How to get the Xbox App to recognise Steam Apps that can open ms-xbl-multiplayer links

MarMt1 · Sep 18, 2023

I just recently fully reset my PC and reinstalled Windows 10 Pro. I reinstalled Steam and the Xbox App as well as the Xbox console companion. I also installed Sea of Thieves on Steam, since this is where I want to play it.

My problem arises when I launch the game and try to join a friend. I get a pop up prompting me to choose an app to open a "ms-xbl-multiplayer link" (microsoft store-xbox live-multiplayer link?) and gives me the option to search for a compatible app in the Microsoft Store, which leads me to the Microsoft Store Version of Sea of Thieves. When I install the MS Version of SoT, the link opens on that version and works as intended, but I don't want to play on the MS Version. If I uninstall the MS Version, the same problem comes up again.

I'm pretty sure the problem lies in the fact that the Xbox app or console companion don't "recognise" that I have Sea of Thieves on Steam and that this application can also open these links. My guess is that the Xbox app doesn't change a certain path variable or registry that leads to the app/game (that is supposed to open these links) to the steam version when that version gets installed or opened. Another guess would be that the Xbox app doesn't recognise the steam installation and therefore creates the wrong link (to the MS version instead of the steam one), but both issues would be very similar.

I tried reinstalling Sea of Thieves on Steam, resetting both the Xbox app and console companion, reinstalling the Xbox app and console companion, resetting Windows, looking for a way to set the app in the default app settings (I couldn't find one, neither in default apps by file type nor protocol), checking the Xbox network and fixing it (at first it shows Teredo unable to qualify, after a fix it all works as it should, but the problem persists).

I don't know what registry I would have to change and to what, so I haven't tried that.

If anyone can provide some help, it would be appreciated, since I don't know what to do anymore.

:)

ReeceLad

Hi MarMt1

Please try installing the Console companion app, log in there with your account also confirm that you have the Xbox game bar installed and active

You should also check for updates on the Windows update section big the PC settings

Finally you could try this

Start a party on Xbox app and then launch the game, one of the party members should join a session and in the pause menu instead of the invite friends option it will be changed to join friend's gamertag

MarMt1

Hi,

I already tried all of your suggestions and they didn’t work.

As for creating a party, whilst this can work, it doesn’t solve my issue. I am able to join friends if they invite me, but I am only able to join people on my own if I play through the MS Version, but I want to do it using the Steam version, where I get the error.

Jacob Hull

I have the same problem with sea of thieves but when my brother clicks accept to join me in the game it says 'select an app to open this ms-xbl-multiplayer link' and then it says default app is minecraft

andersonpassos

Thank you for contact us! I'm Anderson, an Independent Consultant and a Microsoft user like you.

good evening

It sounds like you're having trouble joining multiplayer games on Xbox Game Pass for PC. One solution could be to ensure that you have the Xbox app installed on your computer, as it may be required to open the ms-xbl-multiplayer link. You can download the Xbox app from the Microsoft Store.

Additionally, try running the game as an administrator and make sure that the Xbox app and the game you're trying to play are both up to date. If the issue persists, try resetting the Xbox app and the game, or uninstalling and reinstalling them.

Another thing to check is the firewall settings of your computer and make sure it's not blocking the connection, also you can try disabling VPN if you're using one.

It's also possible that the issue may be with the cloud gaming service you're using.

DeniqL

Hi! I'm Luis, a fellow Xbox Gamer . Thanks for reaching us out here.

Have you checked if your Xbox App is updated?

Press the Start button on the taskbar, type store, and open the Microsoft Store app. Select Library. Under Updates & downloads, check if there are any updates available for the Xbox app or Gaming Services app. If an update is available, select Update.

How to get the Xbox App to recognise Steam Apps that can open ms-xbl-multiplayer links