Microsoft has quietly opened the door for MSI Claw owners to run Microsoft's Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) on Windows 11 handhelds, rolling the feature out through the Windows Insider program and giving handheld gamers an opt‑in, console‑style launcher that aims to reduce background overhead and improve sustained gaming performance.
Microsoft first introduced the Xbox Full Screen Experience as a handheld‑focused UI and runtime posture designed to make Windows 11 behave more like a dedicated gaming console when users want to play. The feature launched on ASUS’ ROG Xbox Ally family and has since been expanded in a controlled preview to other OEM handhelds. The official Windows Insider announcement explicitly names the MSI Claw family as receiving the preview rollout in the relevant Insider build. FSE is not a replacement operating system or an OEM skin. Instead, it is a layered session posture that runs a chosen “home app” — typically the Xbox PC app — as a full‑screen launcher while deferring or suppressing non‑essential desktop processes and cosmetic shell elements. The result is intended to be a cleaner, controller‑first interface and a lower‑noise runtime state that can free RAM, reduce background CPU wakeups, and extend battery life on thermally constrained handheld APUs. Microsoft’s support documentation and Insider notes document the Settings path and the entry points for the feature.
Key strategic incentives for Microsoft and OEMs include:
A successful, broad FSE rollout could meaningfully improve the viability of Windows handhelds against SteamOS and other handheld ecosystems by providing a more predictable, console‑like experience while preserving Windows’ openness. Conversely, if gating, instability, or inconsistent OEM support persist, the experiment could reinforce consumer concerns about Windows complexity on small‑form‑factor gaming devices.
Note: performance claims and percentage gains reported early in the preview come from hands‑on reviews and community tests; results vary significantly by device configuration, firmware, and individual game workloads, so precise outcomes may differ for your hardware.
Source: OC3D MSI Claw users can now us the Xbox Full Screen Experience
Background
Microsoft first introduced the Xbox Full Screen Experience as a handheld‑focused UI and runtime posture designed to make Windows 11 behave more like a dedicated gaming console when users want to play. The feature launched on ASUS’ ROG Xbox Ally family and has since been expanded in a controlled preview to other OEM handhelds. The official Windows Insider announcement explicitly names the MSI Claw family as receiving the preview rollout in the relevant Insider build. FSE is not a replacement operating system or an OEM skin. Instead, it is a layered session posture that runs a chosen “home app” — typically the Xbox PC app — as a full‑screen launcher while deferring or suppressing non‑essential desktop processes and cosmetic shell elements. The result is intended to be a cleaner, controller‑first interface and a lower‑noise runtime state that can free RAM, reduce background CPU wakeups, and extend battery life on thermally constrained handheld APUs. Microsoft’s support documentation and Insider notes document the Settings path and the entry points for the feature. What the Xbox Full Screen Experience actually is
A session posture, not a forked OS
The Full Screen Experience (FSE) is best understood as a layered UX and policy set that changes what Windows initializes for a gaming session rather than rewriting kernel scheduling or driver stacks. When enabled, Windows will:- Launch your selected gaming home app in full‑screen as the primary launcher.
- Defer many desktop startup items and Explorer ornamentation until the user explicitly switches to the desktop.
- Adapt Game Bar and Task View flows for controller navigation and add direct Game Bar entry/exit to the FSE session.
Why this matters for handheld gaming
Handheld Windows PCs are limited by thermal envelopes, battery capacity, and smaller memory footprints compared with desktop or full‑size laptops. FSE targets those pain points by reducing background overhead and simplifying navigation for thumb‑based controls. In practical terms, this can yield:- Lower background memory use
- Fewer idle CPU wakeups and interruptions
- Cleaner, controller‑first navigation and library access
- Potentially longer battery life and steadier frame rates
The MSI Claw rollout: what changed this week
Microsoft’s Insider announcement (Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051, KB5067115) expanded the preview of FSE to additional handheld devices, explicitly calling out MSI Claw models as part of the staged rollout. That means Claw owners who enroll their device in the appropriate Windows Insider channel and meet the preview prerequisites can opt into FSE today. Microsoft describes this as a controlled feature rollout, which means device visibility is gated by Microsoft and OEM entitlements and will appear progressively to Insiders. MSI’s Claw family spans multiple configurations — both Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen Z2‑class SKUs are represented across the Claw line, with 7–8‑inch, high‑refresh displays and varying memory and battery options. These devices are logical beneficiaries of FSE’s resource‑trimming approach because they pair powerful APUs with tight thermal constraints. That said, the experience users see will depend heavily on OEM firmware, system utilities (MSI Center, OSD components), and GPU driver versions. Community reports show that keeping MSI firmware and drivers up to date matters for a clean FSE experience.How to enable Full Screen Experience on a supported device
The supported, official path to try FSE on an MSI Claw device is a combination of the Windows Insider program and the Xbox PC app preview. Microsoft’s published guidance and user reports converge on the following steps.- Join the Windows Insider Program on your Claw and pick the channel that contains the 25H2 preview bits (Dev or Beta when the FSE preview was distributed). Sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Xbox/PC.
- Update Windows to the build that includes the FSE preview (Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 / KB5067115 or later where the feature is included for your device).
- Install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Microsoft Store and join the PC Gaming Preview to obtain the Xbox PC app preview (some testers reported the option won’t appear without the preview Xbox app).
- Update MSI firmware, MSI Center, and GPU drivers. Apply any available BIOS or OSD updates from MSI to minimize overlay and overlay‑interaction issues.
- Open Settings > Gaming > Full screen experience. Under “Set your home app,” choose Xbox (or another installed gaming home app) and — if desired — enable “Enter full screen experience on startup.” That option defers many startup apps until the first switch to desktop, which is how FSE frees resources for gameplay.
- Create a full system backup and a recovery USB or restore point before experimenting with Insider builds.
- Prefer Beta or Release Preview channels if you value relative stability; Dev channel may include rougher code. Community reporting shows that inconsistent OEM utility states and leftover preview components can cause oddities.
- If the FSE toggle does not appear, ensure the Xbox PC app preview is installed and MSI utility packages are updated; restarting or reinstalling the Xbox app sometimes resolves visibility issues.
Real‑world performance — claims, evidence, and caveats
Early hands‑on testing and community benchmarks suggest the Full Screen Experience can materially affect runtime behaviour on handhelds, but results vary.- Reported gains: Some outlets documented double‑digit percentage FPS improvements (TechRadar cited mid‑20% gains in specific tests), driven primarily by memory reclaimed and background tasks not running while FSE is active.
- Limitations: FSE does not change GPU driver behavior, kernel scheduling, or anti‑cheat kernel modes, so the improvements are largely from userland trimming and session simplifications. Outcomes therefore vary by title and device power cap. Microsoft’s documentation and the Insider blog are explicit that FSE does not rewrite low‑level scheduling; instead it aims to minimize desktop overhead to preserve resources for games.
Reported issues and community feedback
The preview rollout has surfaced a number of teething problems typical for an early feature gated by Insider distribution:- Boot inconsistencies: Some testers report the device still booting to the desktop despite enabling FSE on startup, or FSE only launching as a windowed Xbox app. These issues appear intermittently and sometimes require firmware updates, Xbox app reinstalls, or even registry/utility workarounds in community threads.
- Overlay and OSD conflicts: Interactions between MSI’s OSD utilities and the Xbox app preview have produced blank overlays or frozen UIs for a subset of testers until OEM updates fixed the conflicts. Updating MSI Center and OSD components has resolved many of these problems for affected users.
- Feature gating variability: The staged rollout model means identical devices can see different feature visibility depending on Microsoft/OEM server entitlements. That variability is expected as Microsoft ramps features, but it increases friction for testers trying to reproduce experiences.
Compatibility, anti‑cheat, and enterprise concerns
FSE’s optimizations are intentionally userland and session‑level, but there are compatibility considerations:- Anti‑cheat systems: Because FSE does not alter kernel or driver semantics, anti‑cheat systems should remain unaffected in principle. However, any new system UI or overlay that changes how game sessions are launched can expose edge cases with certain anti‑cheat drivers or overlays; community testing remains important.
- App/startup behavior: When “Enter full screen experience on startup” is enabled, startup apps are deferred until the first switch to desktop. Users who rely on background services (cloud sync, communications clients, VPNs) must explicitly set those apps to “Start at log in” in Settings > Apps > Startup if they must run while in FSE. Microsoft’s support documentation describes this behavior and how to manage it.
- Enterprise deployment: FSE is targeted squarely at consumer handheld scenarios. Enterprises should evaluate it the same way they would any Insider feature: test thoroughly, verify compliance with managed endpoint policies, and treat preview deployments cautiously.
Strategic context — why Microsoft is making Windows more “console‑like”
Microsoft’s push to introduce FSE reflects a strategic recognition that handheld gaming requires a different UX posture than the traditional Windows desktop. By enabling OEMs to opt devices into a controller‑first home app and by trimming unnecessary desktop noise during play, Microsoft is positioning Windows to compete more effectively with console‑like experiences and alternative platforms such as SteamOS.Key strategic incentives for Microsoft and OEMs include:
- Making Windows handheld hardware more approachable for mainstream gamers who prefer a console‑like flow.
- Tightening the Xbox ecosystem’s cohesion with Game Pass and the Xbox PC app, while preserving access to other PC storefronts.
- Providing a vendor‑enabled path to deliver a predictable gaming runtime on thermally constrained hardware.
Strengths, opportunities, and risks
Strengths
- Tangible runtime wins: When it works, FSE can free memory and reduce non‑essential CPU wakeups, resulting in smoother play and better battery life on handhelds.
- Controller‑first UX: Aggregated libraries and gamepad navigation make handhelds feel more like consoles, reducing friction on small screens.
Opportunities
- OEM tuning: OEMs can tune firmware and utilities specifically for FSE, creating better out‑of‑box handheld experiences across the Windows ecosystem.
- Desktop gaming features: The FSE work could influence a broader "gaming mode" for laptops and desktops that prioritizes runtime trimming and controller flows where appropriate.
Risks and caveats
- Preview instability: Early adopters will encounter bugs, overlay conflicts, and gating variability; Insiders should be prepared to roll back.
- Fragmentation during rollout: Staged enablement can cause frustration when identical hardware behaves differently due to server‑side gating.
- Overhyped expectations: FSE is not a substitute for native driver or kernel optimizations; some users may expect bigger gains than FSE can deliver without accompanying driver and firmware improvements.
Practical recommendations for MSI Claw owners
- Update MSI Center, BIOS, and GPU drivers before enabling FSE. Firmware parity reduces the likelihood of overlay issues.
- Join the Xbox PC app preview through Xbox Insider Hub to ensure the home app and library aggregation behave as expected.
- Use Beta/Release Preview channels if possible to reduce the chance of encountering Dev‑channel regressions.
- Back up the system and create a recovery drive before experimenting with Insider builds on a daily‑use device.
- Test your competitive or required titles after enabling FSE—validate anti‑cheat, input mapping, and overlay behavior before relying on the device for important sessions.
The road ahead
Microsoft’s controlled, OEM‑gated rollout is deliberate: FSE changes how Windows initializes and interacts with OEM utilities and overlays, and the staged approach gives Microsoft and partners room to address real‑world compatibility problems. Expect additional vendors to enable FSE on compatible handhelds over the coming months as drivers and firmware mature.A successful, broad FSE rollout could meaningfully improve the viability of Windows handhelds against SteamOS and other handheld ecosystems by providing a more predictable, console‑like experience while preserving Windows’ openness. Conversely, if gating, instability, or inconsistent OEM support persist, the experiment could reinforce consumer concerns about Windows complexity on small‑form‑factor gaming devices.
Conclusion
The Xbox Full Screen Experience arriving for MSI Claw owners via the Windows Insider program is an important milestone for handheld Windows gaming: it formalizes a controller‑first launcher and session posture that reduces desktop noise and can free resources for games. Microsoft’s documentation and Insider notes make the mechanics and the official enablement flow clear, while independent hands‑on reporting and community feedback show the feature can deliver meaningful improvements—albeit with variability and early‑preview instability. For MSI Claw owners who enjoy experimenting and want a more console‑like handheld experience, the preview offers a compelling option—provided they follow the prerequisite steps, keep firmware and drivers current, and accept the risks of Insider code. For users who depend on their device for daily competitive play or work, waiting for the broader, stable rollout remains the prudent path.Note: performance claims and percentage gains reported early in the preview come from hands‑on reviews and community tests; results vary significantly by device configuration, firmware, and individual game workloads, so precise outcomes may differ for your hardware.
Source: OC3D MSI Claw users can now us the Xbox Full Screen Experience
