Xbox Series X: How to Set Up Instant On and Download Games Automatically
System and game updates can now also happen while the console is in its energy-saving state - previously, this was a big draw for using the Instant-on standby mode. While this is a great in theory, it seems to be bit unreliable in practice based on our experience. Game updates will sometimes stop downloading after switching the console off, leaving you with a half-downloaded update when you turn your console back on - just make sure you manually check for updates fairly often so you don't get a massive backlog of downloads!
Just like handheld devices, modern-day gaming consoles have quality-of-life features that weren't present on older machines. Thanks to a machine's connectivity, players can access and manage their gaming collection from their mobile phones and install games on their Xbox Series X/S while away from the home console.
download games while xbox series x is off
Installing games on the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 are a long way from gaming machines in the 80s that could take 25 minutes to load one section of a game using a cassette tape. Nowadays, with a fast internet connection - for potential updates - one can install 100 GB of titles within an hour while the machine sits in standby mode.
The game will download to the Xbox from a remote location while in standby mode. However, one should be aware that the Xbox Series X/S will (obviously) consume more energy than it would if it was powered off or disconnected from the mains.
As you might know, Xbox consoles feature a low-power state mode that allows you to download games in the background. This mode is also called Power mode/Install-on mode in Xbox One, Low-power mode in Xbox 360, and Sleep-mode/Standby mode in Xbox Series X/S. To download games when Xbox is off, you need to enable these modes.
Note: To download games successfully, all the following operations need to make sure that your Xbox is connected to a stable network and the Xbox is connected to the power source even when the console is off.
Step 3. In the Startup and Shutdown screen, select Background Downloads and make sure they are enabled, which allows you to download games in the background.
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Shutdown (energy saving) will allow Xbox One consoles to receive system, game or app downloads overnight, just like Xbox Series XS. With Shutdown (energy saving) selected, Xbox One consoles will experience a slower boot time. Remote features are still supported while the console is powered on.
Downloading the bytes and bits of an entire game over the internet takes a lot longer than downloading a wikiHow article. Naturally, your Xbox needs some time to get the game, but this could slow your connection during a crucial moment in Call of Duty. To avoid this issue, you can learn to set your Xbox to download games after you turn it off.
Hey. I have slow internet speeds and with most things (like my xbox series x) I download things over night so nothing else is laggy. I was wondering if I could download games while powered off or if I have to be on or in sleep mode
There's nothing worse than getting fired up to play a brand-new game or DLC, only to be met with the infamous download screen with a projected finish time of 38 hours later. With games becoming bigger and bigger in overall size as the years go on, the initial bulk download and subsequent updates times increase along with it.
Thankfully, when it comes to the Xbox, at least, there are ways to minimize the frustration of having to wait an eternity to download a new game. Namely, being able to download in sleep mode while the console is off. This allows users to simply start their download in the morning, where it will hopefully be completed after school or work. Update on 8 February 2023: We've updated this article to reflect the latest methods and information about downloading Xbox games when sleep mode is turned off.How To Download Xbox Games In Sleep Mode When OffThis one trick will hopefully save you tons of time. (Picture: Microsoft / Xbox)Even if you buy a physical copy, there will usually still be an initial update to play a new game, even if it is completely offline. And, if you are planning on downloading the newest big-budget AAA title directly to the hardware, you better bring a book because it will take a while.
Or, start up the download before going to bed, and the title will be ready to play in the morning. So, if you are looking to cut out the grueling wait of multi-gigabyte downloads, here's how to do it!Firstly, let's look at how to download Xbox games when the console is turned off. To download Xbox games when the console is off, users will need to perform the following steps:Turn on your Xbox and head to the Xbox Guide Menu.Navigate to System > Settings > General > Power mode & Startup.Under the "Power mode" tab, select "Instant-on."To the right, make sure to deselect "When Xbox is off, turn off storage."If done correctly, when you switch your Xbox console off, it will instead go into sleep mode, and both games and updates will continue to download in the background.How To Increase Download Speed On XboxTons of games are available to download on the Xbox Series X, both new and retro. (Picture: Microsoft / Xbox)The main reason downloading games in the background is so desired is the slow download speed when trying to download particularly large games. We've compiled several tips and tricks that should help to improve your download speed without having to upgrade your network provider. Close Games: Playing games while downloading (especially those that require an online connection, such as multiplayer games) will hamper your download speed. For the fastest download speed, make sure no other processes are running. Turn off PCs/Mobiles: Any device connected to the internet and actively using it to live stream content or download apps, will also slow your download speed. Use an Ethernet Cable: A direct link to the internet via an ethernet cable will always provide a faster and more solid connection than connecting via Wi-Fi. If you have access to an ethernet cable and can plug in your Xbox during downloads, you should see a noticeable improvement in your download speed. Written by Ruel ButlerRuel is a freelance writer who has content published on multiple esteemed sites, including Den of Geek, QooApp, FandomSpot, ZenPlus, and more. He is a full-time gacha fanatic who is currently addicted to Honkai Star Rail. While waiting for his Trailblaze Power to recover, he'll spend the time reaching Infinite rank in Marvel Snap or battling the latest Tera Raid Den in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. A lover of all things Nintendo and anime, Ruel is ready to cover the latest releases and anything new that catches his eye! You can also reach him at ruelbutler.com.Follow me on:
The Xbox Series X has plenty of options designed to make your gaming life as easy as possible. Games with Gold offers a selection of free games every month, while Game Pass gives you access to hundreds of titles to play any time.
When your Xbox One isn't downloading fast enough, you don't have to be stuck with unacceptable speeds. Try these troubleshooting tricks to speed up your downloads and get to playing your games faster.
The Xbox One conveniently lets you play other games or use apps while a game is downloading, but this sometimes results in the download taking more time than usual. This especially goes for other games that use the internet.
The Xbox Series X/S has several unique and impressive features, including Quick Resume, which allows players to quickly pick up their progress across multuple games, and an extensive library of Xbox Game Pass titles. One confusing aspect of the new Xbox generation, though, is its power settings, which don't make it clear whether there's any way to keep the console in a rest state while downloading games and updates. There is, in fact, an Xbox Series X/S power mode capable of this, but the process of finding and activating it is more complicated than it should be.
Instant-on mode allows for extremely fast startups but consumes more energy. An Xbox Series X/S with Instant-on enabled will start up in around 10 to 15 seconds, allowing players to jump into their favorite Xbox games almost instantly. Games can also be downloaded and updated while the console is off in this mode, limiting the time users have to wait for games to install, but the Instant-on description doesn't actually make it clear that already in-progress downloads can continue with the mode enabled, only stating that it allows installations "from your mobile device."
To put a PlayStation 5 or PS4 system into Rest Mode, all the user has to do is go into the quick menu and select the Rest Mode option, which immediately puts the console into a state of low power consumption that still allows downloads and updates to progress. In theory, Microsoft could easily have established a similar rest mode for the Xbox Series X/S, making the process of downloading games much more streamlined. Users should be allowed to choose to put their consoles in a rest state on a case-by-case basis, instead of having to constantly enter the settings and change the power mode for the current (and every subsequent) shutdown. Adding a normal rest mode to Xbox Series X/S would give users an easier way to download games and updates when stepping away from their consoles - particularly useful given the constantly changing Xbox Game Pass catalog.
Many games also receive updates to add new features, connect base content from games to newly created levels, and as a way to patch bugs or glitches that make titles less fun to play. Thanks to both its internal storage system and the ability for gamers to add more of their own, you can download and install many games to your own personal Xbox One library.