> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://devdocs.xbox.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Account authentication and access overview

> Authenticate XBOX players and manage identity with XUserHandle, the XBOX Authentication Library (XAL), and XUser APIs across GDK and cross-platform titles.

Use this topic to authenticate and access accounts, use the XBOX Authentication Library (XAL), and use `XUser` API contents.

The XBOX client manages the identity of the users who are interacting with your game by using an `XUserHandle` object. Each `XUserHandle` instance represents a user who's signed into your game.

For more information about how to connect a user to XBOX services, see the code example in [How to: best practice to sign in a user](/build/core-features/common/user/xuser_howto_best_practice_signing_in).

## XBOX app on Windows PC

For Windows PC development, you can use the XBOX app to access XBOX services by using a [test account](/services/xbox-services/develop/test-accounts/live-setup-testaccounts) in a development sandbox. Use the following steps to access a test account from a development sandbox.

1. Download and install the XBOX app [from the Microsoft Store](https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9MV0B5HZVK9Z).
2. Switch to the development sandbox for your game. You can switch the development sandbox on Windows PC by using the [PC Sandbox Switcher](/tools/tools-services/live-pc-sandbox-switcher) tool.
3. Open the XBOX app.
4. Select the profile icon, and then select **Sign in**.
5. Follow the instructions to access the account.

To sign out of the account, open the XBOX app, and then select the profile icon > **Sign out**.

## XAL and XUser

XAL and `XUser` are similar APIs. XAL is provided to support cross-platform games.

<Note>If you're targeting cross-platform (mobile and the GDK), use XAL. If you're only targeting the GDK, use `XUserHandle` instead.</Note>

## See also

[User identity and XUser](/build/core-features/common/user/player-identity-xuser)


## Related topics

- [User sign-in](/services/xbox-services/fundamentals/identity/auth/live-authentication-nav.md)
- [Services C API overview - PFAuthenticationTypes.h](/services/playfab/api-references/c/pfauthenticationtypes/pfauthenticationtypes_members.md)
- [Authentication](/services/playfab/identity/player-identity/authentication/index.md)
- [XBOX services sign-in for title websites](/services/xbox-services/fundamentals/s2s-auth-calls/service-authentication/live-website-authentication.md)
- [Access policies overview](/services/xbox-services/fundamentals/s2s-auth-calls/custom-service-config/access-policies/live-access-policies-overview.md)