You only need to know how to set things up on the Xbox Series X and Series S to take use of all the options and features that may enhance your gaming experience.
With hundreds of settings and options to customize, Microsoft's most recent consoles are more adaptable than ever. While the Series S offers a more affordable option with virtually identical functionality, the Xbox Series X delivers 4K gaming and quick loading. Here is some advice for every Xbox owner if you've been fortunate to get your hands on one of the new devices.
1. Transfer your game and save data
You should play any Xbox One titles you still have on your backlog on the Series X. You'll experience smoother frame rates and, in the case of older games, Auto HDR, thanks to the increased power. You can transfer games without having to download them again if you upgraded from an Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X.
Go to Settings > System > Backup & transfer > Network transfer on your Xbox One to connect both consoles to your home network (preferably using an Ethernet connection). Go to the same menu on your Series X/S after checking the Allow Network Transfer option.
Click Copy Selected after selecting the games you wish to transfer. Once the transfer is complete, you may unplug your old Xbox One permanently. Again, utilizing Ethernet is strongly advised.
2. Set Your HDR Levels Correctly
Newer TVs with 4K and HDR capabilities are where the Xbox Series X and Series S really shine, but not all HDR TVs are made equal. It is for this reason that your Xbox enables you to adjust the HDR values for an HDR "pop" without sacrificing any visual detail.
Go to Settings > General > TV & Display Options > Calibrate HDR for Games to launch the wizard. Follow the on-screen directions while adjusting the brightness so that the boxes just vanish. Enable the HGIG mode on your TV if it has one, and check that all the necessary boxes are checked in the Video Modes menu.
3. Set Up and Personalize Your Home Screen
You may change the theme of the Xbox home menu, arrange your games, and rearrange the options in the pop-up guide that displays when you hit the Xbox button. To explore this menu, press the controller's View button (the one with the two rectangles).
You may alter the Guide menu, swap between bright and dark themes, add or delete rows from your home screen, and modify the backdrop color. Even better, you can divide your games into categories like single-player vs. multiplayer or genre, and then display those groupings prominently on your home screen.
4. Configure the Controller Layout
You may set up many profiles for the same gamepad on your Xbox and precisely remap the controller to your preferences. If you like various layouts for particular game kinds, this might be helpful. From Settings > Devices and connections > Accessories, remap your controller.
Select Configure after selecting the controller you want to configure. Then, you may choose an existing profile and click the pencil symbol to alter it, or you can click New Profile to create a new control scheme. The sticks and triggers may then be switched, or certain buttons can be remapped to new uses.
5. Turn Off Loud Notifications
You may choose which alerts display from the Settings > Preferences > Notifications menu if you're sick of them interfering with your gaming. From this point, you may choose which sorts of alerts you wish to receive and how long they should display on the screen, or you can completely disable notifications.
6. Switch on surround sound
Affordable 5.1 systems have made surround sound more accessible than ever, and Dolby Atmos offers the Xbox one up on its rivals for hardcore home theater fans. For gaming headsets, the Xbox also supports several virtual surround formats such as Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Virtual: X.
For speaker output settings and to activate 3D headset audio, go to Settings > General > Volume & Audio Output. Depending on how your system is set up, you might need to experiment with a few settings. Keep in mind that to use Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, you must install the DTS Sound Unbound and Dolby Access applications from the Microsoft Store. Free speaker support is available, however virtual headphone audio requires a single in-app payment.
7. Anywhere, Play anything
You are not required to just play games made for the Xbox Series X just because you possess one. Xbox's extensive backward compatibility has you covered if you never quite finished your last-gen backlog. All Xbox One titles, including many Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, are playable on the Series X and Series S.
Some of those titles enable Smart Delivery, so when the Series X-optimized edition becomes available, you'll receive it at no additional cost. You can play a game on a PC and switch between platforms without losing your progress if the game supports Play Anywhere.
8. Receive Alerts When to Break
Sometimes when I sit down to play Forza Horizon, I find that three hours have passed without getting up. Your Xbox may serve as a helpful reminder for you to take regular rests so that your hands, eyes, and back can relax.
Set the timer at your chosen interval under Settings > Preferences > Break Reminder, and then follow your Xbox's suggestion when it prompts you to stand up. Experts in ergonomics advise taking breaks more frequently, therefore 30 minutes is the ideal duration for this. It's tempting to keep going, but your body will appreciate it.
9. Take a screenshot or a video of the game
You may take a screenshot or record a video and send it to your pals if you just pulled off an amazing combo or discovered a humorous glitch. Press the Share button on your controller (the box with an arrow) to capture a still photograph of your gameplay. Hold down Share to record the final few frames of the game as a video.
The capture may then be viewed, edited, or shared from there. From Settings > Preferences > Capture & Share, you may change the functionality of this tool by choosing a longer time for video clips, remapping the shortcuts, and more.
10. Utilize your voice to control Xbox
Even while the Xbox Kinect caused some controversy, the voice activation feature made turning on your Xbox feel tremendously advanced and practical. Thanks to voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, that is now the norm. With the smart speakers you currently possess, your Xbox enables you to carry out a number of voice requests.
Check the box next to Enable Digital Assistants in Settings > Devices & Connections > Digital Assistants. Then, open the Alexa or Google Home app and add your Xbox as a new device so that you may use your voice to start and stop the Xbox, launch games, and record gameplay.
11. From your phone, purchase and download games
When I wasn't near my Xbox, my buddies gave me recommendations for some of my all-time favorite games. You may buy those games from your phone and start downloading them to your console right away so they'll be available when you sit down on the couch rather than waiting for them to download when you get home.
Before leaving the house, make sure you set this up. To guarantee you can access the Xbox even from a distance, download the Xbox app for your smartphone (Android or iOS), hit the Console symbol, link your account, and make sure the system is set to Instant-On.
Once everything is configured, you may locate a game in the app and select Download to Console. Even if you're not at home, the game will start to install on the Xbox if your console is chosen and you choose to Install to This Console.
12. Use your controller to sign in
You may use a favorite gamepad to sign in to your Xbox if you're tired of having to input your password each time. If you live with other players and each of you has a separate account and controller, this can also be helpful. Select This Controller signs in under Settings > Account > Sign-in, security & passkey, then click Link Controller. When you're ready to personalize your security settings and give your controller permission to approve sign-ins, select Change my sign-in & security preferences.
13. Quick Resume: Continue Where You Left Off
Quick Resume, which enables you to move between games at breakneck speed and pick up where you left off, was a huge deal when Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Series X and Series S. To use this feature, you actually don't need to do anything unusual; it just functions.
While playing, access the Guide menu and choose a different game to begin. You can go back and forth between other games while the original game is halted. When you choose a game that has been put on hold, a Quick Resume banner will appear in the corner and load quickly.
14. Utilize energy-saving mode to save power
You probably don't need to keep the Xbox console on standby if you don't intend to use its remote play and download capabilities. If so, you may conserve energy by letting your console go to sleep properly while not in use. Make sure Energy-saving is selected for Sleep mode under Settings > General > Sleep mode & startup. You may also choose how long the Xbox waits before turning off while inactive from this option.
15. More Add Save Space
The Series S only offers 512GB of total internal storage compared to the Series X's 1TB capacity. In other words, unless you increase your storage, you'll soon be managing game files. Simply insert the memory card into the Storage Expansion port on the back of the console to begin saving with any USB 3.1 external hard drive that is compatible with your Xbox.
It would be worthwhile to spend money on the Seagate Storage Expansion Card, which was designed especially for the console, for a better experience. You can boot games from storage and not notice the difference because it adds 1TB of capacity and is just as quick as the Xbox's internal storage.
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