How to use Microsoft Game Pass for Android (xCloud) on Android TV – Android Central

Source: Joe Maring / Android TV

In the world of cloud gaming, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service with baked in cloud gaming is one of the most compelling. It’s easy to use on any Android phone, the app is well designed, and you have access to a huge library of games for a low monthly price. It’s a great solution for playing games on the go, but what if you want to experience it on the big screen? In just a few minutes, you can install the Xbox Game Pass app on your Android TV device and take full advantage of all Game Pass titles.

Products used in this guide

How to download the Xbox Game Pass APK

The first step in this process is done on your Android phone and is to download the Game Pass app file (commonly known as APK) along with another file which makes it a shortcut on your Android TV interface. We will first download the full APK for Xbox Game Pass:

1. Find it latest available version of the Game Pass Beta app (we are using APKMirror version 2009.263).

2. Tap Download APK.

   Source: Android Central

3. Tap Okay.

4. Wait for the file to finish downloading.

   Source: Android Central

Now that the app is downloaded, we’ll want to enter the shortcut so that you can easily access Game Pass on your Android TV. If you don’t, you’ll have to dive into the apps settings menu every time you want to use it.

1. Go to MediaFire and download the Xbox Game Pass Shortcut.
2. Press the Download button.
3. Tap Okay.

4. Wait for the file to finish downloading.

   Source: Android Central

How to pair your Android TV device with your phone

With these two files downloaded to your phone, now we need to make sure that you can transfer them to your Android TV. The easiest way to do this is to establish a wireless connection through an app called “Send Files to TV” and setting it up is pretty straightforward.

1. Hold down the Google Assistant button on your remote.
2. Say, “Send files to the TV app.”

3. Click it first result.

   Source: Android Central

4. Click on Install.

5. Open the app.

   Source: Android Central

6. Click on To allow.
7. Down arrow so that To receive is selected with a light blue background.

8. Click on To receive.

   Source: Android Central

Once that’s set up on your TV, it’s time to do the same on your phone.

1. Open the Google play store on your phone.
2. Search “send the files.”
3. Press the Send files to TV app.

4. Tap Install.

   Source: Android Central

5. Open the app.
6. the the arrow to see how the app works, or tap Jump.

7. Tap To allow.

   Source: Android Central

How to install Xbox Game Pass on your Android TV

At this point we have all our necessary files downloaded and a wireless connection between the Android phone and Android TV. With all of that out of the way, we can finally move on to the fun part.

1. On your phone with the Send files to TV app open, tap To send.

2. Press your Android TV when it appears in the list (ours is Chromecast in this example).

   Source: Android Central

3. Press the Game Pass Beta APK file.

4. Wait for the file transfer to complete.

   Source: Android Central

5. On your TV, click on the file when the download is complete.

6. Click on Open.

   Source: Android Central

In Perfect World, click that Open button to go directly to the Game Pass app so you can log in and start playing. In our tests, however, clicking the button did nothing. If you find yourself in the same situation, there is a simple workaround that will allow you to complete the installation.

1. Open a file manager app on your Android TV (in this example we’re using File Commander. It’s a free download from the Play Store).

   Source: Android Central

2. Click on Downloads.

3. Click it Download file.

   Source: Android Central

4. Click it Game Pass Beta file.

5. When installation is complete, click Open.

   Source: Android Central

6. Click on Already a member? To log in.

7. Click on to log in.

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8. Enter your Microsoft email address and password.

   Source: Android Central

9. Click on Let’s play!

10. On the Game Pass home screen, select the Cloud tab.

    Source: Android Central

11. Click on a game you want to play.

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12. After a short loading screen, you should be ready to start playing!

    Source: Android Central

With the Game Pass app installed and running on your Android TV, we have one final step: installing this home screen shortcut. The process is basically the same and goes as follows:

1. On your phone with the Send files to TV app open, tap To send.

2. Tap your Android TV when it appears in the list (ours is Chromecast in this example).

   Source: Android Central

3. Press the Game Pass APK Shortcut file.

4. Wait for the file transfer to complete.

   Source: Android Central

5. On your TV, click on the file when the download is complete.

6. Click on Open.

   Source: Android Central

Again, if that Open button does nothing, you will need to go back to your file manager on your Android TV to complete the installation.

1. Open a file manager app on your Android TV (we use File Commander).

   Source: Android Central

2. Click on Downloads.

3. Click it Download file.

   Source: Android Central

4. Click it Game Pass Shortcut file.

5. Click on Finished.

   Source: Android Central

Now if you go back to your Android TV home screen and look at your app library, you will see an icon for Xbox Game Pass. With this last step, we are officially done! Whether you’ve got the best Android TV ever or something more affordable, you’re good to go.

Before you leave this article to start playing, there are a few things you should keep in mind. For starters, don’t be too surprised if the streaming quality isn’t the best. Game Pass is not yet officially supported on Android TV, so some performance issues are to be expected. Likewise, you’ll want to keep an eye on APKMirror for new versions of the Game Pass Beta app as they become available. The app will not receive automatic updates as it is downloaded, so when a new update is available, you will need to follow the same steps above to download the latest available APK and transfer it to your Android TV.

And, of course, you need a Bluetooth controller connected to your Android TV to play anything on Game Pass. An Xbox One works best, but there are plenty of other options if you’re looking for something a little different.

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