Microsoft has quietly introduced one of the most exciting gaming features in Windows 11 — a complete Xbox-style full-screen experience, designed especially for handheld gaming devices. But here’s the catch: Microsoft officially restricts it to devices like the ASUS ROG Ally.
The good news?
With a few careful tweaks, you can activate this full-screen gaming interface on almost any Windows 11 PC, even a basic laptop or virtual machine.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the process step-by-step, explain why the feature improves gaming performance, and cover every tool and setting you’ll need.
🎮 1. What Exactly Is the Xbox Full-Screen Experience?
Let’s start with a quick intro before diving into the steps.
This mode replaces the standard Windows desktop with a controller-friendly UI, similar to an Xbox console. It loads through the Xbox app and offers:
- Clean, console-style home screen
- Better navigation via controller
- Reduced background processes
- Lower memory consumption
- Better gaming performance & battery life
Normally, Windows only enables this mode on handhelds, but with a small trick, we can activate it smoothly.
💡 2. Requirements Before You Begin
Before making any changes, let’s cover everything you need so you don’t get stuck later.
✔ Windows Version
You must be running:
- Windows 11 Version 25H2, or
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 with latest updates (works for many users but not officially tested)
To check:
Settings → System → About
If you’re not on 25H2:
- Open Windows Update
- Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available
- Click Check for updates
Alternatively, you can use the official Windows 11 installation tool from:
🔗 https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11
✔ Screen Resolution
Set your display resolution to 1920 × 1080 for proper scaling.
✔ A Full Backup
Because we’ll be editing the registry and using advanced tools, always back up your system.
🔧 3. Tools You Need to Download
We need three key tools. Here’s what each one does:
1️⃣ ViveTool
Used to enable hidden Windows features.
🔗 https://github.com/thebookisclosed/ViVe
Download the Intel/AMD ZIP.
2️⃣ Device Resolution Tool (“Pano” tool)
This tricks Windows into thinking you’re on a handheld device.
(This tool is community-created; download from the link the original guide references.)
3️⃣ PsTools Suite by Microsoft
Used to run commands with special permissions.
🔗 https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/pstools
After downloading all ZIP files:
- Extract them
- Copy the folders into *C:* for easier command usage
Example:C:\vivetool,C:\pano,C:\pstools
🧰 4. Step-by-Step Activation Process
Let’s walk through each step with clarity.
🟩 Step 1: Enable Hidden Windows Components via ViveTool
- Open Windows Terminal as Administrator
- Navigate to the ViveTool folder:
cd C:\vivetool
- Run the feature activation command (the exact code depends on the version of the tool):
vivetool /enable /id:43750513
(Example ID — your tool may specify a different ID.)
- Restart your computer.
🔵 Step 2: Modify the Windows Registry to Identify as a Handheld
- Open Regedit
- Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\OEM
- Right-click OEM → New → DWORD (32-bit)
- Name it:
DeviceForm
- Set its value to:
E
Make sure the base is Hexadecimal.
- Restart your PC.
🟧 Step 3: Use PsTools to Apply System-Level Overrides
- Open Terminal as Administrator
- Navigate to PsTools:
cd C:\pstools
- Run PsExec with elevated privileges:
psexec -s -i cmd.exe
This opens a special SYSTEM-level command window.
- Now switch to the “Pano” tool directory:
cd C:\pano
- Run the handheld-emulation command:
pano.exe /enable
(Your tool may have slightly different syntax.)
- Restart or sign out and back in.
🎉 5. Using the Xbox Full-Screen Experience
After logging back in, Windows should automatically boot into the Xbox full-screen UI.
You’ll see:
- Xbox-style layout
- Controller-friendly navigation
- Quick access to Xbox Game Pass, Cloud gaming, and installed PC games
- Reduced desktop clutter
You can switch modes anytime using:
- Windows + Tab (switch apps)
- Windows + I (open Settings)
⚙️ 6. Configuring the Full-Screen Experience
Go to:
Settings → Gaming → Full Screen Experience
Here, you can customize:
- Launch Xbox mode on startup
- Enable fullscreen Xbox UI
- Switch default applications
Note: The interface is primarily designed for the Xbox app, so using other apps is limited.
If the taskbar still appears, sign out and sign back in. That usually fixes the display mode.
🔄 7. How to Disable or Exit Xbox Mode
If you no longer want the full-screen experience:
- Open Settings
- Go to Gaming → Full Screen Experience
- Turn off:
- Enable full-screen mode
- Launch on startup
Restart your PC.
You’ll now return to the regular Windows desktop automatically.
✔ Optional Q&A
Q1: Is this method safe?
Yes, as long as you follow the steps carefully. However, it uses unsupported methods, so always maintain backups.
Q2: Does this work on unsupported hardware?
It works on most Intel/AMD systems. ARM devices haven’t been tested thoroughly.
Q3: Will this improve gaming performance?
Yes — fewer background apps and reduced desktop processes mean slightly better performance and battery life.
Q4: Can you still access normal Windows apps?
Yes. Use Windows + I for settings and Windows + Tab to switch apps.
Q5: Can this break Windows updates?
No, but major updates may disable the tweak, requiring re-enablement.
#Windows11 #XboxMode #GamingPC #HandheldGaming #TechGuide #DTPTips
