Microsoft has officially rolled out its disc-to-digital feature to Xbox Series X and Xbox One consoles. The feature, which was previously available to Xbox Insiders, became publicly available following a system update released on September 30.The program allows players with compatible physical Xbox games to claim a digital license for a title directly through their console. Microsoft used feedback from Insiders during the testing period to make changes to the process before its wider release.

For players whose consoles have installed the latest update automatically, the feature should already be available. The update status can be checked through the System settings under Update Info. If the update has not been installed, players can manually check for the latest system software through the Updates section.

How Xbox disc-to-digital works

To claim a digital license, players need to insert a compatible physical Xbox game disc into their console. The system will automatically attempt to claim the associated digital license when it recognizes the disc.

If the license is not claimed automatically, players can press the Start button and select Claim digital license.

The first time a player claims a digital license, Xbox displays an informational message explaining the process. After that initial prompt, subsequent claims should require fewer steps.

Players who want to process multiple discs can also disable the console's automatic disc-launch feature. This can be found under Devices & Connections > Disc in Xbox settings. Disabling automatic launching prevents games from opening immediately when discs are inserted.

Digital licenses can be revoked

The digital license is not permanently tied to the player's account. According to the feature's current implementation, the license can expire or be revoked if the physical disc is used with another console.

Xbox provides a way to monitor the status of claimed licenses. Games that are no longer accessible are added to the Revoked Digital Games list, which can be viewed through the official Xbox website or directly from the console under Settings > General > Personalization > Games & Apps.Players therefore need to retain their physical discs even after claiming a digital license. The physical copy remains usable and can still be lent or resold, subject to the normal requirements of the disc-based license.

The feature also provides an option for Xbox One owners with eligible last-generation games. Players can claim digital licenses for supported titles and access them on an Xbox Series S using the same account, despite the Series S not having a physical disc drive.

Xbox's disc-to-digital system offers a way for owners of physical games to gain digital access without giving up their physical copies, combining the convenience of digital installations with the flexibility of owning a physical disc.