Microsoft has quietly expanded its Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) to include MSI’s Claw family of Windows handhelds, and owners can enable a console‑style, controller‑first launcher by running the right Windows 11 Insider Preview build and updating the Xbox PC app.
The Xbox Full Screen Experience is not a new operating system or a locked OEM skin — it’s a layered, controller‑first shell hosted by the Xbox PC app and enhanced Game Bar features that sits on top of Windows 11. When active, FSE makes the Xbox app the device’s primary home launcher, aggregates installed titles across storefronts into a console‑style library, and applies system policies to reduce desktop subsystems and background services while in the handheld posture. The aim is a lower‑friction, more console‑like experience on 7–8‑inch gaming PCs. Microsoft has been rolling FSE features out gradually through the Windows Insider and Xbox Insider programs. Early testing and rollouts targeted ASUS’s ROG Ally family and other partner devices, and community testers quickly discovered methods to enable the same features on other handhelds, including the MSI Claw, by running preview builds and participating in the Xbox PC app previews.
Source: Phandroid Own an MSI Claw? Here's How to Enable Microsoft's Xbox Full Screen Experience on your Device - Phandroid
Background / Overview
The Xbox Full Screen Experience is not a new operating system or a locked OEM skin — it’s a layered, controller‑first shell hosted by the Xbox PC app and enhanced Game Bar features that sits on top of Windows 11. When active, FSE makes the Xbox app the device’s primary home launcher, aggregates installed titles across storefronts into a console‑style library, and applies system policies to reduce desktop subsystems and background services while in the handheld posture. The aim is a lower‑friction, more console‑like experience on 7–8‑inch gaming PCs. Microsoft has been rolling FSE features out gradually through the Windows Insider and Xbox Insider programs. Early testing and rollouts targeted ASUS’s ROG Ally family and other partner devices, and community testers quickly discovered methods to enable the same features on other handhelds, including the MSI Claw, by running preview builds and participating in the Xbox PC app previews. Why this matters for handheld owners
For handheld gamers, the Full Screen Experience promises three practical benefits:- A single, controller‑friendly launcher where Game Pass, Xbox library, and installed PC titles appear in a unified view. This reduces launcher hopping and finger‑fiddly desktop navigation on small screens.
- Resource trimming by deferring or suspending nonessential desktop services and Explorer subsystems while the shell is active, freeing memory and lowering background CPU/wakeups for potentially better battery life and smoother play. Early messaging from Microsoft and community analysis suggests memory savings can be noticeable on constrained handheld hardware — though the exact amount varies by device and workload.
- Controller‑first UX with Game Bar and Xbox app integrations that map common system operations to controller buttons and overlays, simplifying switching and captures while playing.
The MSI Claw in context
MSI’s Claw family (in its 2024–2025 refreshes) spans Intel and AMD configurations, with models such as the early Intel‑based Claw and newer Claw A8 (AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme variants) offering 7–8‑inch displays, high‑refresh panels, and up to 24GB of LPDDR5(X) memory on later models. These machines are powerful enough to benefit from FSE’s resource‑tightening behavior while also being sensitive to buggy preview drivers or misbehaving system overlays. MSI’s software stack (MSI Center, OSD utilities) and BIOS updates can play a material role in whether a preview feature like FSE behaves cleanly. Community reports indicate some users experienced interactions between Xbox app preview builds and MSI’s OSD that resulted in blank or frozen overlays; in some cases an updated Xbox app or MSI firmware fixed the problem, in others a clean Windows install resolved residual conflicts.What you need before you start
Before enabling the Xbox Full Screen Experience on an MSI Claw, assemble these prerequisites:- A supported MSI Claw model running Windows 11 (check whether your specific Claw A1M/A8/8 AI+ variant is on the list of devices receiving the 25H2/Insider preview changes).
- Enrollment in the Windows Insider Program on the device and access to an Insider channel that includes the FSE preview (25H2 preview builds). The Release Preview or Beta channel tends to be more stable than Dev but availability depends on Microsoft’s phased rollout.
- Enrollment in the Xbox PC app preview (PC Gaming Preview) via the Xbox Insider Hub; the Xbox PC app preview often includes the aggregated library and FSE components. Download Xbox Insider Hub from the Microsoft Store and join PC Gaming Preview, then update the Xbox PC app to the preview version.
- Optional but recommended: create a full system backup and a restore point, ensure BIOS and MSI Center are updated, and have a recovery USB or installation media ready in case you need to roll back. Community posts frequently warn that Dev‑channel installs and leftover OEM utilities can behave unpredictably.
Step‑by‑step: How to enable FSE on an MSI Claw
The following procedure consolidates Microsoft’s published preview flow and the steps community testers used. It is written for Windows 11 users willing to run Insider Preview code. If you prefer to avoid preview builds, wait for the official, stable rollout.- Update Windows and join Windows Insider:
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account used for Xbox/Xbox PC app.
- Choose an Insider channel that includes the FSE preview (the 25H2 prerelease/preview channels). The exact build number will depend on Microsoft’s rollout; target the 25H2 branch or the Insider build identified in Microsoft’s rollout notes.
- Enroll in the Xbox PC app previews:
- Install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Microsoft Store, sign in, and join the PC Gaming Preview.
- After joining, open Microsoft Store > Library and update the Xbox PC app (or wait for it to update automatically). The preview Xbox PC app contains the aggregated library and FSE components.
- Install any recommended firmware or MSI Center updates:
- Open MSI Center and update the system firmware, OSD utilities, and drivers. Some community fixes require updated MSI OSD components to avoid blank‑screen or overlay problems while FSE loads. If MSI Center reports a BIOS update, install it following MSI’s documented process.
- Enable Full Screen Experience:
- Open Settings > Gaming > Full screen experience.
- Under Set your home app, select Xbox.
- Toggle Enter full screen experience on startup if you want the device to boot directly into FSE.
- Restart and verify that the Xbox app appears as the primary full‑screen launcher.
- If the UI does not appear or the setting disappears:
- Confirm you are on the correct Insider build and that the Xbox PC app is on the preview version.
- Try restarting, signing out of the Xbox app and back in, or reinstalling the Xbox PC app.
- If problems persist, perform a clean install of Windows 11 on the desired Insider channel; several community posts indicate clean installs solved persistent OSD/Xbox preview conflicts.
How to exit FSE and roll back safely
Exiting Full Screen Experience is straightforward, but rolling back Insider builds or recovering from a failed boot requires care.- Immediate exits:
- Use the Game Bar overlay, press the assigned controller hotkey, open Task View, or use the Xbox app UI to switch back to desktop mode. These in‑shell controls are intentionally mapped to common controller inputs.
- Disabling FSE:
- Settings > Gaming > Full screen experience and toggle off Enter full screen experience on startup, or change the home app away from Xbox.
- If the setting is missing, uninstall or roll back the Xbox PC app to a stable release through the Microsoft Store or remove the device from the Xbox Insider preview.
- Rolling back Windows builds:
- If you need to revert the entire OS to a prior stable build, use Settings > System > Recovery > Go back (if available) or boot from Windows 11 installation media to reinstall a stable release. Always restore from the system image or backup you created before joining an Insider channel.
- Leaving Insider and cleaning up Xbox preview:
- Open Xbox Insider Hub > Previews > PC Gaming > Leave.
- Reinstall the Xbox PC app and Gaming Services if required. Community guidance stresses that uninstalling Gaming Services sometimes resolves launcher or party‑system breakage introduced by preview builds.
What users are reporting (stability, bugs, and fixes)
Early adopters of FSE on handhelds have posted a mix of excitement and cautionary tales.- Some users achieved the full‑screen launcher and reported the intended smoother, controller‑first navigation and aggregated library behavior. These experiences reflect Microsoft’s stated goals for FSE.
- Others ran into startup issues where the Gaming > Full screen experience setting would appear and then disappear after a reboot, or where the device failed to boot into the Xbox UI reliably. Community members documented that switching Insider channels or performing a clean Windows install fixed the issue for some.
- Specific MSI Claw interactions: a known bug involved MSI’s OSD painting a blank white overlay when FSE loaded; an updated Xbox app and updated MSI Center/firmware eliminated the issue in reported cases. That demonstrates the real risk of OEM utility conflicts in this preview stage.
Performance and battery: expectations vs reality
Microsoft and community testers describe FSE as applying resource‑trimming policies — suspending some Explorer subsystems, limiting nonessential startup items, and deferring background services while in the shell. On constrained handhelds that can translate to fewer background processes and lower idle RAM, which can improve battery life in theory. Reports sometimes cite memory savings on the order of up to a couple of gigabytes on specific workloads, but this is not universal and is highly workload‑dependent. Real‑world caveats:- System utilities (like MSI Center) and graphics driver behavior can negate or complicate gains. A buggy overlay or mis‑timed service can create CPU spikes and reduce battery life instead of improving it.
- Anti‑cheat systems and certain game launchers may behave differently in a layered shell; some titles that rely on specific kernel services could be affected by preview builds of system components. Test critical titles before assuming universal compatibility.
Security, privacy and support implications
Because FSE is a shell layered over Windows rather than a separate OS, Windows security and policies still apply. That means:- System updates, antivirus, and telemetry remain part of the underlying OS.
- OEM or Microsoft support may be limited if the device runs Insider Preview code; warranty support for hardware remains, but software support for preview builds is normally limited to community channels and Insider feedback.
Troubleshooting checklist (quick reference)
- Confirm Insider build: Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program shows the build branch.
- Update Xbox PC app: join PC Gaming Preview via Xbox Insider Hub and update the Xbox PC app from Microsoft Store.
- Update MSI Center and BIOS: apply vendor firmware and OSD updates before enabling FSE.
- If FSE setting disappears: sign out/in the Xbox PC app, reinstall the Xbox PC app, and reboot. If persistent, consider a clean Windows install on the target Insider channel.
- To recover from a bad boot: use Windows recovery media to repair or reinstall, or restore from your backup image. Always have a plan B before joining Insiders.
Best practices and recommended workflow
- Use the Release Preview or Beta Insider channels if available for the FSE bits — they are less likely to contain early regressions than Dev. Test on non‑primary hardware if possible.
- Keep MSI Center, GPU drivers, and BIOS updated before joining preview channels.
- Enroll in Xbox PC app previews via the Xbox Insider Hub rather than relying on community registry tweaks. Official preview builds reduce risk and make it easier to revert.
- Create a full system backup and an external recovery USB before you begin enabling preview features.
- Test your most important games and peripherals (controllers, headsets) after enabling FSE to confirm everything behaves as expected.
The verdict — should MSI Claw owners enable FSE now?
The Xbox Full Screen Experience delivers a compelling, controller‑focused UX and meaningful integration for Game Pass and aggregated libraries. For enthusiasts who value a console‑style launcher and who are comfortable running preview software, enabling FSE on an MSI Claw delivers a tangible, more polished handheld experience — provided you follow the precautions above. However, this is not a no‑risk, one‑click upgrade for everyone. The combination of Insider Windows builds, Xbox PC app previews, and OEM utilities increases the chance of conflicts, startup quirks, or overlay issues. If you rely on your Claw as a daily driver for competitive play or work, wait for the stable consumer rollout or at least test FSE in a controlled way (backup, prefer Release Preview/Beta, and update MSI firmware first). Community reports show that a clean install and up‑to‑date OEM utilities resolve many issues, but that’s a burdensome fallback for casual users.Final recommendations
- If you’re comfortable with Insider builds and want the console‑style launcher now: follow the verified steps — join the appropriate Windows Insider channel, enroll in the Xbox PC app preview via Xbox Insider Hub, update OEM firmware, then enable FSE in Settings > Gaming. Keep backups and be prepared to roll back.
- If you prefer stability: wait for the public stable rollout. Microsoft is phasing the rollout across OEM partners and devices; broader availability is expected after the preview phase.
- In all cases: keep your MSI Center, BIOS, Xbox PC app, and GPU drivers up to date and test your most important games and accessories after enabling FSE.
Source: Phandroid Own an MSI Claw? Here's How to Enable Microsoft's Xbox Full Screen Experience on your Device - Phandroid
