The Microsoft Store is full of great Windows 10 games, but if you don’t know where a single setting is, you can’t enjoy any of them on the plane or train. Use this walkthrough to learn how to play Windows 10 games without internet.
Minecraft, Forza7, Quantum Break and other Xbox Live-enabled Windows 10 games won’t work when you don’t have an internet connection because they use that connection to verify ownership of your games. Therefore, there is no easy way to play Xbox Live games without internet access in early versions of Windows 10.
However, after downloading Windows 10 Creators Update, there is a toggle in Microsoft Store to play Windows 10 games without internet access. Turn this knob and your PC should be connected to the internet, but after that you can enjoy any of the Windows 10 games in your collection wherever you want.
Play Halo Wars 2 without internet connection.
Here’s how to play Windows 10 games without internet.
Sign in to your Windows 10 PC. Use the first Microsoft Account username and password you used to purchase your games. Do not create a new account. Also, don’t sign in to someone else’s Microsoft Account unless the Windows 10 games you’re trying to play were purchased from that person’s account.
Press the button on your keyboard or click the Start button in the corner of your screen.
Inside the Start Menu, tap or click the tile if it’s pinned to the right area. Just look for the shopping bag icon. If it’s not there, search for Microsoft Store in the list of installed apps on the right side of the Start Menu.
Click or tap in the upper-right corner of Microsoft Store.
Choose from the drop-down menu.
Scroll down the list of settings until you see it.
Now turn the key. From now on, any app or video game that requires internet will let you enjoy it without a connection to Microsoft’s Xbox Live servers.
Click the link to dump the computers you have configured to play apps and games from your Microsoft Account.
Open any game you want to play offline and sign in to Xbox Live to sync your last saved game before playing offline. Just like on a console, you can enjoy a game without internet access only if it doesn’t require it for a campaign or local multiplayer experience. Halo Wars 2’s multiplayer mode will not work without an internet connection, but the story mode will, for example.
Return to the Windows Store to make sure all your Windows 10 games have the latest updates before they go offline. Also, download any downloadable content you have for the game.
Offline Permissions is a great workaround to enjoy your favorite Windows 10 games while on the plane or without internet. Your PC will keep any Achievements you unlock or game saves you create while offline until you reconnect to Xbox Live. Don’t disconnect for too long, even Xbox One won’t keep years of Achievements in its library forever.
Unfortunately, this is not a permanent fix. Eventually, you will need to connect your computer to the internet to reauthorize your Windows 10 games. If you don’t, they may stop the installation. Also, if you don’t connect to the internet soon, your progress won’t be backed up to Xbox Live for safety. So when you install the same game on another computer, you will have to start over.
