Xbox One can download updates for games and apps in the background when it is on but running in low power state. You should hear the fan running in the background. Keep it plugged in and running and dont unplug it. Simply touch the power button on the front or use your controller or say 'xbox turn off'.
In this brief and handy guide, we're looking at the easiest ways to customize your Xbox One background via a home network, a great UWP app, and even a USB stick.
1. Theme My Xbox app
The easiest way to customize your Xbox One is by using the app Theme My Xbox. The free app is available in the Xbox Store simply by navigating to the right, selecting 'browse apps,' near the bottom, then by searching for 'Theme my Xbox.'
- Once you have downloaded the app, launch it from Games & Apps under the Apps tab.
- Theme My Xbox features dozens of wallpapers and themes, and you can navigate using the joystick and the shoulder bumper buttons.
Once you have found a wallpaper you like, Press A to set it as your background.
- You can also enable rotating backgrounds with the Menu button, this cycles through any backgrounds you have set as a favorite by pressing the View key.
2. Use a USB storage device
You can also attach images to your Xbox dashboard using a USB stick or an external USB hard drive.
- Place the image you want to use on your Xbox One onto any USB storage device. Note: Backgrounds have to be under 3 MB.
- Plug the USB storage device into one of the Xbox One's USB ports.
- Open the Media Player app from Games & Apps.
Select your USB device.
- Browse, and select the image using the menu button.
Select Set as background.
3. Use a networked Windows PC
You can use this method to access videos and music files stored on an external PC as well, but it works for background images just the same.
- First, you need to open the Media Player app, accessed via the Games and Apps section.
From here you can browse PC folders set up to share content over your home network.
- To set up a Windows PC for media sharing, type 'Media Streaming Options' into your Windows Start Menu.
Find your Xbox One in the list, then tick allow access.
- From here you can customize which Windows libraries you want to share, such as Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos.
- 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.
- Return to the Media Player app on your Xbox One.
- Select the PC you wish to browse.
- Browse your shared folders, find the image using the menu button. Note: Backgrounds have to be under 3 MB.
- Select Set as background.
4. Use a screenshot or a piece of achievement art
Another simple way to get a custom background on your Xbox One is by using a piece of achievement art or a screenshot. You take screenshots in-game by double-tapping the Xbox button and hitting Y, and achievement artwork is saved every time you unlock one in-game. Here's how you can use them to spruce up your dash.
- Double tap the Xbox button on your controller, then move the joystick down to the cogwheel.
- Select All settings.
- Select Personalization.
Select My Color & Background.
- You now have the option of using Achievement art, a Custom image using a networked drive, a Screenshot or even a solid color from a selection to the right.
When you have found the image you wish to use, select it with the A button, then press Set as background.
Thanks for reading!
Are you using custom Xbox backgrounds? Is there another method you use beyond these? Let us know in the comments!
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Microsoft has detailed its first Xbox One system update of 2015, which introduces info hubs for each game, tile transparency on the Dashboard, as well as an assortment of other improvements and tweaks.
The system update, scheduled to go live in February, is now available for beta testing by those who have entered into the preview program.
At the centre of the Xbox One update is Game Hubs, which are attached to every game when selected on the Dashboard. These hubs will pool together information such as video clips, leaderboards, and friend activity.
Meanwhile, custom backgrounds will be given more exposure with transparency options on Dashboard tiles. Microsoft notes, however, that some tiles cannot be made as transparent due to restrictions on amending logos from third-party partners.
Xbox One Background Download Game Updates Free
The update also includes various tweaks to the TV software, such as OneGuide and Trending.
Since the launch of the Xbox One in November 2013, Microsoft has taken a proactive approach to platform updates, and usually rolls out new system software on a monthly basis. The company says that, in 2014 alone, it had introduced more than 100 new features and adjustments to the operating system.
In June, Microsoft opened a dedicated feedback site for customers to request specific fixes.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has made significant changes to the console's hardware, first by improving ESRAM performance, and then with an update that adjusts the Xbox One's CPU performance so that more processing resources can be used by games.
'We’re excited to start the New Year off on the right foot by continuing our commitment to making Xbox One the best place to play,' Microsoft said.
At the time of going to press, there is no specific release date announced for the February update.
The list of changes, written by Microsoft, can be found below.
Free Xbox Backgrounds
- Game hubs–New in preview this month, game hubs are the go-to centers for all sorts of interesting content around your favorite games. Every Xbox One game will have a game hub where you can see which of your friends are playing the game, compete with your friends in game leaderboards, dive into the coolest game clips and game broadcasts, and follow the game’s VIPs and top players.
To get to the game hub for your favorite game, find a game in your pins, recently played list, or My games and apps, then press the Menu button and select View game hub. You can also search for any game in the Xbox Store and click on the game hub tile from the game’s store page. - Custom backgrounds and tile transparency– We listened to your feedback and added additional tile transparency to the Home tiles to make your background images more visible. As a reminder, to set a custom background, go to Settings > My Xbox> My background. Note: some items can’t be made transparent due to usage rights/restrictions for certain images.
- TV updates– We’re releasing a lot of updates to the live TV experience and features are being released to additional countries in preview this month:
- OneGuide for the Netherlands– Support for OneGuide will continue in preview for the Netherlands and the missing channels for the Netherlands OneGuide listings will become available over the next few weeks.
- TV trending in OneGuide– As you scan the detailed OneGuide TV listings, you can see which shows are trending by a “Trending on Xbox” note and associated icon. Xbox – live TV trending is based on the number of Xbox One owners currently watching that show in each country, pulled from anonymous data collected at a national level. Currently, Xbox TV trending is available to all members in the U.S., UK and Canada.
- Live TV trending (new countries)–France, Germany, Brazil and Mexico will begin seeing live TV trending data in Xbox OneGuide.
- Improved control of TVs, set-top boxes and audio/video receivers– Xbox One will work even better with more devices. This month’s preview release contains updates to the IR blasting database for new models and addresses issues reported by our fan community.
- “Trick play” with Xbox One Digital TV Tuner– Preview members with the Xbox One Digital TV Tuner in supported countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) will now be able to see video frames when fast-forwarding or rewinding paused TV on your Xbox One consoles.
- Live TV streaming on Windows Phone and Android– We are continuing the preview of live TV streaming on Windows Phone and Android devices for Xbox One Digital TV Tuner owners in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.