Xbox: How to fix the You need to be online to open this on this device error

When someone turns on their gaming system, they expect to have immediate access to their games. Unfortunately, problems arise from time to time, and games purchased digitally become unavailable. You might want to rip your hair out if you try to run a game or app on your PC or Xbox and get the notice "You must be online to open this on this device." Here's how to get things fixed.

How to fix “You need to be online to open this on this device”

Check the status of your Xbox and reset your internet and Xbox.

If your Xbox or PC says, "You must be online to open something on this device," it's telling you what's preventing you from getting to your stuff. You can't connect to the Xbox servers right now, so you're locked out. Check the Xbox Server Status page first to make sure the service isn't currently down. Check to see what the most recent update says about the problem and if any of the entries have a red symbol on them. Try restarting your router, PC, or Xbox if nothing appears on the status page. Hold the power button on your console for around 15 seconds to completely shut it off. Wait 30 seconds before turning it back on.

Set your Home Xbox

You can perhaps work around this issue by setting your console back to your account's Home Xbox if you game share with a friend or family member on your console and have it set to their Home Xbox. To do so, enter Settings and select Personalization from the General menu. To make whatever console you're on the main destination of that account's content, click My home Xbox and checkmark it.

Anyone who plays on that console has access to your games and subscriptions, but the other console you designated as the Home Xbox does not have access to that content unless it is signed in to the account directly. Also, you may only change your Home Xbox three times per year, so don't overdo it.