Microsoft Xbox One X User Manual

Today we’re running down a list of steps a new Xbox One X user should take to create an ideal experience for themselves right out the package. Some of these steps might seem obvious, some you might never have considered. All of these steps come from gamers who already have the console and have reported in with their best advice.

1. Download 4K game files in advance

The Xbox One console, Xbox accessories and/or Kinect for Xbox One sensor, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them. If you do not accept them, do not set up or use your Xbox One console, Xbox accessories and/or Kinect for Xbox One sensor. Return the Xbox Product to Microsoft or your retailer for a refund. InITIaL ConsoLe them to. The Xbox One X is a brilliant console, but it's not without its issues. Here are common Xbox One X problems, and how to fix them. Problems include the console shutting off, issues with 4K or HDR.

Supposing you’ve already got an Xbox One or Xbox One S, you have the ability to download 4K versions of the games you already have on-hand. That is, just as long as those games have 4K upgrades in the first place. To check, head to Settings – System – Backup & Transfer. Select Download 4K game content if you’re able.

SEE TOO: Our Xbox One X Review

You’ll want to transfer these files to an external hard drive in order to transfer all content to the Xbox One X as fast as possible when you get the new device. To do this, connect an external HD to the Xbox One, go to Settings – System – Storage, and you’ll hopefully see your external drive appear. Click the drive and select Format for games & apps, then Formate storage device, then enter a name.

At this point you’ll have the option to install new games and apps by default. You can do what you wish. Finally, select Formate storage device again, and you’ll be good to go.

NOTE: An external drive for Xbox One, S, and X, all require two things: USB 3.0 and 256GB of storage or more. For more info on transferring games to external storage individually, head to list item number 9, below.

2. Find an Xbox One X

Finding an Xbox One X to buy shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. This isn’t Nintendo, after all – it’s Microsoft. Microsoft has never heard of a supply problem in the hardware business. Not here in 2017, anyway.

Xbox One X is sold wherever Xbox One S is sold, and wherever Xbox One was sold before that. The future of Xbox is in S and X – Xbox One (the original) will likely be phased out of stores completely within the coming year. Unless you do not care about games in the future, do not buy an Xbox One at this point.

3. Buy one massive televisionk

This step is silly as it is obvious – buy a 4K television with HDR capabilities. If you haven’t got a 4K television by now, chances are you weren’t waiting to spend hundreds of additional dollars just once the Xbox One X was released. But just in case you were, now’s the time.

4. Don’t bother with the HDMI cable

Do NOT buy an extra HDMI cable. The Xbox One X comes with a proper HDMI cable in the box. This is the only HDMI cable you’ll need – unless you’re running some other sort of video system through the Xbox One X, in which case, go for it.

5. Back up Settings

This step is only for those users who already have an Xbox One or Xbox One S. Grab yourself a healthy sized external USB drive and save all your settings from your elder Xbox One. To do this, connect your USB-based storage device, and in the Xbox go to Settings – System – Backup & Transfer. This USB connected storage device can then be connected to the Xbox One X during the initial setup process.

6. Calibrate Television

You’ll have a bit of this sort of stuff in the initial setup of the Xbox One X, but for those that love to get serious, Calibrate your TV. Head into Settings – Display & Sound – Video Output, and calibrate your TV. This is especially important if you have an oddly-shaped TV or settings that aren’t what’s average.

7. 4K blings

Also in Settings – Display & Sound – Advanced Video Settings, you’ll want to check on the details. For Games & Apps, chances are you’ll want to go as high-definition as your television will allow you to go. If you’ve lost your HDMI cable that came with the Xbox One X, somehow, miraculously, you’ll want to buy a cable that says “HDMI High Speed” specifically – that’s the right one.

8. Transfer games over your home network

Enabling network game transfer is important if you’ve got a LOT of games you want to move. You’ll want to be able to have two Xbox One units plugged in to power at one time, and the ability to connect at least one at a time to a display with HDMI. The source Xbox is up first:

Open Settings – Network – Network transfer and check the box. Once this is checked, make certain this Xbox is connected to the same network as the other Xbox (likely your Xbox One X). Move to the second Xbox and go to Settings – Network – Network transfer, and BANG! Your other Xbox should be listed, and you’ll be able to select games and copy over data and all sorts of good stuff like that.

9. Transfer games to and from external storage

Assuming you have external storage formatted properly, as outlined in step one above, your next step is to copy each game individually. To do this, head to My games & apps – Games (or apps), and move to the game or app you’d like to copy. Press the menu button on the Xbox One controller (horizontal lines, tiny button), and a pop-up menu should appear, where you should select Manage game.

Select move, copy, move all, or copy all, and move to the new drive accordingly. Use these steps again to transfer games from the external storage drive to your Xbox One X by selecting the proper Storage device in your Games or Apps menu once your external storage is connected to your new console. You can also opt to just keep the games and/or apps on this external drive whenever the Xbox One X is in operation and play from there – it’s up to you!

10. Buy and Play Forza 7

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Forza 7 is a pretty good game. As far as games that epitomize the Xbox One X experiences, Forza 7 is my choice for best-of. More games will come in the coming weeks and months, and I’m sure there are other games that you’ll be just as excited to try out. Soundcraft mpmi 20 2 user manual. But if you want to see what your Xbox One X can REALLY do, it’s all Forza 7 in full effect.

Story Timeline

New Xbox One or Xbox One X owners will find the console's basic functions easy to access, but unlocking the full power of the console can be a little more complex.

Beyond gaming, the Xbox One can act as a media center, you can use it to create and edit clips from your favorite games, and there are tons of great apps available — even many of the same Windows Store apps as your Windows 10 PC.

Still, first you'll need to get yourself set up. So here's some of the most important things you should do first after opening that glossy box.

Know the difference between the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X

There are some pretty large differences between the models of Xbox One. You should know that the base Xbox One launched in 2013 is no longer being manufactured, it's only the slimmed down Xbox One S and suped-up Xbox One X currently on sale, and both consoles offer a premium gaming experience, but what are the key differences?

At a practical level, the main difference between the base Xbox One and the Xbox One S is the inclusion of a 4K Blu-ray drive in the later S model. Both the X and the S sport 4K Blu-ray, complete with streaming 4K playback for media apps like Netflix. The Xbox One X however has beefed up specs, delivering 4K visuals for games, with various other graphical enhancements.

CategoryXbox One XXbox One S
Processoreight core CPU at 2.3GHzeight core custom AMD CPU at 1.75GHz
Storage1TB (more options could be announced)500GB, 1TB or 2TB launch edition
Memory12GB of GDDR5 RAM at 6.8GHz with 326 GB/s bandwidth8GB DDR3 RAM
GraphicsSix teraflop GPU at 1,172 MHz, 40 compute unitsCustom Radeon GPU with 1.23 teraflop
PortsHDMI-in; HDMI-out; one front-facing USB 3.0 ; two rear-facing USB 3.0; IR receiver/blaster; SPDIF digital audio; EthernetHDMI-in; HDMI-out; one front-facing USB 3.0 ; two rear-facing USB 3.0; IR receiver/blaster; SPDIF digital audio; Ethernet
Optical drive4K UHD Blu-ray4K UHD Blu-ray
Price$499From $249

In terms of usage and operating system, though, both consoles are virtually identical. Both consoles are compatible with all Xbox One accessories and games. Games will just look and run far better on the Xbox One X.

Make sure your Xbox Gamertag and Microsoft Account are set up properly

Xbox one controller manual

First things first, you'll need to set up an Xbox Gamertag that's connected to your Microsoft Account.

It's important to ensure that you have just one Microsoft Account across Xbox and Windows, particularly as these systems become more and more integrated. You can sign in with any Microsoft Account. If you haven't done so before, while setting up the Xbox One you'll be prompted to create a 'Gamertag' — this is your identity on Xbox Live. You can only change this once for free, so pick a good one!

From Xbox 360

  • If you have an existing account from an Xbox 360, you can sign in with the same email address you used on that console.
  • If you don't remember your Xbox 360 account email, you can find it on the old console by going to the Guide Menu and selecting Account Management, your email will be listed under Windows Live ID. If you don't have access to your Xbox 360, you might need to contact Xbox Live's support, or start afresh.

Note: If you somehow ended up with separate accounts for your Xbox 360 and Microsoft Account, you can move your Gamertag to your primary Microsoft account.

From Xbox One

  • If you're coming from an older Xbox One, just log in with your existing accounts and you'll be set to go

New Gamertag

  • If this is your first Xbox, you can create a new Gamertag connected to your Microsoft Account (if you use Windows 8 or Windows 10, you probably already have an account)
  • If you don't yet have a Microsoft Account, you'll have to create a new Microsoft Account. You can use an existing email address from another provider as the username, or create a new one via Microsoft.

Once your account is set up and integrated, you're ready to go!

Set up an Xbox Live Gold subscription

The Xbox One can be used offline, but many apps, services and features will require an online connection. By default, a new Xbox One user is signed up for a free Silver subscription, but by setting up a Gold subscription, you'll be able to access a ton of extra benefits. You can sign up for Xbox Live Gold any time from the main dashboard.

Xbox Live Gold subscriptions

  • If you already have Xbox Live Gold on your Xbox 360, it carries across to your Xbox One as well.
  • Xbox Live Gold is console-bound, in addition to account-bound, meaning that friends and family who use your Xbox also enjoy the benefits without setting up their own subscriptions.

Xbox Live Gold payments

  • You can also subscribe to Xbox Live via time cards sold by Microsoft and other retailers. These Xbox Live cards are often a little cheaper.
  • If you purchase a digital code for Xbox Live Gold from an external retailer, you can redeem the code online, after signing in with your Microsoft Account.
  • You can also redeem the code on your Xbox One by navigating to the store, hitting 'Browse all games', and then by selecting 'redeem code.'
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time using the Microsoft Account services page{.nofollow}.

Xbox Live Gold benefits

  • Xbox Live Gold members enjoy exclusive discounts, often up to 75% off. Xbox Live members are also treated to 4 free games per month, two Xbox One games and two backwards compatible Xbox 360 titles.
  • Xbox Live Gold members can access multiplayer games.
  • You can still use apps like YouTube and Netflix without Xbox Live Gold.

Optimize for multiplayer games by opening your NAT

This step won't be necessary for the majority, but if you're having trouble connecting to your home network you may need to make some tweaks. Most domestic networking setups support the Xbox One out of the box, but here's a couple of tips to improve your experience if you have some networking knowledge.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Network.
  3. If your NAT type is 'strict' or 'moderate', you'll need to open the following ports on your router:

    • 53 (UDP and TCP)
    • 80 (TCP)
    • 88 (UDP)
    • 500 (UDP)
    • 3074 (UDP and TCP)
    • 3544 (UDP)
    • 4500 (UDP)

      The steps to change port availability differ for every router, so please consult your router manufacturer' specific instructions.

  4. Enable your router's UPNP setting setting to further improve connectivity to Xbox Live.

Note: Sometimes, simply opening the ports isn't enough, you may have to set up your Xbox One with a static IP address to ensure that the ports remain open for that particular device. PortForwards.com has specific guides on configuring the open ports for your specific model of router.

Set up the Xbox app for PCs and mobile devices

Windows 10 comes with the Xbox app pre-installed, but there are also apps available for iOS and Android for use with your Xbox One. Using these apps, you can manage your Game DVR, send messages, browse and buy games, check your activity feed, and much more. Not all features are supported by all versions, but the apps are frequently updated.

Create an Avatar and Gamerpic

Gaming is often a social experience, and the team at Microsoft gave us Xbox Avatars to help us feel visually represented on Xbox Live. Avatars are 3D cartoon characters you can customize and display on your Xbox Live profile. You can purchase props, licensed clothes and gaming accessories for your Avatar to stand out from the crowd, and then use your Avatar to pose for a unique profile picture.

Create and upload game clips and screenshots

You can create your own gaming memories using the Xbox One's GameDVR and UPLOAD Studio apps. These apps come preinstalled on your Xbox, and provide robust storage and editing tools.

  • When in a game, press the white Xbox home button on your controller to bring up the new guide. Press Y to save a screenshot, press X to record the last 30 seconds of gameplay.
  • If you press the view button (to the bottom left of the home button, looking like two small windows), you can access more capture options. Here, you can record additional time from the buffer, start a custom recording, or view and manage your existing captures.

Set up your Xbox One to stream media from your PC and mobile devices

You can use the Xbox One to stream content from your devices. On Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, this is achieved simply by selecting the casting button seen in Windows 10 video apps, then selecting the Xbox One mapped to the same network. To access media content on a PC or server from your Xbox One requires a few settings tweaks in Windows.

  1. First, you need to open the Media Player app, accessed via the Games and Apps section at the bottom of the main dashboard.
  2. From here you can browse PC folders set up to share content over your home network.

  3. To set up a PC for media sharing, type 'Media Streaming Options' into your Windows Start Menu.
  4. Find your Xbox One in the list, then tick to allow access.

  5. From here you can customize which Windows libraries you want to share, such as Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos.
  6. When you're done, hit next and follow the extra steps to create a Windows HomeGroup. Your folders should now be accessible via the Xbox One media player app.

Xbox One S Manual Download

Note: Apps like TubeCast and MyTube for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile allow you to load YouTube videos directly to your Xbox One, too.

Where are the games and apps?

You can access your games at any time right from the home screen or via the Guide menu. Press the Xbox home button on your controller, then move down a step to select 'My games & apps.'

Games need to be installed either from physical discs or digital downloads from the store. Modern games tend to have quite large file sizes, so investing in an external storage drive might be something to consider.

Install a game from a disc

Xbox one x microsoft gaming console man…

Microsoft Xbox One Instruction Manual

  1. Insert the disc into the Xbox One. The disc will show up below the main window on the dashboard home screen.
  2. Select the disc icon to begin installation.
  3. After installation is complete, select the Games Library from the bottom of the dashboard.
  4. Select the game to launch it.

Install a game from the Xbox Store

  1. Open the Store app.
  2. Select Browse all games
  3. Select the game you with to install.
  4. Select the Buy button to purchase the game.
  5. Enter your passkey if prompted.
  6. Select Confirm. Your Xbox will begin downloading the game. Note: You can check download progress by returning to the home screen and selecting Queue
  7. Once the game has finished downloading, select the Games Library from the bottom of the dashboard.
  8. Select the **game ** to launch it.

Here are some other Windows Central Xbox Help guides!

If you have any specific Xbox One questions, either drop them in the comments below, post a message in our Xbox Forums or send a tweet to @JezCorden and I'll do my best to help!

Update November 27, 2017: We've updated this guide with the latest information for the Xbox One X and the 2017 Fall update!

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

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