Gifting Games on Xbox One

Video games are getting more and more expensive, so it’s good to gift a game on Xbox One to friends and family.

After your console installs the latest Xbox One update, you can purchase games and give them to your friends. This is useful for several reasons. Because it’s a digital game, you don’t have to go to a store to get a copy of the game and deliver it to the person you gave it to. Also, gifting games through the Microsoft Store ensures that you don’t have to text or email a family member your credit card information so they can buy a game using your money. They get their game on Xbox One with a game giveaway and your information stays safe.

Here’s how to gift a game on Xbox One.

First, turn on your Xbox One console. Do this using the power button on the front of the console or the glowing Xbox logo on your Xbox One Controller.

After you turn on your Xbox One with your Xbox Live account. Press the glowing logo on your controller to open the Xbox Guide and use the joystick to swipe all the way left.

If someone else is logged into your console, make sure to use the button.

Now that you’re signed in, press the button on your remote and go back to the Home Screen. Use the joystick on your controller to go to the Store tab.

Click the button at the bottom of your screen to search for the game you want to gift someone.

Now, be careful here. If the game is in your personal collection, you will see an Install button. Next to this Install button should be the button.

If you don’t see the Buy as Gift button on your console, you don’t have the feature yet. As of October 3, only Xbox Insider Program. It may take time to see it on your console. Instead, use Amazon To purchase a prepaid Xbox Live card of sufficient value to cover the full cost of the game you are trying to gift. Send your friend or family member the prepaid code Amazon gave you. Just make sure the card you bought says it.

choose button if you see it on your console.

An image of the Buy as Gift button. / Windows Center

There are two ways to gift a game on Xbox One. If the person you gifted the code to is your Xbox Live friend, enter the Gamertag. That’s their nickname on Xbox Live. If you’re not friends with them on Xbox Live, enter their email address instead. Double check that the email addresses are correct because you won’t have another chance to fix it.

Now, make sure to verify your billing information. Microsoft will charge you the default credit or debit card they hold unless you change them before confirming your purchase.

This much. You don’t need to do anything else for yourself. The person you gift the game to receives an Xbox Live prepaid code, which they must redeem online or through the Xbox One’s Store. Once they use this code, the game will be theirs forever.