Install Better xCloud for PC
The direct button targets the official userscript asset. The 15-second countdown is an in-page source handoff; it does not repackage or proxy the file.
Before you install Better xCloud on PC
Choose a current Chromium browser such as Chrome, Edge, Brave or another compatible Chromium-based browser. You also need a userscript manager that can run a `.user.js` file. The official upstream documentation explains the supported browser route; this page keeps the installation sequence short and separates the userscript from the Android app.
If you already installed Better xCloud through an old extension, remove or disable duplicate copies before adding the official userscript. Two copies can create confusing symptoms: settings appear twice, the interface does not change, or one version overwrites the other after a browser restart.
- A current Chromium-based browser
- A userscript manager with permission to run scripts on xbox.com
- A Microsoft account and the normal Xbox Cloud Gaming access required for play
- A clean browser profile or a disabled duplicate Better xCloud installation
How to install Better xCloud for PC
Install a userscript manager
Add a reputable userscript manager to your Chromium browser and finish its first-run setup. Keep the manager enabled for the Xbox Cloud Gaming site.
Open the official userscript asset
Use the Install PC userscript button above or open the official Better xCloud release page and choose better-xcloud.user.js. Confirm that the asset belongs to the redphx/better-xcloud repository before installing.
Approve the script installation
Your manager should show a script-install screen. Review the name and permissions, then confirm the installation. If the browser downloads the file instead, open it through the userscript manager rather than double-clicking it as a normal application.
Reload Xbox Cloud Gaming
Open or reload xbox.com/play after the script is installed. Better xCloud controls should appear only when the script is active on the correct page and the browser has not blocked the userscript.
Change one setting at a time
Start with the default profile. Test the stream, then change server, resolution, bitrate or input options one by one so a later error has a clear cause.
If the PC userscript does not appear
First check the userscript manager icon and confirm Better xCloud is enabled for the Xbox Cloud Gaming domain. Then refresh the page with the manager still enabled. A browser extension may be installed correctly but blocked by a site permission, private-window setting or a second extension that intercepts page scripts.
For errors such as Failed to run Better xCloud, Content Script API or UserScript API Dynamic, use the troubleshooting guide instead of repeatedly reinstalling the same file. Capture the exact error text, browser name and userscript manager before changing several variables.
No Better xCloud menu
Check script permissions, the active tab URL, duplicate managers and whether the script is enabled for the current browser profile.
Open troubleshootingInput does not work
A PC installation can be healthy while a game still rejects keyboard, mouse or controller input. Check the input-specific guides next.
Review keyboard & mouseStream looks worse
Do not assume 1440p or a high bitrate is automatically better. Compare stable frame delivery, decoding load and packet loss in the settings guide.
Tune stream settingsOfficial PC references
Use the upstream pages when you need the original installation details, release notes or compatibility changes.
Better xCloud PC userscript guide: browser checklist
The PC installation is easiest to maintain when the browser, userscript manager and Better xCloud release are treated as three separate layers. A browser update can change extension permissions, a userscript manager can change its installation screen and the upstream release can change its required page access. Check each layer independently instead of replacing the userscript whenever the menu disappears.
For a clean test, use one Chromium profile, one active userscript manager and the official Better xCloud userscript. Open the exact Xbox Cloud Gaming page, confirm the script is enabled for that domain and reload after every permission change. If the browser downloads the `.user.js` file rather than opening the manager, use the manager's import or install flow and verify the script name before approving it.
- Keep the browser updated but record the version when an error begins.
- Allow the userscript manager to run on the Xbox Cloud Gaming domain.
- Use one active Better xCloud copy while testing the PC route.
- Check private-window and browser-profile permissions separately.
- Keep the official release page available for version and issue comparison.
Keep the Better xCloud PC install maintainable
After the PC userscript works, write down the browser, userscript manager and Better xCloud release that produced the stable result. This small record is useful after an automatic browser update or when a setting change causes an error. It also makes it easier to decide whether the problem is a new release, a permission change or a duplicate extension.
Do not optimize several layers at once. First confirm that the Better xCloud menu appears, then test a controller or keyboard path, then tune stream settings. If you need a virtual controller or remapper, add it after the base userscript works and keep a simple way to disable it. A maintainable PC setup is easier to troubleshoot than a collection of overlapping browser extensions.
Stable baseline
One Chromium profile, one userscript manager, one Better xCloud release and default stream settings.
Controlled changes
Change one permission, input layer or stream value, then test before adding another.
Useful evidence
Record the browser, manager, release, page URL and exact error before reinstalling.
Better xCloud PC installation FAQ
Is Better xCloud for PC an APK?
No. The PC version is a browser userscript. The APK belongs to the separate Android app release.
Which browsers can run Better xCloud on PC?
The upstream installation route focuses on Chromium-based browsers. Use the official Chromium guide for the current supported setup and browser-specific notes.
Why did Better xCloud disappear after a browser update?
Check the userscript manager, site permissions and duplicate extensions first. Browser updates can disable developer or script permissions without removing the installed script.
Can I use Better xCloud on SteamOS?
The Chromium route can be used on SteamOS when the browser and userscript manager support the required permissions. Follow the PC guide and verify input separately.
Should I install both the extension and userscript?
Avoid duplicate installations unless the upstream documentation specifically requires them. One active copy is easier to diagnose and update.
Where are Better xCloud PC settings?
After the script is active on Xbox Cloud Gaming, open the Better xCloud interface or stream menu. If the controls are missing, start with the not-working guide.
Why does the Better xCloud PC userscript install but not run?
Check the userscript manager's site permission, the active browser profile, the exact Xbox Cloud Gaming URL and any duplicate extension. Reload after changing permissions and record the error before reinstalling.
Can I use Better xCloud PC on macOS or Linux?
The PC route can apply to macOS, Linux and SteamOS when a compatible Chromium browser and userscript manager provide the required permissions. Input and hardware decoding still depend on the device.