- How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates For Computer
- How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates For Windows
- How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates For Pc
- How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates Free
While setting up your Xbox One, you’ll be asked whether you want to use “Instant On” mode or “Energy Saving” mode. You can also change this option at any time. We’ll show you how to calculate exactly how much Instant On mode costs in your area, so you can make an informed decision.
Xbox One owners are now getting the August update. CNET Xbox One users now can remotely buy a game and have it automatically downloaded to their console, courtesy of the latest update.
Instant On vs. Energy Saving Mode
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Instant On is how the Xbox One was designed to operate. It’s similar to “sleep” mode on your computer. When you use Instant On mode, the Xbox One never truly turns itself off–it just goes into a low-power state. If you have a Kinect, the Kinect will listen for you to say “Xbox On” so it can turn itself on. Even if you turn it on by pressing a button on your controller, it will resume almost instantly, within about two seconds. If you were playing a game, the game will be suspended in the background and you’ll be able to instantly start playing the game again. If you use the Xbox One’s TV abilities, this will let you quickly start watching TV without waiting for your Xbox One to boot up.
Energy Saving mode disables all these features to save power. It’s similar to turning off your computer when you’re done with it. When you turn off your Xbox One, or it automatically turns itself off because you’re not interacting with it, the Xbox One will completely shut down. If you have a Kinect, you can’t say “Xbox On” to turn the Xbox on–it’s not listening. Turn it on and it will boot up from scratch, which takes about 45 seconds. You’ll have to sit through loading screens if you want to resume a game, loading from a save file instead of immediately jumping in where you were.
In Instant On mode, the Xbox One will also download game updates, operating system updates, and other data in the background. Games will be ready to play when you turn it on. In Energy Saving mode, the Xbox One can’t automatically download anything while it’s powered off. You may have to sit there and wait for operating system updates and game updates to download and install when you want to play a game.
How Much More Electricity Does Instant On Use?
The only downside to using Instant On mode is that it uses more electricity–15 watts of power, to be exact. In Energy saving mode, the Xbox uses only 0.5 watts of power.
But how much does that power cost, anyway? It depends on the electricity rates in your area. Here’s how to calculate it.
Electricity rates are given in cents per Kilowatthour, or kWh. First, we’ll figure out how much electricity 15W is in terms of kWh. This is how much electricity an Xbox One will use in an hour, assuming it’s in Instant On mode.
Next, we multiply this by the number of hours in a day (24) and the number of days in a year (365). This shows us how many kWh Instant On mode uses over an entire year:
Multiply that number by the cost of electricity in your area to find out how much that costs. We’ll use 12.15 cents per kWh here, as that’s the average cost of electricity across the US in February 2016, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Check your electric company’s website or your electricity bill to find the rate in your area.
Now all we have to do is convert that figure to dollars by moving the decimal point over two places:
On average, it will cost $16.425 to keep an Xbox One in Instant On mode for an entire year in the USA. To get an exact number for your area, just take 131.4kWh and multiply it by your electricity rate.
![How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates](https://www.itprotoday.com/sites/windowsitpro.com/files/uploads/2016/06/20/xboxonepower.jpg)
Another quick calculation shows that Energy Saving mode uses 4.38kWh per year, for an average cost of $0.53 per year.
How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates For Computer
That’s a rough estimate, of course. It assumes you’re leaving your Xbox One powered off for an entire year instead of using it. Your Xbox One will use the same amount of power when it’s powered on and you’re playing games or using media apps, no matter which mode it’s in.
So, Which Should You Use?
The choice is up to you. It costs a bit more money to leave your Xbox One in Instant On mode, but it’s more convenient–it boots up faster, allows you to resume games from where you left off without any loading screens or worries about saving your game, and you won’t have to sit around and wait for your games or console to update when you want to play a game.
If you use your Xbox One frequently, it’s probably a better idea to leave it in Instant On mode. However, if you find you only use it rarely, and it sits around powered off most of the time, you can certainly save a (very) little bit of money by using Energy Saving mode.
How to Change Modes
To change between Instant On and Energy Saving mode, power your Xbox on and press the Xbox button in the middle of your controller to go to the dashboard. Tap left on the left joystick or directional pad to open the menu bar at the left side of the screen, scroll down to the gear icon, and select “All settings.”
Head to Power & startup > Power mode & startup.
Select the “Power mode” box and choose either “Instant-on” or “Energy-saving.”
Your Xbox One will automatically use whichever mode you choose when it powers itself down automatically or when you tell it to shut down.
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The Xbox One X is a 4K behemoth capable of running games at UHD resolutions with 60 frames per second and HDR. Dozens of games are slated to receive free updates to take advantage of the X's significant 6TF power boost, and you can begin preparing for that eventuality today.
In the fall 2017 update, regular Xbox One consoles have gained the ability to download 4K assets early to help prepare for the transfer to the Xbox One X, either via local storage or network transfer. Naturally, the 4K assets won't make your games look better on your existing Xbox One, you'll need the X for that. This just helps you get ready to make the move across.
Here's how to take advantage of the new 4K assets and check to see whether they have downloaded.
- Open up the Guide by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.
- Navigate to the right using the joystick to the System cogwheel.
- Use the 'A' button to access Settings.
- Use the joystick and 'A' button to access System.
- Use the joystick and 'A' button to select Backup & transfer.
- Put a check in the box which says Download 4K game content.
- Press the 'B' button to go back to the System menu.
- Now select Updates with the 'A' button.
- Put a check in the box that says Keep my games & apps up to date.
How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates For Windows
Now, when you have enough storage space, the Xbox One will begin updating your games automatically with 'Enhanced' 4K assets. Like it says in the warning, these file sizes can be astronomically huge, and the Xbox currently doesn't give you a great deal of control when it comes to downloading assets for specific games.
You can check whether a game has installed 4K assets or not using the following method, usable as of the Xbox fall update.
How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates For Pc
![How to have xbox one automatically download game updates for computer How to have xbox one automatically download game updates for computer](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126016664/113971628.jpg)
Check whether 4K assets are installed
- Open up the Guide by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.
- Navigate down to the Games & apps button shown here.
- If a game is downloading 4K assets, it should appear in the Updates tab.
- You can check if a game has 4K assets by selecting it, by pressing Right bumper, left bumper, menu and view simultaneously.
- You will see this screen depicting 'Assets installed,' if you see an 'X,' or 'Xbox-Scorpio' we've taken that to mean the game is Xbox One X-ready. We've asked Microsoft to clarify whether or not that is actually the case, though, as many games don't seem to have received updates yet.
- You can also filter games by Xbox One X Enhanced at the top of each section, but it seems to be a little buggy at the moment, not displaying the correct games.
How To Have Xbox One Automatically Download Game Updates Free
Admittedly, this functionality is a little clunky, and many games are missing 4K assets that are listed to receive them, but as we get closer to the Xbox One X, more games should begin seeing updates. It probably won't be used a great deal after this year, as the Xbox One X will download 4K assets automatically.