friend’s email address and password. After this step, the console will ask if this Xbox is “my main Xbox”. You must therefore indicate that yes, this Xbox is the Primary Xbox of the friend account that connects to it.
If the console is already installed and you wish to establish account sharing, then simply press the Xbox button on the controller to open the guide, go to the profile menu and select “+ Add new”. From there, we will have to connect our friend's account as indicated above, and then manually modify the setting of my main Xbox.
To change Xbox Primary settings manually, follow the steps below:
- Go to Settings
- Choose “General”
- Choose “Personalization”
- Choose “My Primary Xbox”
- Choose “Make this my Primary Xbox”
2. Xbox Account Sharing: Download Games from the Other Account
Once Xbox account sharing is active and so that everyone can download each other's games, you must go to “My games and applications” then to “Ready to install”. In this section will then appear all the dematerialized games purchased by the main account.
For example, if I buy Assassin's Creed: Vahlalla today, the game will appear in my friend's Ready to Install section. If he is connected while I purchase the game (or if his Xbox console is in “instant start”), it will download instantly without needing to install it manually.
Xbox Game Pass subscription sharing works too!
Good news, when you do the account sharing trick, the Xbox Game Pass subscription is also shared. So you don't need to pay for it twice, and you can share your Game Pass subscription with your family. Here is the list of all subscriptions shared with Xbox account sharing as well as other items shared and paid for by only one of the two accounts.
- Abonnement Xbox Game Pass Core
- Abonnement Xbox Game Pass Console
- Abonnement Xbox Game Pass Standard
- Abonnement Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- EA Play subscription (included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription)
- Xbox games downloaded via the store
- Season Pass of games
- Game DLCs
- Game pre-order bonus
Note that for EA Play, only the free games in the vault are shared between the two accounts. Other benefits of the service such as 10 hours of early access and promotions are only available to the subscription account.
Account sharing works on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
Many of you have asked us about the sustainability of account sharing on Xbox Series X|S. We confirm that it is still possible to share your account with new generation Xbox consoles.
As a reminder, you are allowed 5 changes per profile, so be careful not to change every four mornings.
FAQ: Questions related to Xbox account sharing
How to stop and cancel account sharing on Xbox?
To cancel account sharing on Xbox, it's very simple: simply re-designate your own console as your primary Xbox console. Everything will return to normal afterwards, in a completely classic way. The other account will no longer have your console as the main Xbox, and will no longer be able to download the games you purchased. He will also no longer benefit from the Xbox Game Pass subscription if you are the one paying for it.
Can 3 people share their Xbox account?
The answer is no and the explanation is very simple: by purchasing a game with my account on a console other than my main console, it naturally appears on the main console linked to the account, but still launches the download of the same game on the secondary console. As a result, it is impossible to bring a 3rd account into the equation.
Are game DLCs shared when sharing an account?
Yes, everything is shared when sharing an account. Games, Season pass, DLC, various subscriptions…
Can the account that does not pay a subscription play online at the same time as the one that does?
Yes, both accounts can play online at the same time, and therefore together, whether it is the same game or different games.
Can the account that does not pay a subscription play the Games With Gold games available for free each month?
Yes, but it is up to the subscriber account to start downloading the Games With Gold games; the other account cannot do this.
Can we download games via the internet store directly to the secondary console in addition to the main console?
No, but if the secondary console is instant boot or powered on at the time of purchase, the download will automatically start “everywhere”.
Xbox account sharing: is it prohibited?
If the main use of Home Gold is completely official, its “diverted” function for account sharing is today tolerated by Microsoft, which has been confirmed to us by Xbox support. Simply by the fact that it is not possible to prove that it is not you who is playing on another console and that if Microsoft wants to prohibit account sharing, this will necessarily deactivate Home Gold.
How many times can I change Xbox Primary?
Microsoft indicates that it is possible to change your primary Xbox up to 5 times per year. This period begins from the moment the home Xbox is modified for the first time. If you reach this quota, you will receive a message letting you know when you can switch again.
Does Xbox Game Pass work with account sharing?
Yes, account sharing is also done with all Game Pass subscriptions: Xbox Game Pass Core, Standard, Console as well as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Finally, who actually owns the games when account sharing is stopped?
All purchases made are account-related, not console-related. Therefore, if account X wishes to purchase a game, it does not matter which console it makes the purchase on. He will still own the game and can download it on as many consoles as he wants. Account Y does not own the game.
Is the Netflix account also shared?
No, Netflix subscription is not affected by account sharing. It can be shared, but not this way.
