Crosshair X: Setup & Usage Guide

This guide covers installing and setting up Crosshair X, getting it to show in fullscreen games, anti-cheat and fair-play considerations, the designer, and the crosshair settings that work best for different game types.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the 17 September 2026 update (following the April 2026 new Designer, the June 2026 "Only Show In-Game" option, and the July 2026 content filters). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

• Install and launch it before the game. Crosshair X runs as a separate overlay on top of whatever is on screen. It doesn't modify the game.
• Run games in borderless windowed mode when you can. Normal overlays can't draw over exclusive fullscreen. For games that force exclusive fullscreen or block overlays, use the Xbox Game Bar widget (see below).
• Pick a crosshair from the Browse or Discover page, or build one in the Designer, then press the button to activate it. It centers on the selected monitor by default.
• Set a toggle hotkey. Bind a key to show or hide the crosshair instantly.
• Turn on "hide when right-clicking" for games with scopes or iron sights, so the overlay doesn't cover your sights.
• Turn on "Only Show In-Game" (added June 2026) so the crosshair only appears when a game you've added is active, and not over your desktop or browser.
• Check alignment in every game. Many third-person games aim off-center. Crosshair X saves a position per game.
• Turn off the game's own crosshair if it has one, so you don't get two crosshairs.

Installation

• Where to get it: Steam (app 1366800). Check the official site for any other storefronts it's sold on. It's a one-time purchase with no subscription. The price varies by region and there are frequent sales. Bundles with Scope X and Mouse X (a custom-cursor app launched in June 2026) are available on Steam.
• Requirements: Windows 10 at minimum. Windows 11 is recommended.
• Refunds: Steam's standard refund policy applies (under 14 days and under 2 hours played), so you can test it with your games.
• Languages: 17 supported.

Getting the Crosshair to Show

Game display mode | What to do

Borderless / windowed fullscreen | Works directly. Nothing extra to set up.

Exclusive fullscreen | Switch the game to borderless if possible. If not, use the Xbox Game Bar widget.

Games that block third-party overlays | Use the Xbox Game Bar widget

Multiple monitors | Pick the target monitor in settings. The position is saved per game.

Xbox Game Bar widget setup

• In Windows Settings, go to Gaming → Xbox Game Bar and make sure Game Bar is enabled.
• Launch Crosshair X and pick your crosshair. If the app has a Game Bar or widget toggle in its settings, turn it on. The exact wording changes between versions.
• In game, press Win + G to open Game Bar, open the Widgets menu, and select Crosshair X.
• Pin the widget so it stays visible after you close Game Bar, and make it click-through.
• Close Game Bar (Win + G again). The crosshair stays pinned.

The July 2026 update improved Game Bar widget stability. If the widget disappears after a Windows update, re-pin it.

Crosshair not showing? Checklist

• The game is in exclusive fullscreen. Switch to borderless or use the Game Bar widget.
• "Only Show In-Game" is on but the game isn't in your list. Add the game or its process in settings. A June 2026 fix improved how games are detected.
• The wrong monitor is selected in multi-monitor settings.
• Windows display scaling: "Ignore DPI Scaling" has been on by default since February 2026, so a crosshair looks the same at 100% and 225% scaling. If yours looks blurry or the wrong size, check that setting.
• Another overlay (recording software, GPU overlays) is on top. Disable it or change its layering.

Anti-Cheat and Fair Play

• How it works: Crosshair X draws a transparent window over the screen. The developer describes it as a system overlay that doesn't modify game files or game memory, and says the Game Bar path is compatible with major anti-cheat systems.
• What that means for you: Anti-cheat systems look for programs that read or write game memory or inject into the game. A screen overlay doesn't do either. Crosshair overlays are widely used, and the app has a very large user base on Steam.
• Still check the rules: "Not detected by anti-cheat" isn't the same as "allowed". Some game terms of service, tournaments, leagues, and third-party competitive platforms ban external crosshairs or any third-party overlay in official matches. Hardcore community servers can have their own rules too. Read the rules for anywhere you compete.
• Use the official path when overlays are blocked. If a game's anti-cheat stops normal overlays from rendering, use the Game Bar widget instead of trying to force the overlay through.
• Risk-free option: In games with good built-in crosshair customization, like many tactical shooters, the in-game crosshair is always fully allowed. Use Crosshair X there only if you need something the game can't do.

Designing a Crosshair

Crosshair X has two designers: the classic designer, and the new Designer added in April 2026.

New Designer features:

• An interactive grid canvas. Scroll to zoom, middle-click to pan, click to select layers, and drag to move or resize.
• Layer types: Draw (freehand pixels), Shape (rectangle, ellipse, triangle), Text, and Image. Drag and drop images onto the canvas.
• Arm renderer: 3–8 evenly spaced arms with per-arm visibility. Line shapes include Rectangle, Triangle, Chevron In, Chevron Out, Arc, T-Shape, Image, and Text.
• Animations on lines, shapes, text, and Draw layers (Draw animation was added July 2026).
• True 1px lines (added February 2026), plus a thickness and gap parity sync option that keeps lines symmetric.
• Keyboard shortcuts and a right-click context menu.

Sharing and organizing:

• Share any crosshair with a code, or export it as an image.
• The Saved page supports folders, favorites, search, and drag-to-reorder.
• Browse and Discover pull community crosshairs from mod.io and the Steam Workshop. There's also Today's Pick, trending, per-game recommendations, and an Offline Mode that brings back the legacy browse page.
• Content filters (July 2026) hide custom images, explicit content, or anime crosshairs from Browse.
• Your Squad links Crosshair X to Discord so you can share crosshairs with friends in one click.
• My Workshop manages your Steam Workshop and mod.io uploads in one place.

Best Settings by Game Type

Game type | Recommended style | Why

Tactical FPS (tap/burst aim) | Small static cross, 1–2px lines, small gap, no dot or a tiny dot | Precise, doesn't hide heads

Fast arena FPS / tracking | Small dot or small circle | Easy tracking, low visual clutter

Battle royale / survival (mixed range) | Small cross plus dot, hidden on right-click | Hip-fire reference that doesn't cover sights

Games with no crosshair | Tiny dot | Good enough for hip fire without hiding targets

Third-person shooters | Small cross, offset to the game's actual aim point | The camera is over the shoulder

Sniping-heavy games | Hide when aiming down sights | Keeps the scope reticle clean

Color and contrast:

• Cyan, bright green, yellow, or magenta stand out in most games. Avoid red in games with red effects and white in snow maps.
• Add a 1px black outline for contrast on bright backgrounds.
• Keep opacity at 80–100% for the main lines. A semi-transparent outline looks cleaner.

Size:

• Smaller is almost always better. A crosshair that covers a head at your usual engagement range is too big.
• Use odd pixel thickness (1px or 3px) with the parity option so lines stay centered on a 1920×1080 or 2560×1440 center pixel.

Aligning to the Real Aim Point

• Load a practice range or a private match.
• Stand facing a wall and fire a single shot, or use the game's own crosshair if it has one.
• Nudge the Crosshair X position until the center matches the bullet impact or the game's reticle.
• The position is saved for that game, so you only do this once.
• Check again after changing resolution, aspect ratio, or monitor.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Running the game in exclusive fullscreen and assuming the app is broken. Use borderless or the Game Bar widget.
• Leaving the crosshair on over scopes. Turn on right-click hiding.
• Huge, flashy crosshairs from Browse. They look great and cover targets. Keep one fun crosshair and one competitive one.
• Not re-aligning for third-person games. Your shots will land off from your crosshair.
• Using it in tournaments that ban overlays. Check the rules.
• Double crosshairs. Turn off the in-game one or set its opacity to zero.

Advanced Tips

• Hotkey-swap between saved crosshairs. Use one for hip fire and one for long range.
• Per-game profiles: Combine per-game positions with "Only Show In-Game" so the app just works when you launch each title.
• Animations: Subtle animations, such as an arm expanding on click, can mimic dynamic crosshairs in games without them. Keep them small so they don't distract.
• Image crosshairs: Transparent PNG or GIF support means you can import a crosshair from another game. Check that it's actually centered in the image.
• Steam Workshop tags exist for many games (a WARDOGS tag was added 17 September 2026). Filter Browse by your game to find designs made for it.

FAQ

Will Crosshair X get me banned? The developer says it doesn't modify game files or memory, and that the Game Bar path works with major anti-cheat. That's not the same as a guarantee for every game. Some tournaments and competitive platforms ban third-party crosshairs, so check the rules where you play.

Why doesn't my crosshair show in fullscreen? Exclusive fullscreen blocks normal overlays. Switch to borderless windowed mode, or use the Xbox Game Bar widget.

Can I hide it when aiming? Yes. Turn on automatic hiding on right-click, or use a custom toggle key.

Does it work on multiple monitors? Yes. Pick the monitor in settings. The position is saved per game.

Is it a subscription? No. It's a one-time purchase (on Steam, with Scope X and Mouse X bundles available at a discount).

Why does my crosshair look blurry? Windows display scaling. Make sure "Ignore DPI Scaling" is on. It's the default since February 2026. Also use whole-pixel line sizes.

How do I share a crosshair? Copy its share code, or export it as an image. With Your Squad you can share through Discord in one click.

Sources

• Steam store page: Crosshair X
• Steam news: Crosshair X updates (Feb–Sep 2026 notes)
• CenterPoint Gaming: Crosshair X official site