Linking Your Xbox Account to Steam
The contents of this guide are applicable all Forza games available on Steam:
- Forza Horizon 6
- Forza Motorsport
- Forza Horizon 5
- Forza Horizon 4
When you attempt to play a Forza game through Steam, you will need to link a Microsoft account to your Steam profile before you can enter gameplay.
Below are the required steps to link and unlink your Microsoft account if necessary.
Prerequisites
Though you may have a Microsoft account already, it must also be signed up to Xbox. You can check that it is and create an Xbox Gamertag if required by clicking here.
Linking an Xbox account to Steam from within a Forza game:
- When you launch a Forza Horizon game or Forza Motorsport for the first time and progress to the 'Start Game' screen, as you attempt to progress past this initial screen, a 'Sign in to Xbox' dialog box will be shown.
- Once you click 'Sign in', you will then be prompted to then enter your Microsoft account details.
- Pressing 'Let's Play' will then open the Steam Overlay displaying a browser window asking for confirmation that the correct accounts are to be linked and whether you wish to proceed.
- Selecting 'Yes, Link Accounts' will confirm that you wish to link the Microsoft account with your Steam profile. If the wrong accounts are being linked, click Shift+Tab to close the Steam Overlay, and then from the Main Menu either click 'Sign Out' from the bottom of the screen or press the X key. Once signed out you will return to the 'Start Game' screen where you can proceed through this process again.
Linking an Xbox account to Steam Deck from Forza Horizon 6:
- When you launch Forza Horizon 6 on Steam Deck for the first time and progress to the 'Start Game' screen, as you attempt to progress past this initial screen, a pop up message will be shown.
- The pop up message will have a QR code that links to the site https://www.microsoft.com/link and a linking code at the bottom.
- We recommend signing into the Xbox account you want to use with a secondary device like your phone or another PC before going to this link - https://www.microsoft.com/link
- Enter the code that is at the bottom of the pop up message on your Steam Deck.
- Follow on screen instructions to verify your sign in. (There may be some captchas)
Unlinking an Xbox account:
This is used when you want to sign out of the current Microsoft account.
This action can be completed on the ‘Start Game’ screen.
- Press A on controller or Enter key to proceed to the menu
- Select ‘Sign Out’
- Clicking ‘Yes’ will complete the unlinking process and restart the game.
Other ways to link your Xbox account and Steam profile
You can also link your Xbox account and Steam Profile through the PC Game Bar or Xbox app. To do this, please follow the guide outlined in this article under the 'Link an account to a game purchased on Steam' section.
Troubleshooting
The Sign in window appears cropped and button options are not available
This can be caused by various resolution issues. Please try the following troubleshooting if the sign in window does not display everything properly.
- Press TAB and then SPACE – this will allow you to activate the hidden sign in button.
- Try putting the game in windowed mode.
- Try using CTRL + scroll with the mouse wheel to adjust the zoom on the sign in window.
Sign in message says a USB key is required
- Clear Xbox Live Credentials from Steam:
- Click the Start button in the lower left corner of Windows, type Credential Manager, and press Enter.
- In Credential Manager, click on the "Windows Credentials" button.
- Find entries labeled Xbl_Ticket
- Left click on any entry with 1717113201 in the name and select Remove/Delete
Error message says "You cannot continue without profile login"
- Clear all Xbox Live Credentials:
- Click the Start button in the lower left corner of Windows, type Credential Manager, and press Enter.
- In Credential Manager, click on the "Windows Credentials" button.
- Scroll down to Generic Credentials
- Find entries that start with "Xbl"
- example "Xbl|Devicekey"
- Select the expand button on the right of the entry
- Select to "remove" the entries
- Remove all entries that start with "Xbl"
- Please note that you may need to sign back into other applications due to this.
Login loop issues or account not logging in when you click it
- Clear all Xbox Live Credentials
- Click the Start button in the lower left corner of Windows, type Credential Manager, and press Enter.
- In Credential Manager, click on the "Windows Credentials" button.
- Scroll down to Generic Credentials
- Find entries that start with "Xbl"
- example "Xbl|Devicekey"
- Select the expand button on the right of the entry
- Select to "remove" the entries
- Remove all entries that start with "Xbl"
- Please note that you may need to sign back into other applications due to this.
Login redirects or asks you to verify through a different app or website such as GitHub or Windows Hello
- Clear all Xbox Live Credentials
- Click the Start button in the lower left corner of Windows, type Credential Manager, and press Enter.
- In Credential Manager, click on the "Windows Credentials" button.
- Scroll down to Generic Credentials
- Find all entries that start with "Xbl"
- example "Xbl|Devicekey"
- Select the expand button on the right of the entry
- Select to "remove" the entries
- Remove all entries that start with "Xbl"
- Please note that you may need to sign back into other applications with your account after this.
Additional Steam Xbox sign in issues
- Clear all Xbox Live Credentials
- Click the Start button in the lower left corner of Windows, type Credential Manager, and press Enter.
- In Credential Manager, click on the "Windows Credentials" button.
- Scroll down to Generic Credentials
- Find all entries that start with "Xbl"
- example "Xbl|Devicekey"
- Select the expand button on the right of the entry
- Select to "remove" the entries
- Remove all entries that start with "Xbl"
- Please note that you may need to sign back into other applications due to this.