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Yes. You can add the Xbox PC app to Steam as a non-Steam shortcut. This lets you launch the app from Steam, Big Picture Mode, or potentially Steam Link, but it does not transfer Xbox purchases or PC Game Pass games into your Steam account.
Microsoft lists the current Xbox PC app for Windows 10 and Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. Install and update the app, sign in with the Microsoft account that owns your games or subscription, and keep Steam installed in desktop mode. Check Microsoft’s Xbox PC app page for current requirements.
Add the Xbox app through Steam
Try Steam’s built-in program list first:
- Open the Steam desktop client.
- Click + ADD A GAME in the lower-left corner.
- Select Add a Non-Steam Game….
- Find Xbox, Xbox app, or Xbox PC app in the list.
- Check the box beside it.
- Click Add Selected Programs.
Open your Steam Library and launch the new entry. Steam’s labels and layout can change between client versions, but the official workflow is the same: add the application as a non-Steam game. See Steam’s non-Steam game instructions.
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Microsoft Store applications may not appear as ordinary executable files. Create a Windows shortcut instead:
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
- Press Windows + R.
- Enter
shell:AppsFolderand press Enter. - Find Xbox or Xbox app.
- Right-click it and choose Create shortcut.
- When Windows asks whether to place the shortcut on the desktop, choose Yes.
- Return to Steam and select + ADD A GAME → Add a Non-Steam Game….
- Choose Browse, select the Xbox shortcut on your desktop, and click Add Selected Programs.
The exact display name and shortcut behavior can vary by Windows build and Xbox app version. Do not take ownership of C:Program FilesWindowsApps just to find an executable; that protected-folder change can interfere with Microsoft Store updates and app behavior.
Rename and customize the Steam entry
- Right-click the new shortcut in Steam.
- Choose Properties.
- Change its name to Xbox or Xbox app.
- Optionally add custom library artwork and a category.
These changes affect only how the shortcut appears in Steam. They do not change the Xbox installation, Microsoft account, or game licenses.
What if Steam cannot select the shortcut?
- First confirm that the Xbox app opens normally from the Windows Start menu.
- Restart Steam after creating the shortcut.
- Use Browse and navigate to the desktop manually.
- If the file picker hides the shortcut, change its file-type filter.
- As a troubleshooting experiment, try running Steam as administrator. Elevation is not normally required.
- If the shortcut stops working after an Xbox app update, recreate it from
shell:AppsFolder.
You can add explorer.exe as a last-resort non-Steam entry, but this is less reliable: it may open File Explorer instead of launching Xbox directly.
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- Versatile compatibility: supports Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One X/S consoles and PC Win10 and above (including the game platform Steam).
- Precise control: features Hall joysticks and Hall triggers for a comfortable feeling, long service life and improved game accuracy.
- Plug and Play Convenience: Wired USB connection (removable) for easy setup and instant play without the need for additional drivers.
- Customizable experience: Includes 2 custom backbuttons that allow users to eliminate false triggers and improve their gaming experience.
- Impressive gameplay: Provides a pulsating vibration trigger and an asymmetric vibration grip motor for intense tactile feedback.
Can I add individual Xbox or Game Pass games?
Sometimes, but not consistently. Adding the Xbox app is different from adding a particular game.
For a game with an accessible conventional executable:
- Install the game through the Xbox app.
- Locate its actual executable.
- In Steam, choose Add a Non-Steam Game… and use Browse.
- Add the executable and test it.
Many Xbox app and PC Game Pass games use packaged Windows installations. Their files may be protected, stored in a restricted WindowsApps directory, or dependent on Microsoft Gaming Services and another launcher. In those cases Steam may show only the Xbox launcher, return an access-denied error, open the Xbox app without starting the game, or lose the shortcut after an update.
Rank #3
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- 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.
If a title requires the Xbox app, Microsoft Gaming Services, EA app, or another launcher, keep those components installed and signed in. An EA Play title, for example, may still need the EA app and linked accounts.
Why does Steam open Xbox but not the game?
Usually, the shortcut points to the Xbox launcher rather than the game itself. Launch the game once directly from Xbox to confirm that your account, subscription, dependencies, and installation work. Then test the Steam shortcut.
If the game still does not start, recreate the shortcut, verify that the game is installed, and check whether an update changed its packaged application path. Do not assume that finding a visible file inside WindowsApps will produce a working Steam shortcut.
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- Wide Compatibility: VOYEE wired 360 controller compatible with Microsoft Xbox 360 & Slim/ PC (Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7). Just plug and play, not for FPS games
- Enhanced Game Controller: Upgraded PC 360 controller with new left and right trigger buttons and more sensitive joysticks and buttons - Respond quickly to player commands without delay
- Astonishing Gaming Experience: VOYEE wired pc controller provides rumble control and according to the game automatic vibration feedback to enhanced game experience and match your personal preference
- Ergonomic Design: Grips's contours have been designed to fit your hands more comfortably to hold for a long time and 7.2ft cord allows greater
- What You Get: VOYEE wired 360/PC Controller, 45 Days Money Back, 365 Days Guarantee Against quality defect and 24 Hours Friendly Customer Support
Will Steam Input work?
Not necessarily. These are three separate questions:
- Can Steam launch the Xbox app?
- Can Steam launch the specific game?
- Can Steam Input control that game after it starts?
Steam Input may apply to the launcher but not to the game. Some games detect the controller directly, some packaged applications do not expose a normal executable, and overlays or Xbox Game Bar can affect focus. If possible, add the game-specific shortcut rather than only the Xbox app. Otherwise, use the game’s native controller support or a dedicated remapping solution.
Using Xbox through Steam Link
You can add the Xbox shortcut to Steam on a Windows host and attempt to stream it through Steam Link. The Xbox app and game still run on that Windows PC; the client device is only receiving the stream. You may need to launch Xbox first and start the game manually.
Best Value
- XBOX WIRELESS CONTROLLER + USB-C CABLE — Includes the XBOX Wireless Controller in Carbon Black and a 9' USB-C cable. Play wirelessly or plug in for a wired gaming experience, right out of the box.*
- WIRED OR WIRELESS, YOUR CALL — Connect the included 9' USB-C cable for zero-setup wired play on console and PC. Go wireless when you want the freedom to play from the couch, the desk, or anywhere in between.
- PC READY. NO EXTRAS NEEDED — Plug the USB-C cable into your Windows PC and you're playing instantly. No adapters, no Bluetooth pairing, no additional purchases required. Works across the XBOX app, Steam, and more.*
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience sculpted surfaces and refined geometry designed around how you actually hold a controller. Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grip on the triggers, bumpers, and back case.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of wireless battery life on standard AA batteries. When the batteries run low, plug in the included cable and keep playing without missing a beat.*
Adding the shortcut does not install Xbox on the client device or remove the need for the Microsoft account, Game Pass entitlement, and a running host PC.
Using the Xbox app on Steam Deck
The Windows Xbox PC app is not normally installed directly in SteamOS. A Deck can act as a streaming client for a Windows PC running Xbox, or you can use Xbox Cloud Gaming through a browser. Those are different arrangements from installing a native Windows Xbox app on SteamOS.
Steam supports adding desktop applications as non-Steam entries, but that does not establish Xbox PC app compatibility with SteamOS. A Deck running Windows is a separate case.
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What adding Xbox to Steam does—and does not—do
| Function | Result |
|---|---|
| Launch the Xbox app from Steam | Yes |
| Put Xbox in the Steam Library | Yes, as a non-Steam shortcut |
| Transfer Xbox purchases to Steam | No |
| Turn PC Game Pass games into Steam games | No |
| Receive Xbox game updates through Steam | No |
| Guarantee Steam Input | No |
| Stream the Windows app through Steam Link | Usually possible, depending on setup |
| Install the Windows Xbox app normally on SteamOS | No |
Steam describes non-Steam entries as shortcuts, not Steam-owned products. They do not create a Steam license, Steam Cloud entitlement, Steam achievements, or Steam-managed updates. Xbox Play Anywhere entitlements also do not generally become Steam licenses. See Steam’s explanation of non-Steam shortcuts.
Quick Recap
Alternatives
- Use Xbox directly: Best when you do not need Big Picture or Steam Input.
- Use Xbox’s aggregated PC library: Microsoft describes the Xbox PC app as able to show games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net, and other leading PC storefronts. This is a launcher view, not a transfer of ownership. See Microsoft’s announcement.
- Use a browser shortcut: For Xbox Cloud Gaming, add the browser or a browser shortcut to Steam instead of the installed Xbox app.
- Buy the Steam version: Choose this when Steam-native features such as Steam Cloud, Workshop, achievements, or dependable Steam Input are essential. A separate Steam purchase is normally required.
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