- Xbox disc-to-digital feature lets owners of eligible physical games claim a digital license without buying it again.
- Players will need a supported Xbox console with a disc drive, and only some eligible games can be converted.
- The converted games can offer digital benefits such as Xbox Play Anywhere on supported titles.
Xbox has introduced a new disc-to-digital feature that makes it possible to turn eligible physical game discs into digital entitlements. The process is relatively straightforward and particularly useful for players who own the Xbox One or the Xbox Series X. However, not all discs are eligible, and there are certain limitations. So, here’s everything you need to know about how to use the Xbox discs-to-digital feature and convert your games.
How Does Xbox Disc-to-Digital Works?
The Xbox disc-to-digital feature essentially grants your physical games a free digital license. Players can simply insert the supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console with a disc drive and claim the game digitally.
Once the game is claimed digitally, it can be accessed digitally, without keeping the disc in the console. However, the new feature announced during the Xbox Gamescom broadcast won’t make the physical disc useless after you claim its digital version. The disc can be used normally, and the conversion doesn’t permanently destroy or invalidate the physical copy.
Another important limitation is that if you have already converted the game disc to claim its digital version and sell it to another person, they won’t be able to receive the same digital entitlement.
One of the biggest advantages of the Xbox disc-to-digital feature is its potential to unlock access beyond the Xbox console. If the converted title supports Xbox Play Anywhere, its digital entitlement can provide access to the corresponding PC version.
How to Convert Xbox Disc Games to Digital
The process to convert your physical Xbox game discs and obtain their digital version is quite easy. So, perform the following steps to convert an eligible Xbox game disc-to-digital:
- Make sure that you have been in the Xbox Insiders program long enough to join the Alpha.
- Update your Xbox so that the console runs the latest preview system that has the disc-to-digital feature.
- Insert the physical game disc into your Xbox One or Xbox Series X disc drive.
- Allow the game to install on your console, then select it and press the Menu button.
- You can then select ‘Claim Digital License‘ and choose the ‘Claim‘ option in the next window.
- If the game supports the feature, you will own the game digitally. You can then remove the physical disc and keep it stored safely.
- The converted game can now be launched without inserting the disc.
If the game is not eligible for a digital license, an error screen will show up prompting that you cannot convert this Xbox game disc-to-digital. So make sure to check our full list of Xbox disc-to-digital games that you can convert.
Xbox Discs to Digital Release Date
The Xbox disc-to-digital feature was announced during Xbox Gamescom 2026. The feature is live for all Xbox Insiders in the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead rings, and it started on August 31, 2026. The functionality will be available to players inside this Insider program first, before being released to everyone.
Microsoft has not yet made any official announcement about when this feature will be available for public access in the future, but you can expect it soon. The company states that it has already started with thousands of Xbox disc-to-digital games in the Insider program and intends to expand its library over time.
So, that is all you need to know about how to use the Xbox discs-to-digital feature and convert your games. What Xbox games are you going to convert first with this feature? Tell us in the comments below.
You can sell the Xbox disc after converting it to digital, but the next person won’t be able to claim the digital entitlement again.
No, only eligible Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs can receive a digital entitlement through the feature.
