So you just purchased a shiny new laptop and discovered it came with a free 1-month or 3-month trial of Xbox Game Pass for PC. Awesome! Xbox Game Pass opens up a world of over 100 high-quality games to play on your laptop for just the cost of a monthly subscription after the trial.
But how exactly do you go about redeeming the Xbox Game Pass code that came with your laptop? This comprehensive guide will walk you through the redemption process step-by-step. We‘ll also provide pro tips to maximize your free trial so you can experience the full benefits of Xbox Game Pass on your new laptop!
Locating the Free Xbox Game Pass Code Included with Your Laptop
The first step is to actually find the 25-character Xbox Game Pass code that should have been provided with your laptop purchase. Here are the most common places to look:
Digital Code Email – Check your inbox for any emails from the laptop manufacturer regarding your purchase. The code may be displayed in the body of the email or as an attachment.
User Account Dashboard – Sign into your account on the laptop maker‘s website. The code could be visible on your account dashboard or in the order history.
Laptop Packaging – Physically sift through any paperwork included in the laptop box itself. The code is often printed on a card, envelope, or scratch-off label.
Support Chat – If you can‘t locate the code, initiate a customer support chat and provide your order info. An agent can look up and provide the Game Pass code.
Once you have the 25-character code in hand, it‘s time to activate it!
How to Redeem Your Free Xbox Game Pass Code
Redeeming the code is a straightforward process:
Go to Xbox.com and click "Sign In" in the top right corner. Sign into your Microsoft account if prompted.
Click on your profile avatar in the top right and select "Redeem Code" from the dropdown menu.
Enter the 25-character code on the Redeem Code page and click the "Redeem" button.
Follow any remaining prompts to confirm the redemption.
When successful, you‘ll see a confirmation message and your Xbox Game Pass membership will be applied to your Microsoft account automatically. Now the fun can begin!
Downloading and Playing Xbox Games from Game Pass on Your Laptop
With your free Xbox Game Pass trial activated, it‘s time to start downloading games from the huge catalog to play on your new laptop!
Here are the steps:
Install the Xbox app on your laptop from the Microsoft Store if you don‘t already have it. This is required to browse and download games.
Open the Xbox app and sign in using the same Microsoft account you redeemed the Game Pass code with.
Click on the "Game Pass" tab along the top of the app window.
Browse or search for Xbox games you want to play. When you find one, click the "Install" button on its page.
Select a drive to download the game to and click "Install" to start the download.
Once installed, launch and play the game right from the Xbox app!
And that‘s all it takes to start accessing your Xbox Game Pass library and playing great games on your laptop! The Xbox app makes it easy to browse, download, and play games, so you‘ll be gaming in no time.
Pro Tips to Maximize Your Free Xbox Game Pass Trial
To really get the most out of your free 1-month or 3-month Game Pass trial, keep these tips in mind:
Add your Microsoft account to Xbox consoles – This allows you to access the same free Game Pass games library on any Xbox One or Series X/S systems you own.
Turn on recurring billing – After redeeming the code, enable auto-renew for your membership. This ensures continuous access to games after the free period ends.
Download must-play exclusives ASAP – Use the start of the trial to install big exclusive games only available via Game Pass so you can play them while you have access.
Play online and join parties – Connect with friends and other players online for enhanced multiplayer, co-op, and social gaming experiences.
Claim monthly Xbox Game Pass Perks – Don‘t miss out on free in-game content, partner offers, and other perks offered exclusively to Game Pass members.
Use xCloud streaming – With Game Pass Ultimate, stream games to your phone or tablet when away from your laptop. Pick up where you left off seamlessly.
Bookmark expiring games – Be sure to try limited-time games before they leave the catalog at the end of each month.
Browse for new additions regularly – Check the Xbox app routinely for fresh games added to Game Pass so you don‘t miss out.
Watch for Game Pass deals – After the trial, take advantage of promotions like $1 upgrades or discounted multi-month subscriptions.
Following these tips will ensure you squeeze every last drop of value out of your free Xbox Game Pass trial!
Xbox Game Pass Free Trial Length and Details
Now that we‘ve covered how to redeem your code and use Game Pass, let‘s look at some key details about the free access period:
Typical Trial Length – Most new laptops and PCs come with either a 1-month or 3-month free Xbox Game Pass code. The code‘s duration can be confirmed when redeeming.
Games Library – You‘ll have full access to the over 100 downloadable Xbox Game Pass games for PC during the trial. New games are added constantly.
Multiplayer and Social Features – You can play online, join parties, and connect with others through built-in Xbox social tools.
Game Progress Saved – Any game progress is saved in the cloud so you can pick back up seamlessly if you resubscribe.
Recurring Billing – After the trial, membership auto-renews at $9.99/month unless you turn it off ahead of time.
Cancellation – You can cancel the auto-renewal at any time to prevent being charged after the free period. Just don‘t forget to play those bookmarked games before it ends!
Understanding these key points will prevent any surprises down the line when your trial is close to expiring.
Can You Extend the Free Xbox Game Pass Trial?
You may be wondering if there are any ways to extend or prolong the free 1 or 3 months of Game Pass access that came with your laptop. Here are a few options to potentially continue playing for free:
Purchase Game Pass Gift Cards – Redeeming additional 1 or 3-month gift card codes can add to your trial length.
Participate in Xbox Quests – Completing Xbox Quests can earn rewards like extra Game Pass membership time.
Take advantage of Free Play Days – Xbox often offers Free Play Days where anyone can play certain games for free over a weekend.
Refer friends – If your friends sign up for Game Pass, you may be eligible for a bonus free month through referral programs.
Look for Xbox contests and giveaways – Entering Xbox contests on social media or forums could bag you bonus free Game Pass codes.
While there‘s no guaranteed way to extend it forever, utilizing these methods can tack on additional free time here and there. But eventually, you‘ll need to buy into a paid subscription if you want to continue playing Game Pass games after the trial runs out.
Xbox Game Pass Paid Subscription Options
Once your free Xbox Game Pass period inevitably comes to an end, you‘ll have to choose between subscribing to one of the paid plans or losing access to the games catalog. Here‘s a quick breakdown of what‘s offered:
| Subscription | Cost | Includes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass for PC | $9.99/month | PC games library, EA Play on PC | Playing on Windows laptop/desktop |
| Xbox Game Pass for Console | $9.99/month | Xbox console games library | Playing on Xbox One/Series X |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $14.99/month | PC + Console libraries, xCloud streaming, Xbox Live Gold | Playing across PC, console, and mobile devices |
As you can see, Game Pass for PC and Game Pass Ultimate are the two options that make sense for continuing to play on your laptop after the free trial. Unless you own an Xbox console, Game Pass for PC is probably sufficient for $9.99/month.
But if you want to stream games to phones/tablets too or play on multiple platforms, upgrade to Ultimate. Many laptop gamers will find the PC-focused tier gives them all they need though. And now that you know how to redeem that free Xbox Game Pass code, you can try before you buy!
The Benefits and Value of Xbox Game Pass for Laptop Gamers
Let‘s discuss why Xbox Game Pass can be so valuable specifically for laptop gamers. Here are some of the biggest benefits you can take advantage of:
Huge Library of Games – Over 100 high-quality titles across genres, old and new. A laptop-focused selection of indies, AAA blockbusters, and favorites.
Game Discovery – Easily discover and try new games you would hesitate to buy at full price. Find your next favorite!
Affordability – For as low as $1 to start, enjoy tons of games for a monthly fee that costs less than buying 2 brand new games per year.
Xbox Exclusives – Play major Microsoft exclusives like Halo and Forza on day one with Game Pass. Titles that never appear on PlayStation or Switch.
Multiplayer and Social – Join one of the world‘s biggest gaming communities. Connect and play with people around the globe.
Portability – Download and play games on any Windows laptop or desktop. Gaming on the go is easy.
Cloud Streaming – With Ultimate, stream games to phones and tablets when away from your laptop. Pick up where you left off on any screen.
For laptop gamers, Xbox Game Pass checks all the boxes. The unlimited on-demand games for an affordable monthly rate can‘t be beat. And being able to try so many titles helps you discover great new gaming experiences.
Expert Tips to Save Money on Xbox Game Pass
Don‘t forget about these money-saving tips and tricks to get Xbox Game Pass for less than the standard monthly pricing:
Only subscribe for 1-3 months at a time and watch for discounts before renewing each period.
Stack prepaid code deals on top of your free trial for additional months at a lower cost per month.
Keep an eye out for periodic Xbox Game Pass Ultimate upgrade offers that provide 1-2 months for only $1.
Take advantage of Xbox Game Pass Quests to earn Account Credit you can use towards subscription fees.
Participate in Microsoft Rewards programs to accrue points redeemable for Game Pass membership time.
Buy Xbox Gift Cards when they are on sale at retailers and use them to pay for your Game Pass subscription.
Refer friends to join Game Pass and unlock perks like bonus months or Account Credit.
With the right techniques, you can significantly cut down the already reasonable Game Pass monthly rates. Now you‘ve got no excuse not to keep playing once that free trial is up!
Wrapping Up
And there you have it – everything you need to know about successfully redeeming and maximizing the free 1 or 3-month Xbox Game Pass trial that came with your new laptop. In summary:
Locate the 25-character code from your laptop order packaging, emails, or account dashboard
Redeem it easily on the Xbox website associated with your Microsoft account
Use the Xbox app on your laptop to browse, download, and play games from the huge Game Pass catalog
Take advantage of all the social features, streaming, and discounts to get your money‘s worth
Consider affordable paid subscription options after the trial to keep accessing 100+ great games
With a stellar games library, exciting benefits, and reasonable pricing, Xbox Game Pass is a must-try for PC gamers. Thanks to the free trial, you can experience it first-hand on your laptop without risk. So put this guide‘s steps into action, redeem that code, and dive into the massive world Xbox Game Pass opens up right on your new laptop today! Game on!
