Xbox App (Win11) stopped loading game list, can't change install folder, freezes

Hello Zach.1,

The Xbox app was updated and now allows you to create folders and location on where you want to install your games and easily access the files. May I suggest that you

1. Open Xbox app
   
2. Click on your profile icon and go to settings
   
3. Then General
   
4. Game install options
   
5. Then change folder and choose a different location or drive and name the folder "GameTest"
   

Then attempt to install the game and see if you have any issues. If the problem is fixed by doing that, then going forward you can install your games to that folder and location.

Hi Zephire14! My name is Ricardo an independent advisor ready to help you with this situation!

Apps are required to be in that folder in order to work and in any drive you want to install games the folder will be created to install the games, if you wanna modify the files in the folder you have to take ownership of the folder, you can do that following this steps

That's going to be changing very soon. In fact, users can easily sign up to be an insider for the Xbox App and test out the new up-coming installation features that will eventually be available to all users by default.

Advanced Installation and Management Features available for Insiders through the Xbox App for Windows

Without enabling the advanced install features, the default install folder is the encrypted 'WindowsApps' folder. This folder is encrypted and protected, changing the ownership will have no effect on this.

The insiders advanced features option can install supported games to any directory, and unlike the WindowsApps folder, these directories are not protected. Supported games are ones where 'Administration approval required for installation' is listed on the download screen.

Gaming services is not showing in the installed apps, and the gaming services is not listed in the services,

The folder was present so I deleted the accounts and cache folders and tried the Xbox app again but I was unable to download gaming services still.

Hey
SamLightfoot,

There is no possibility to change the GamePass games folder because this folder is encrypted as soon as a game is installed (it is the WindowsApp default folder).

However, you can change the drive on which a game is located by clicking on "Move" when you select it in the Windows Apps list.

If you're using the app in it's current form, most games can't be accessed as they install to an encrypted folder. There are some titles that install to the modifiableWindowsApps folder. These games are generally able to support mods.

The way PC games install on the app is going to be changing soon

When these changes have been completed, it should be possible to install most if not all titles to any folder you want and have full access to the files. It's possible to test this now by becoming an insider. Full instructions here.

Just be aware, there are some known issues at the moment.