Xbox says its redesigned PC app launches up to 60% faster

Xbox says its redesigned PC app can launch up to 60% faster than the current version. The update is available first to Xbox Insiders and also reworks the app’s library, search, and social navigation, addressing the parts of a PC launcher players use between sessions as well as its startup time.

The speed figures come from Microsoft’s testing, not an independent comparison, and Xbox says results will vary by device and system configuration. The redesign is still in preview, without a public release date announced for the wider PC audience. That makes this an early look at the changes, not a finished update available to every Xbox app user.

The performance claims cover more than startup

Xbox says the app launches up to 60% faster, while the Home, Store, and Game Pass pages load up to 50% faster. In-app windows are said to open up to 65% faster. Each figure is an “up to” result, so players should not expect the maximum improvement on every PC.

The caveat matters because launcher performance depends on several factors, including hardware, connection speed, and the apps running in the background. Microsoft has not published a detailed test methodology or independent benchmark results. For now, the numbers are best understood as Xbox’s internal performance claims for the preview build.

The library and search are getting a practical overhaul

The updated library adds simpler navigation, new filters, and more ways to organize games. Search is also being expanded to cover installed games, add-ons, and people from one place, which should reduce the need to move between different parts of the app to find a title or contact.

These are everyday usability changes rather than a change to what the Xbox app is for. A faster launch may shorten the wait before a session, but a clearer library can matter more over time for players who use the app to manage a large collection or move between Game Pass and purchased games.

Social features move into the main navigation

Friends and social features are being brought into the app’s main navigation. Xbox says users will be able to see what friends are playing, start a chat, or join a party more directly.

The redesign also refreshes game cards, the Home screen, Settings, and animations. Those details may sound small on their own, but they shape how quickly players can move from opening the app to finding a game or joining friends. The preview will give Xbox a chance to see whether the changes make that path feel smoother in practice.

Insiders get access before a broader rollout

Xbox Insiders can try the redesigned PC app now. Microsoft has not said when it plans to make the update available to everyone, and the company says feedback from the preview will help shape what comes next.

That means users outside the Insider program should not assume their app has missed an update if they still see the current design. Xbox has also been clear that the PC app changes are being tested separately from its refreshed web experience and cloud gaming apps.

The web and cloud updates have their own rollout

Alongside the PC preview, Xbox is bringing its refreshed web experience to more players over the coming weeks. The web version adds a library for cloud games, with options to sort and filter titles, and includes a desktop mode for larger screens.

Xbox has also announced updates for cloud gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets. Those developments sit within a broader effort to make Xbox more consistent across devices, but the PC app’s performance claims apply to the app itself. The web and cloud changes should not be read as having the same speed improvements.