WBOX

This is a Windows Consolizer tool supporting Win10, Win11, x86, x64, ARM32 and ARM64 (should also work on Win7 & Win8)
This tool can significantly reduce memory (by GBs) and CPU/GPU cycles for games
You can use this with any Windows flavor like Tiny10 or Tiny11 as well.
Bypass explorer and even Win11 Xbox mode bloat if you only care about Steam for example.

Steam, Playnite, GOG, Itch.io, Epic, Ubisoft, EA, Battlenet & Polymega should work.

How to use

• You can config Windows to skip login etc (optional: go to Settings→Accounts→Sign-in options and disable login after sleep)
• Steam App Left/Right menus can be opened by holding Back/Select button then tapping Left/Right Bumper
• In Control-Center, you can use a Gamepad to navigate
• I suggest making Steam default boot into BigPicture mode (better after it updates). And disable Steams auto-start.

Portable/Optimized Install (Win10, Win11 etc)

• Make sure VC++ redist is installed for your system architecture: Download VC++ Redist
• Download and Install (For upgrading, uninstall first)
• Click "Enable Game Mode" (This will modify a single reg value and reboot)
• NOTE: If the app fails to run you may need to disable "Smart App Control"
• Optional: Use HHC as an alternative for TDP control (no FSE requied) HHC Download

FSE [Full Screen Experience] / Xbox Mode (Win11 Only)

• You can install this tool in FSE mode giving you extended features (WinStore, Xbox bar etc)
• NOTE: If this feature is not enabled, you can enable it with this tool: XboxFullscreenExperienceTool
• Make sure VC++ redist is installed for your system architecture: Download VC++ Redist
• You must put Win11 into Developer Mode: Settings => "System/Advanced/Developer Mode"
• Download and Install (For upgrading, uninstall first)
• Then run "Install_WBOX_FSE.bat"
• Now got to: Settings => "Gaming/XBOX mode"
• Under "Choose home app" select WBOX.FSE
• Then enable "Enter XBOX app on startup"
• Reboot
• NOTE: Left/Right menu commands don't work from gamepad in FSE mode (Unless you use HHC) HHC Download

Gotchas

• If Steams window is not fully in focus it may not detect virtual menu buttons (just click/tap it to focus it)

HDR

• WBOX has a Auto-HDR tool which will read EDID and create a calibration for you
• You can test its results using this tool: https://www.wide-gamut.com/test/image-hdr

Optional: Virtual HID

• If Left/Right menus are not working well you can install: libvirtualhid (v2026.901.116.32)
• Download and install the driver: VirtualHID Download
• WBOX will auto detect and use it if available

Other info

The reg value changed is "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell" (yes thats it, unless you're using FSE)
If you ever need to manually revert simply do these steps (but Control Center does it for you)

• Open Task-Manager (can be done with Ctrl+Alt+Del)
• Click "Run new task" and enter "regedit"
• Navigate to the "Shell" key listed above and change it to explorer.exe
• Click "Run new task" again and enter "explorer.exe"
• Everything should work as normal again.
  Discord for this project is a channel in the ReignOS one: Discord

Build

• VS 2026
• .NETFW 4.7.2
• VC++
• For VirtualHID
  • Create a folder next to WBOX called "WBOX_VirtualDriver" then open terminal
  • git clone --recurse-submodules --branch v2026.829.2338.54 --depth 1 https://github.com/LizardByte/libvirtualhid.git
  • cmake -S . -B build-vs2026 -G "Visual Studio 18 2026" -A x64 -DBUILD_TESTS=OFF -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=ON -DBUILD_DOCS=OFF -DLIBVIRTUALHID_BUILD_TOOLS=ON -DLIBVIRTUALHID_BUILD_WINDOWS_DRIVER=OFF -DLIBVIRTUALHID_INSTALL=ON
  • cmake --build build-vs2026 --config Debug --target libvirtualhid
  • cmake --build build-vs2026 --config Release --target libvirtualhid