(Image credit: Microsoft) Less than basic sorting options What’s worse is that the official workaround from Microsoft seems to be to either reboot your PC via the Run function or seek help through the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter, hardly helpful advice for those who aren’t as PC savvy – and an annoying workaround for those that are. This changes on a game-by-game basis, but some users have reported (opens in new tab) not being able to get that storage space back again after they’ve uninstalled a game – those files are still being locked away for good.

As such, your PC often has to store crucial files in a “locked away” part of your storage to ensure they can be managed server side. Your monthly subscription instead grants you access to the games in the library, most of which are only there for a limited period of time. The issue here is that you technically don’t own the games present on the Xbox Game Pass service. What you might not know is that you may want to think twice before even installing them on your system, lest you potentially forfeit that storage space long after you’ve uninstalled the game.

Xbox Game Pass for PC is home to many games with significant file sizes, such as Gears 5, Control and Dirt 5. (Image credit: Miguel Lagoa) Locking you out of your own storage

Adding game pass games to steam