Stop Windows 10 Sharing Xbox Game Activity with Friends
Privacy Control: Managing Game Activity Visibility in Windows 10
The Anniversary Update to Windows 10 introduced new game hubs within the Xbox application for PC gaming.
This update allows your contacts on Xbox Live to view your current PC gaming sessions, as well as a record of your recently played PC titles.
Maintaining Privacy: Disabling Activity Sharing
For users who prefer to maintain a distinction between their PC and Xbox gaming activities, a privacy setting is available.
This setting enables you to prevent your Xbox Live friends from observing your PC gaming habits.
How to Disable Game Activity Sharing
- The feature can be disabled through the Xbox app settings.
- By adjusting these settings, you retain control over what gaming information is shared with your Xbox network.
Disabling this feature ensures that your PC gaming activity remains private from your Xbox Live friends.
This provides a greater level of control over your online presence and gaming privacy within the Windows 10 ecosystem.
Disabling Activity Sharing via Xbox App Sign-Out
Related: Top Xbox Features Available on Windows 10 (Regardless of Xbox Ownership)
The Windows 10 Xbox app incorporates several functionalities, including game streaming from your Xbox One console to your computer, live television streaming from your Xbox One, and engagement with Xbox Live and your gaming network. However, if these features aren't utilized, a straightforward method to prevent activity broadcasting is to log out of the application.
Initiate this process by launching the Xbox app from your Windows 10 Start menu.
Navigate to the Settings icon, located at the base of the left-hand sidebar. Subsequently, select the "Sign Out" option to terminate your session within the Xbox app.
Following this action, your PC gaming activities will no longer be associated with your Xbox account, unless you re-establish a connection by signing back into the app.
Ensure this procedure is replicated on all Windows 10 computers where you engage in gaming.
Option Two: Modifying Xbox Privacy Settings Through the Web
The Xbox application available on Windows 10 includes certain privacy and sharing configurations. However, it lacks a dedicated setting to disable the reporting of your game activity.
An alternative method exists to control the visibility of your gaming activities to your Xbox network. This adjustment, however, will be applied universally across both your Windows 10 PCs and your Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles.
To reach these settings, launch the Xbox app, select the Settings icon located on the left-hand side, scroll downwards, and click the "Xbox.com" link found within the Privacy section. Alternatively, you can navigate directly to the Xbox Account settings website using your preferred web browser.
Upon accessing the "Privacy & online safety" page, scroll down to locate the section labeled "Others can:".
Within this section, find the setting titled "See if you're online (Xbox 360: Online Status)" and change its status to "Block". This will prevent others from viewing your online status and the specific game you are currently playing.
You also have the option to set this to "Friends", restricting visibility to only those on your Xbox friends list.
Further down, locate the "See your game and app history (Xbox 360: Game History)" option. Setting this to "Block" will prevent others from viewing a record of your recently played games.
Choosing "Friends" for this setting will limit access to your game history to only your friends.
It’s important to note that implementing these changes will also affect your online presence on Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles, concealing your online status and recent game activity there as well.
Remember to click the "Save" button at the bottom of the page to finalize and store your new privacy settings.
Microsoft may potentially introduce additional sharing controls within the Xbox app in future updates. However, current indications suggest this is not a priority.
Microsoft’s strategy centers around integrating Xbox into a unified gaming ecosystem, encompassing both Windows PCs and the Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles, effectively creating a comprehensive Xbox experience.
