Xbox Makes Home Even Better: Hide System Apps and Pin Favorite Games

Xbox is back with more quality-of-life upgrades — this time, focusing on the console’s Home screen. Three new customization features are on the way, and Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead Insiders are already getting early access. It’s all part of Xbox’s ongoing effort to make the UI more convenient, flexible, and aligned with what players have been asking for.

The Home screen is basically the heart of the console — it’s where we launch games, switch between apps, and spend a lot of our time. So even the smallest tweaks can make a big difference. Xbox has a solid history of polishing the dashboard based on community feedback, and this update continues that trend.

The biggest changes are aimed at the recently played games and apps list. You’ll now be able to hide system tools like the Store or Settings — letting your actual games and entertainment content take the spotlight. On top of that, you can pin up to three of your favorite games or apps to the top of the list, so they’re always within easy reach, even as you launch new titles.

Another useful tweak on the way is the “reduce tile count” option. It lets you slim down the number of tiles on your dashboard — perfect for those who prefer a cleaner, more minimal layout. The feature isn’t live just yet, but Xbox says it’s coming soon.

Also worth mentioning: GTA 4 Remastered could arrive this year for PS5 and Xbox Series — a reminder that there’s plenty in the works across the board, and the company keeps pushing forward on multiple fronts.

As usual, these updates are rolling out to Insiders first before becoming available to everyone. No exact release date yet, but it shouldn’t be too far off. Either way, it’s great to see Xbox continuing to improve the Home experience and actually listening to what the community wants.