Highlights
Microsoft is ending support for the Xbox Console Companion app, with the newer Xbox app being its replacement.
The Xbox Console Companion app will no longer be available for download or have official support starting from August 28 as it is being deprecated. It is recommended for users to download the new Xbox app, which provides additional features and enables connectivity with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through Windows.
Microsoft will soon end support for the Xbox Console Companion app, replacing it with the newer Xbox app. Originally launched in October 2014, the Xbox Console Companion app allowed Xbox gamers to access various features from their Xbox One consoles on PC.
After Microsoft discontinued Xbox One SmartGlass in 2016, the Xbox app became the main option for connectivity between Xbox One and Windows PCs. This app enabled Xbox Live users to browse and purchase Xbox One games, view achievements and game captures, and access Xbox Live community content. In 2019, it was rebranded as the Xbox Console Companion app, as Microsoft started preparing a new Xbox app with PC Game Pass integration. The Xbox Console Companion app now prompts users to download the updated Xbox app to access additional features, indicating Microsoft's preparation for permanently shutting down the companion app.
The Xbox Console Companion app, as stated on the updated official Xbox Support page, will be deprecated on August 28. Consequently, users will no longer be able to download the app, and official support for it will cease entirely. Additionally, individuals attempting to sign in to the Xbox Console Companion app after August 28 will likely encounter difficulties, as the app servers will be shut down.
Microsoft is encouraging fans of the companion app to download the new Xbox app for continued engagement with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S services and communities on Windows. The Xbox Console Companion website now redirects users to the Xbox app website, where they can download the newer app for mobile and Windows. Users transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 will have immediate access to the Xbox app without needing to download it from the Microsoft Store.
The lack of a public announcement about the end date for the Xbox Console Companion app may upset fans who have supported Microsoft and the app for almost eight years. Users have only one month left to access the Xbox Console Companion app, and providing earlier notice could have helped prevent frustration over its shutdown. Fortunately, the app's shutdown will not affect Xbox Game Pass subscriptions and recent Xbox Series X|S features, as the Xbox Console Companion app mainly focused on connectivity with Xbox One consoles.
The Xbox app is lacking certain features found in the Xbox Console Companion app, but Microsoft is expected to roll out updates to enhance the overall user experience. The community has expressed a desire for features such as the ability to directly download game captures and connect multiple Xbox controllers simultaneously in the new Xbox app. Furthermore, as the current Xbox app provides access to the latest PC Game Pass titles, Microsoft is motivated to further enhance the app to attract more new subscribers to the platform.
