External Hard drive usage with the Xbox app

dani leonardo · Mar 10, 2025

"Hi, I'm having an issue with the Xbox app on my PC not recognizing downloaded games stored on an external HDD. Here’s my setup and problem:

I download games (e.g., Indiana Jones and the Great Circle) on my laptop using an external HDD in a UGREEN enclosure.

After downloading, I disconnect the HDD from the laptop and connect it to my desktop PC, where I expect the Xbox app to detect the game.

The D: drive is set as the default install location on both devices to keep installations in sync.

However, the Xbox app on my PC does not recognize the downloaded game and prompts me to redownload it, even though the files exist in the correct location.

What can I do to make the Xbox app verify and recognize the existing game files instead of redownloading? Is there an official way to transfer games between devices using an external HDD?

Thank you for your help!"

:)

Alvaro A-

Hi Dani,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Xbox Community. I understand that you're trying to transfer your Xbox App games from your laptop to your desktop.

For security reasons, all games from Xbox App are encrypted and will only work on the device where it was originally downloaded. This is the reason why it can't be recognized by your desktop even if the files are already existing in the correct directory.

The only way for you to play Game Pass games on your desktop is by downloading them separately.

I hope this answers your question and clears out any confusion that you may had.

All the best,

Alvaro

Give back to the community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if my reply answered your question. Click Yes or No.

medium bloke

Hi there!

Your external hard drive usage on your Xbox One depends on a few points.

Your external HDD must be USB 3.0, at least 256GB, and must be formatted for use by the Xbox One, meaning any content already on it will be deleted.

PSYCHEDELIC IMP

external hard drives for xbox are for games and apps

Pain130798

if you are trying to install them in an external hard drive for the xbox 360 then that might be the problem, if it is possible, try to install them in the internal hard drive of the console, once you do that try to start the apps and to check the external
hard drive is not damaged try to start a game from there

marklutz12345

Hi i would recomend a MYBOOK for external usage...i am currently using a mybook 4TB external hard drive for my Xbox One. I love it. For the Xbox 360 i would suggest a 2tb mybook, now be careful because there are a MyBook and MyCloud...i recomend MyBook.
Hope this helps

External Hard drive usage with the Xbox app