The .GamingRoot file is created by the Xbox app on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Xbox app uses a .GamingRoot file to identify drives it can install games on. You may have one or more .GamingRoot files if you use Xbox Game Pass.
The .GamingRoot file is created by Microsoft’s Xbox app on Windows 10 and Windows 11. This is a real file—not a virus—and you shouldn’t delete it. The Xbox app uses this file to identify drives it can install games on.
The Xbox app uses the .GamingRoot file to identify drives you can install games on. For example, if you have Xbox Game Pass and use the Xbox app to install PC games for Windows 10 or Windows 11, you will see one of these files on each drive you install games on.
The .GamingRoot file is normally hidden. You won’t see it unless you’ve chosen to show hidden files in File Explorer.
If you do show hidden files you will likely see a .GamingRoot file on your C: drive as well as any other drives you’ve chosen to install Xbox games on. This may be a secondary internal drive or an external drive. For example, if you have a D: drive you install Xbox games on, you will also have a .GamingRoot file on your D: drive.
The file is located in the “root” of your drive. In other words, it’s in C:\ or D:\, not in another directory on that drive. While the Xbox app may be installing games to the C:\XboxGames folder, it creates a .GamingRoot file at C:\.GamingRoot.
To see which drives you’ve configured to install games, open the Xbox app, click your name, click “Settings,” and select the “General” category. Under “Game Install Options,” you’ll see a dropdown menu with a list of drives. All the drives in this list will have a GamingRoot file created on them by the Xbox app.
Can You Delete the .GamingRoot File?
We recommend against deleting this file. If you don’t use the Xbox app or play games installed via the Xbox app at all, there’s no downside to deleting it. However, if you do use the Xbox app or have Xbox Game Pass games installed, deleting the file may cause problems with launching your installed games or with installing new games.
The .GamingRoot file is very small and barely takes up any space. Windows reports it takes up 28 bytes of space on our system—it’s almost an empty file. You won’t free up any usable disk space by deleting it.
Since file doesn’t take up much space, so we recommend ignoring it. If you find it distracting, you can always tell File Explorer to hide hidden files once again. (We hear you, though: We wish Microsoft’s Xbox app wasn’t cluttering our drives up with this file, too.)
While this file isn’t a virus, we recommend scanning your PC with a trustworthy antivirus program if you’re concerned it has a virus or other malware.
But Why Is It .GamingRoot and Not GamingRoot?
By the way, if you’re wondering why the file has a period in front of it—in other words, why it’s “.GamingRoot” and not just “GamingRoot”—this convention is from UNIX-like operating systems like Linux and macOS rather than Windows. On Linux and other UNIX-like operating systems, files with a period in front of their name are hidden by default.
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The .GamingRoot file is generated by Microsoft’s Xbox app on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 to identify suitable drives for game installations. It is a legitimate file, not a virus, and should not be removed. This file’s primary purpose is to assist the Xbox app in recognizing drives where games can be installed.
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Where is it found?
Ordinarily, the .GamingRoot file is hidden from view, and only visible if you choose to reveal hidden files through File Explorer settings. You will find this file in the root directory of your drive, such as C:\ or D:\, not within any specific folder.
Even though the Xbox app might install games in the C:\XboxGames folder, it still places the .GamingRoot file at C:.GamingRoot.
In the Xbox app, you can check which drives are set up for game installations. Navigate to the “Settings” section by clicking on your profile, then choose the “General” category.
Under “Game Install Options,” you will find a dropdown menu displaying the list of drives with associated GamingRoot files created by the Xbox app.
Read Also: How RNG Makes Gaming Fair and Exciting
Caution
It is advised not to delete the .GamingRoot file. While it won’t cause issues if you don’t use the Xbox app or play games through it, removing the file may disrupt the launching of installed games or installing new ones for those who use the Xbox app or have Xbox Game Pass games.
The .GamingRoot file is extremely small and occupies negligible space on your system—just 28 bytes. Hence, removing it will not provide any significant disk space savings.
If you don’t want to see the file, you can hide hidden files in File Explorer once again. However, it’s worth noting that the file’s small size makes it easy to ignore.
Although not a virus, you can scan your PC using a reliable antivirus program if you are concerned about malware.
The naming convention of starting with a period (“.GamingRoot”) is derived from UNIX-like operating systems, such as Linux and macOS. In those systems, files with a leading period are hidden by default. This convention is not typical in Windows.
Conclusion
In summary, the .GamingRoot file is a legitimate file created by the Xbox app on Windows 10 and Windows 11 to identify game installation drives. It is hidden by default and should not be deleted to avoid potential issues with installed games.
Although small in size, removing it won’t free up significant disk space. Scanning for malware is recommended if you have concerns. The file’s naming convention with a leading period is common in UNIX-like systems like Linux and macOS.
The Microsoft Xbox software generates a GamingRoot file on both Windows 10 & Windows 11 to identify acceptable disks for game installations. It is a valid file, not a virus, and should not be deleted. The primary purpose of this file is to assist the Xbox application in recognizing disks where games can be placed.
Where is it found?
The.GamingRoot file is normally hidden and only available if you choose to display hidden files in File Explorer settings. This file will be found in the root directory of your drive, such as C: or D: rather than in any specific folder.
Despite the fact that the Xbox app can install games in the C:XboxGames folder, it nevertheless places. The GamingRoot file is located on C:GamingRoot.
You can check which disks are configured for game installation in the Xbox app. By clicking on your profile, go to the “Settings” area, then select the “General” category. Under “Game Install Options,” you’ll see a dropdown menu with a list of disks that contain GamingRoot files created by the Xbox app.
Caution
It is not advised to delete the.GamingRoot is a file. While uninstalling the file will not cause problems if you do not use the Xbox app or play games through it, it may interfere with the launching of installed games or the installation of new ones for those that use the Xbox app and have Xbox Game Pass games.
The GamingRoot file is extremely short and takes up very little space on your system—only 28 bytes. As a result, deleting it will not result in significant disk space savings.
If you don’t want to see the file, you can hide it again in File Explorer. It’s worth mentioning, though, that the file’s small size makes it easy to dismiss. If you are concerned about malware, you can scan your PC with a reputable antivirus program.
Starting with a period (“GamingRoot”) is a naming convention borrowed from UNIX-like operating systems such as Linux and macOS. Files with a leading period are hidden by default in such systems. This is not a common Windows convention.
Final Words:
In conclusion, the GamingRoot file on Windows 10 and Windows 11 is a valid file created by the Xbox software to identify game installation disks. It is hidden by default & should not be deleted in order to avoid problems with installed games.
Despite its small size, deleting it will not free up much disk space. If you have any doubts, you should run a malware scan. The use of a leading period in file names is prevalent in UNIX-like systems such as Linux and macOS.
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The .GamingRoot file is created by the Xbox app on Home windows 10 and Home windows 11. The Xbox app makes use of a .GamingRoot file to establish drives it could possibly set up video games on. You could have a number of .GamingRoot information in the event you use Xbox Sport Cross.
The .GamingRoot file is created by Microsoft’s Xbox app on Home windows 10 and Home windows 11. It is a actual file—not a virus—and also you shouldn’t delete it. The Xbox app makes use of this file to establish drives it could possibly set up video games on.
What Is the .GamingRoot File?
The Xbox app makes use of the .GamingRoot file to establish drives you’ll be able to set up video games on. For instance, if in case you have Xbox Sport Cross and use the Xbox app to put in PC video games for Home windows 10 or Home windows 11, you will note one in every of these information on every drive you put in video games on.
The .GamingRoot file is often hidden. You received’t see it except you’ve chosen to present hidden information in File Explorer.
In case you do present hidden information you’ll probably see a .GamingRoot file in your C: drive in addition to another drives you’ve chosen to put in Xbox video games on. This can be a secondary inner drive or an exterior drive. For instance, if in case you have a D: drive you put in Xbox video games on, additionally, you will have a .GamingRoot file in your D: drive.
The file is positioned within the “root” of your drive. In different phrases, it’s in C: or D:, not in one other listing on that drive. Whereas the Xbox app could also be putting in video games to the C:XboxGames folder, it creates a .GamingRoot file at C:.GamingRoot.
To see which drives you’ve configured to put in video games, open the Xbox app, click on your title, click on “Settings,” and choose the “Basic” class. Beneath “Sport Set up Choices,” you’ll see a dropdown menu with a listing of drives. All of the drives on this record can have a GamingRoot file created on them by the Xbox app.
Can You Delete the .GamingRoot File?
We advocate towards deleting this file. In case you don’t use the Xbox app or play video games put in through the Xbox app in any respect, there’s no draw back to deleting it. Nevertheless, in the event you do use the Xbox app or have Xbox Sport Cross video games put in, deleting the file could trigger issues with launching your put in video games or with putting in new video games.
The .GamingRoot file could be very small and barely takes up any area. Home windows stories it takes up 28 bytes of area on our system—it’s nearly an empty file. You received’t release any usable disk area by deleting it.
Since file doesn’t take up a lot area, so we advocate ignoring it. In case you discover it distracting, you’ll be able to at all times inform File Explorer to cover hidden information as soon as once more. (We hear you, although: We want Microsoft’s Xbox app wasn’t cluttering our drives up with this file, too.)
Whereas this file isn’t a virus, we advocate scanning your PC with a reliable antivirus program in the event you’re involved it has a virus or different malware.
However Why Is It .GamingRoot and Not GamingRoot?
By the way in which, in the event you’re questioning why the file has a interval in entrance of it—in different phrases, why it’s “.GamingRoot” and never simply “GamingRoot”—this conference is from UNIX-like working programs like Linux and macOS slightly than Home windows. On Linux and different UNIX-like working programs, information with a interval in entrance of their title are hidden by default.