How to enable cross-platform play for your child on Xbox

By Richard Devine
published

If your kids want to crossplay with friends outside of Xbox Live, you'll need to enable it first.

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Retail Boxes
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Retail Boxes (Image credit: Matt Brown | Windows Central)

If you have a family group set up with your Microsoft Account and for Xbox, then you'll already know about some of the great features for controlling what your kids have access to. But one thing they may want to use is actually hidden behind a setting you might not know exists.

Crossplay.

This is specifically referring to cross-network play, that is, playing with friends outside the Xbox Live walls. When it comes to some of today's best Xbox games like Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons, it's perfectly possible for your kids to play from their Xbox Series S with their friends on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, for example, but to do so, you'll have to give them the magic permission first.

There are a couple of different ways to enable it and we'll walk you through each.

How to set up crossplay in the Xbox Family Settings app

Minecraft Dungeons Cross Play Switch

Source: Windows CentralPerfectly easy to play Minecraft Dungeons between Xbox and Nintendo Switch when you know how. (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

If you have a family group set up for anything relating to your Microsoft account, there are a couple of mobile apps you should definitely have. For managing Xbox-specific settings, the Xbox Family Settings app is the one to have and the one we're using here.

Grab it for either iPhone or Android and get logged in with your Microsoft Account before following these steps.

  1. Tap on the relevant child profile.

Xbox Family App

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Next, tap the settings icon in the bottom right corner.
  2. Scroll down and tap on cross-network play.

Xbox Family App

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Set the toggle switch to allow.

Xbox Family App

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

This will now enable crossplay outside Xbox Live, but it won't enable communication with those platforms.

How to set up crossplay on the web

Minecraft Switch Tv Hero

Source: Nick Sutrich / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Nick Sutrich / Windows Central)

If you'd rather set this up on the web, it's very straightforward also. You can either login directly, or you can go via Xbox app for Windows 10 or 11

  1. If using the Xbox app, first open settings.
  2. Click manage privacy settings.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. If going through the web, go to account.xbox.com/en-us/settings and login.
  2. Click on your child's profile.
  3. Click Xbox One/Windows 10 Online Safety
  4. Ensure the first box, relating to crossplay, is set to allow.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

This will now enable crossplay outside Xbox Live, but it won't enable communication with those platforms.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

Richard Devine
Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine