Xbox Insiders on Windows 11 now have early access to a new “My apps” tab in the Xbox app, a feature that aggregates third-party storefronts and utilities directly inside Microsoft’s gaming hub. The preview, rolling out through the PC Gaming Preview flight, currently surfaces Battle.net and GOG Galaxy alongside web browsers—with more launchers promised as testing advances. It’s a clear signal that Microsoft wants the Xbox app to become the central command center for PC gaming, not just a wrapper for Game Pass.
On gaming handhelds like the ROG Ally and similar Windows 11 portables, the impact is immediate. Instead of dropping to the desktop to hunt for a launcher icon, players can navigate a controller-friendly tile grid, launch installed apps, and—when the feature works—download missing clients without leaving the full-screen Xbox shell. Early hands-on reports confirm the concept works, though the preview remains rough around the edges.
How the ‘My apps’ Tab Works
The My apps tab lives inside the Xbox app’s Library section, alongside existing Installed and Owned lists. It displays a curated set of tiles for supported applications. Select an already-installed app, and the Xbox UI launches it directly. For uninstalled apps, selecting a tile triggers a download and installation flow—when it succeeds. Thurrott’s testing found that installing GOG Galaxy worked smoothly, but Battle.net repeatedly threw an error. Other Insider reports echo inconsistent install behavior, which Microsoft frames as expected during the iterative preview.
The design is built for controllers. Tiles are large, spacing is generous, and the entire environment is tuned to minimize background activity so that handhelds stay responsive. Microsoft explicitly calls out the full-screen Xbox experience, set to become the default on upcoming devices like the ROG Xbox Ally, as the natural home for My apps. On a couch or during a portable session, the tab eliminates the friction of switching to the Windows desktop, unlocking, signing into other launchers, and waiting for updates before a game even launches.
What’s In and What’s Still Missing
As of this writing, the preview catalog includes Battle.net and GOG Galaxy. Microsoft’s own Edge browser is also present, underscoring the utility angle: apps like browsers and gaming tools belong alongside storefronts. The aggregated game library introduced earlier already pulls in titles from Steam and the Epic Games Store, but those storefronts themselves have not yet appeared in My apps. The Xbox team has confirmed that the list will expand to include more browsers, utilities, and launchers over time, though no timeline or specific partners have been disclosed.
This staged rollout is typical for Xbox Insider features. The initial partners—Blizzard’s Battle.net and CD Projekt’s GOG Galaxy—represent cooperative vendors willing to test the integration. Bringing Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect, or EA App into the fold will require deeper technical negotiations around auto-update mechanisms, account linking, and support liability. Until Microsoft publishes a compatibility guide, expect the catalog to remain limited and subject to change.
Real-World Impact for Handheld Windows Owners
Handheld Windows gamers have long complained about the clunky necessity of navigating a desktop OS with analog sticks and tiny touch targets. My apps is the most ambitious attempt yet to paper over that experience. By letting players open Battle.net or GOG Galaxy from within the Xbox shell, it reduces context switches—often the death of a quick pick-up-and-play session. Early testers report that launching already-installed clients works instantly, while install flows vary. Some see embedded Microsoft Store-style progress bars; others encounter errors that force a fallback to manual installer downloads.
Performance-conscious users will appreciate Microsoft’s emphasis on low background activity. The full-screen Xbox experience pauses unnecessary processes when you’re playing, and My apps is designed to respect that profile. On devices with limited RAM or battery life, every watt saved matters. For now, enthusiasts should pair My apps with manual power-profile tuning and disable auto-start for launchers they don’t regularly use.
Security, Privacy, and Technical Hurdles
Allowing a single interface to trigger downloads and run third-party installers raises legitimate security questions. How does the Xbox UI handle User Account Control prompts? Does it always surface the standard Windows installer dialogs, or will it attempt silent installs in some scenarios? Microsoft has not yet published detailed documentation on installer validation, code-signing checks, or sandboxing for the My apps flow. Until those assurances arrive, the feature should be treated as experimental—and users should verify that UAC prompts appear and that they are consciously authorizing every installation.
Privacy-conscious gamers will also want clarity on telemetry. The Xbox app already collects usage data, and aggregating multiple storefronts could expand the metadata footprint. What information about installed clients is shared back to Microsoft, and how long is it retained? The preview announcement mentions feedback channels but omits granular retention controls. The community will rightfully demand opt-out mechanisms and transparency before any broad release.
Anti-cheat and DRM remain independent challenges. My apps doesn’t magically solve kernel-level anti-cheat compatibility on Arm hardware or eliminate DRM checks that block local play. Games launched through Battle.net or GOG will still undergo their normal verification routines; the tab is a convenience launcher, not a compatibility bridge. Microsoft’s parallel work on Arm emulation and cloud streaming will address those issues separately.
How to Test My Apps Today
Signing up requires a few steps, but the path is clear for anyone willing to run preview software:
- Install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Microsoft Store and sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Inside the hub, enroll in the PC Gaming Preview or the relevant Xbox app flight.
- Update the Xbox app via the Microsoft Store (Library > Get updates) and confirm the preview build in the app’s About section.
- Launch the Xbox app, go to Library, and the My apps tab should appear. Browse the catalog, install any missing clients, and sign into each storefront.
If an in-Xbox install fails, try the vendor’s official installer from their website, then refresh the tab—the app should detect the client and offer to launch it. Microsoft encourages Insiders to report failures through the Xbox Insider Hub’s feedback tools, and early data will shape the feature’s maturation.
Strategic Stakes: Microsoft’s Handheld Gambit
My apps is more than a quality-of-life tweak; it’s a strategic move to position Windows as a genuine contender against Linux-based handheld platforms like SteamOS. The ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and upcoming OEM devices all run full Windows 11, but that’s both a strength and a weakness. SteamOS on the Steam Deck offers a seamless, console-like experience that Windows has struggled to match. By pulling third-party launchers into a controller-friendly Xbox shell, Microsoft is building a software moat for its hardware partners.
For OEMs, the pitch is clear: a Windows handheld out of the box can boot into an Xbox-centric interface that handles games, launchers, and utilities without forcing users into the desktop. For players, the benefit is simpler navigation and faster access to games across multiple stores. For storefront partners, the calculus is nuanced. Easier access could drive engagement, but tight integration requires sharing some control over the user experience and potentially sensitive telemetry. The fact that the initial catalog includes only two cooperative partners suggests Microsoft is moving carefully to avoid conflicts.
What Comes Next
The preview’s trajectory will depend on several variables. Catalog expansion is the most visible; when Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect, and EA App appear, the tab will become indispensable. Equally important is the publication of security and privacy documentation. Without clear guarantees about installer handling and data collection, the feature will face pushback from power users and the security community.
Anti-cheat performance on handheld hardware remains a wildcard. As more players launch multiplayer titles through aggregated launchers, independent testing will reveal whether the layer introduces latency or conflicts. Microsoft’s own optimizations for background activity suggest awareness of these concerns, but documentation is needed.
Community feedback will shape the final feature set, and early adopters should use the Insider Hub liberally. The My apps tab is a smart, practical addition that addresses a genuine pain point on Windows handhelds. If Microsoft delivers on its promise of a secure, well-documented, and widely supported launcher aggregator, the Xbox app could finally become the hub that PC gaming has lacked. For now, it’s a promising preview that gives gamers a taste of a more cohesive future.