Xbox has expanded its disc-to-digital program to all users, allowing players to convert eligible physical game discs into digital licenses for Xbox Series X and Xbox One consoles. Announced by Xbox on X on September 29, 2026, the rollout follows an initial testing period with Xbox Insiders and provides a streamlined way for collectors to access their physical libraries without inserting discs.
How the Xbox Disc-to-Digital Program Works
Players can claim a digital license by inserting a physical game disc into an Xbox Series X console and accessing the game’s app menu from the home screen, where a new “Claim digital license” option appears. According to testing details reported by Kotaku, players can also automatically claim the license simply by launching and playing the game from the physical media.
https://x.com/XBOX/status/2105040959192916253
For users who want to prevent games from automatically installing upon inserting a disc, Xbox support recommends adjusting the console settings. Players can go to Settings, Devices and connections, Disc, and uncheck the "Play disc automatically" option.
If the option to claim the license does not immediately appear, Pure Xbox News Editor Fraser reports that no system update is required because the feature was bundled into the September 22nd system update. Players experiencing delays can force the prompt by going to Settings, General, Power Options, and selecting Restart Now, or by hovering over the game tile on the dashboard and pressing the Menu button on the controller.
Supported Publishers and Compatibility Limits
While a fan-compiled list indicates that roughly 1,400 games are currently compatible with the initiative, publisher participation varies. Xbox 360 and original Xbox games are excluded from the program at this time.
Publisher adoption has grown steadily since the feature first launched for Insiders. Ubisoft joined the program earlier in the month, and Sega added its catalog on September 29, 2026.
Physical Disc Ownership Requirements
Despite digital sales heavily outpacing physical copies on modern consoles, millions of players maintain legacy physical collections.
Even after converting a game to a digital license, users must retain physical possession of the disc. Selling, losing, or letting another user redeem the physical media can result in the revocation of the digital license, meaning players should store their old discs safely rather than discarding them.