The Xbox App is in some limbo state right now where I can not install it from the Windows Store, it says its in BETA and not available for my current build of Windows (which is the latest live build).
Without this app me and my friends can not accept each others invites and join each others games. What an odd design to require the xbox app?
I updated my windows 10 yesterday also as i switched to the new Ultimate game pass, which now gives me a PC gamepass also.
I also found that it also tells me i have an out of date version also and can't install the latest app on my PC. Not really an issue for me as i game on my Xbox, but thought i would install and browse all the same.
Try using the Game Bar overlay, it came out prior to 1903 update (press windows icon + G, or press the Xbox logo button on a controller). From there you should be able to see a list of your friends online, right-click on their name and invite them.
Accepting invites now is a bit more convoluted than it used to be, but you should find a list in the notifications menu on Game Bar in case you miss the pop-up.
The new app needs a bit of work alright. We used to use the old Xbox App for party chat because a couple of the crew were on Xbox One and we got used it being handy to just invite party to game. Now that's not really user-friendly and all of us are now on PC, we just use Discord for VC and join on one person rather than send invites.
Regarding updating Windows. 1903 is still rolling out. If you want to update yourself before it appears in your updates, go to the Windows 10 Update Assistant page on the Microsoft website. Bear in mind that the update will take about an hour, maybe longer, and if you have an AMD processor it might be a good idea to update the drivers for it first (though I didn't, I've a 1700x and not had any issue in the week since I updated a week ago). 1903 also doesn't like Battleye at all, so if you also play PUBG, Ark or other games that use it, you might want to hold out.
I believe you need to be in the Windows Insider program and have the latest Windows Preview build update installed for the new XBox App to be usable. Since its a beta, you may experience issues so its up to you on if you want to upgrade now or just wait for the stable release in order to use the new app.
@dyfrin He's asking about this, which is definitely not the renamed app:
Microsoft just announced a brand-new Xbox beta app for Windows 10 that's the key to Xbox Game Pass for PCs.
Its a completely different build, and its also a Win32 app instead of UWP like the current XBox App/Console Companion
@d3adst1ck said in No way to invite friends right now on PC (ISSUE):
I believe you need to be in the Windows Insider program and have the latest Windows Preview build update installed for the new XBox App to be usable. Since its a beta, you may experience issues so its up to you on if you want to upgrade now or just wait for the stable release in order to use the new app.
You don't need to be in the Windows Insider program (I'm not). It's just that 1903 is still rolling out to retail. I linked to the page in my previous comment to manually install the update.
@realstyli Hmm, ok. I wasn't sure because at one point it was a preview build but I guess my system hasn't been in the roll out list yet.
Thanks for the replies.
First off the fact that the game forces us to google how to add friends and accept invites and doesn't link or explain the xbox app within the game is insanity.
Secondly, one of our computers doesn't have the game bar available or working at all, not sure what this is about, I will look into it seperately. The other PC had gamebar disabled as it has issues with some other overlays in games, I enabled it and then I was able to accept there.
I havent tried the console companion app as someone stated it may work, but there is no way to get the xbox app (beta) working on the PC without being part of the insider program.
All of this is too much for such a simple requirement to play with friends. I am having a bad taste from day 1 of this game even after waiting a year from release.
Righto, OP said he was looking at Xbox App that is in beta, to invite friends/accept invites.
I wouldn't recommend anyone to download the "new" xbox app in it's beta form to do that. Instead the companion app will do what OP requests, no?
It is unfortunate microsoft chose the same name for a new version and changed the old to a new name, which appears to be a step into the grave as the functionality is paired with gameplass on the new, but not in working order yet.
Microsoft Announces New Xbox App for Windows 10
