All of us have been at a friend's house and seen that they have a game that looks really cool. Unfortunately, we don't all have the money for that new video game, and if your friend's game is digital it can't be borrowed, or so you'd assume. Thankfully if you own an Xbox console, there is a way to share a game with someone through something called Game Share.

Through game share, players can share their digital library of games - which could include some great Xbox One exclusives - with each other so they don't miss out on any of the hottest titles, especially those games that look really good with HDR settings. Here is how you can set it all up.

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Updated on October 6, 2021, By Joseph Metz Jr.: With all the new games coming out, it can be tough figuring out which games to spend your money on, especially with price increases. Thankfully, if you have a friend with an Xbox One or Series X/S by linking your two Xbox Live accounts, you can have access to more games at no cost whatsoever. We've updated this guide to make it clearer and easier to follow so you to can start sharing games in no time.

What Is Xbox Game Share?

Halo Infinite Multiple Campaigns
Halo Infinite Official Master Chief Wallpaper Xbox
Halo Infinite Official Master Chief Wallpaper Xbox

As the name implies, game share gives another Xbox Live user access to your digital library of games. It also gives you access to their digital library, so the process of game sharing works both ways.

This process involves sharing account information so it is extremely important to keep in mind who you will be sharing accounts with.

Xbox Live Gold memberships can be shared with each other as well, since enabling game sharing will also allow both accounts to access Live Gold benefits. Any Xbox console from the Xbox One to the Xbox Series X/S and their games is compatible with game sharing.

Note that game sharing cannot be done on an Xbox 360 but 360 games can be shared, provided those games are a part of one of the account's digital library of games and are backwards compatible. The same can be said for the original Xbox as well.

Before You Begin

Xbox Series X Family
Xbox Series X next to Xbox Series S

Setting up game share requires you to ask a friend for their email and you to give them your email or phone number as well as your password.

This process requires mutual trust and respect, since you are sharing password and account details.

We highly recommend that you use a password that isn't used for anything else, and that the other account owner does the same. This means that in a worst case scenario you haven't given away details that can be used to access other accounts.

How To Set Up Game Share On An Xbox One And Series X/S

Setting game sharing up on an Xbox console, regardless of whether you're game sharing on an Xbox One or Series X/S, is as follows.

  • Open the guide by pressing the Xbox symbol button on your controller.
  • Go to the sign-in option and scroll down to 'add new'.
  • Select 'add new' to add the other account.
The add new option in the Xbox console sign in menu
  • Now enter in your friend's account email and password if you got it from them. If they are with you physically, then they can do it themselves if they wish to maintain privacy and account security.
  • Look over the privacy summary statement thoroughly if you wish and then select 'next' to move onto the next step.
  • Set your sign-in and security preferences to something that you and your friend are comfortable with.
The sign-in and security preferences screen on an Xbox console
  • Press the Xbox button to open up the dashboard and select the 'home' option to return to the home screen.
  • Now scroll left to where you can select gamertags to select your buddy's gamertag to sign into the account.
  • While signed into your buddy's account, open the guide with the Xbox controller and select the system menu.
  • Go into settings, then personalization and then select "My Home Xbox"
The my home Xbox option in the Xbox console settings
  • Choose the 'make this my home Xbox' to designate the console you are using as your home and main Xbox console.

Repeat the above steps for the other Xbox One or Series X/S and then sign back into your own accounts on your respective consoles to be able to maintain the other account's games.

Things To Keep In Mind When Using Xbox Game Share

The-10-Most-Powerful-Xbox-Characters-Ranked-5

On top of making sure you absolutely trust the other person using your account, there are a few other things to keep in mind when giving game sharing a go.

  • Game sharing only works between two accounts. This means that game sharing is limited to only one other person at a time.
  • You do have some leverage since Xbox does enable your account's home Xbox to be changed five times a year. This means you can swap out who you share with up to five times a year.
  • Microsoft can block sharing at any time in the future. While it probably won't happen any time soon, be aware of this and anticipate a day where you may be unable to Game Share with friends.
  • Can you game share in 2021? As of right now, Xbox and Microsoft has no plans of stopping Xbox game sharing for the rest of 2021 or for 2022 as well.
  • Physical copies of games will not work with game sharing, since those games will only work on the console the disc was inserted into. You would have to just have your friend lend the physical copy of the game to you.

With all of that out of the way, you can now grab a friend to expand your library of games and see if you can find a game you might have otherwise overlooked.

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