Partner Center account
Partner Center Developer Account
To activate Developer Mode, your console needs to be authorized by a Microsoft developer account. This is done through Partner Center, Microsoft's portal for developers. The registration is what unlocks your ability to enroll consoles into Dev Mode.
Individual onboarding is free
As of June 2025, individual developer onboarding is free. In the past there was a one-time registration fee for personal accounts, but the individual path no longer charges it. You sign in with a Microsoft account and complete the onboarding steps.
What the process looks like
- Sign in to Partner Center with your Microsoft account.
- Choose the individual account type for personal homebrew use.
- Provide the basic details onboarding asks for and accept the agreement.
- Once registered, your account can authorize Dev Mode activation on your console.
Individual vs. company accounts
Company accounts are meant for organizations publishing commercially and may involve verification and fees. For running emulators and homebrew at home, the free individual account is all you need.
Use a Microsoft account you own and intend to keep. This account ties your developer registration to your console activation, so losing access to it complicates managing Dev Mode later.
With your developer account in place, you are ready to install the Dev Mode Activation app and switch your console into the developer sandbox.