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Tom's Guide
23-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Xbox running slow? Here's how to speed it up
Your Xbox might not be running as well as it could be, and you probably don't even realize it. While you can't upgrade the internal hardware like you would with a PC, there are plenty of simple tweaks that can dramatically improve your gaming experience. Slow download speeds, laggy gameplay, and long loading times often stem from basic settings that are easy to fix. Most Xbox owners stick with the default settings and never explore the options that could make their games run smoother and look better. These improvements are free and easy to do yourself. Just a few minutes of settings adjustments and cleaning can turn your Xbox from sluggish and frustrating into the fast, responsive console it should be. Here's how you can speed up your Xbox. Your Xbox probably isn't getting the internet speeds you're paying for if you're using Wi-Fi. Xbox consoles use older wireless technology that caps out around 150 Mbps, even with a strong signal and expensive internet plan. Plugging an ethernet cable directly from your router to your Xbox can dramatically improve download speeds and reduce lag during online gaming. You'll download games faster and experience fewer connection drops during multiplayer sessions. If running a cable isn't possible, at least make sure you're using the 5 GHz wireless band and position your Xbox as close to your router as possible. You could also try changing your DNS settings under network options. Your Xbox has fast internal storage that loads games much quicker than any external drive you can connect. Current-generation games actually require this internal storage to run properly, but you can still store older games on cheaper external drives. The smart approach is treating external storage like a library, keep less-played games there and move your current favorites to internal storage when you want to play them. Moving games between drives is faster than re-downloading them, even when you factor in update downloads. You can manage this through your games library or storage settings. While you can buy official Xbox expansion cards, they're expensive compared to regular external drives, so most people are better off just moving games around as needed. The WD_Black C50 Expansion Card is an officially-licensed Xbox accessory that boosts the internal storage of your Xbox Series X or Series S. This 1TB drive costs $149 and doubles the hard drive space of the Xbox Series X. It's a simple "plug and play" storage solution, it just slots into the Xbox storage expansion port found on the back of the console, and you're ready to play on. Most contemporary games let you pick between performance mode and quality mode, though you'll need to dig into each game's settings to find this option. Performance mode makes games feel much more responsive by prioritizing frame rate over visual effects. Performance mode prioritizes smooth gameplay with higher frame rates, usually 60 frames per second or more. Quality mode focuses on making the game look as pretty as possible, often at 30 frames per second. For most games, performance mode feels much better to play. The higher frame rate makes everything more responsive and smooth, especially in action games, shooters, and anything requiring quick reactions. Quality mode is better for slow-paced games where you want to admire the scenery. Once you get used to 60 fps, going back to 30 fps feels sluggish, so pick one and stick with it. Your Xbox has settings that can make games look better and run smoother, but they're often turned off by default. Go to your TV and display settings and turn on Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), 120Hz mode, and HDR if your TV supports them. Variable Refresh Rate stops screen tearing (those annoying horizontal lines that appear during gameplay) and makes stuttering less obvious when frame rates drop. The 120Hz setting lets games that can run faster than 60 frames per second actually show those higher frame rates on your screen. HDR makes colors pop more and gives you better contrast between dark and bright areas. You should also turn on Auto Low-Latency Mode to reduce the delay between pressing a button and seeing it happen on screen. Auto HDR adds improved colors to older games that didn't originally have this feature. Voted the best budget headset in our gaming headsets buying guide, the Arctis 1 Wireless costs less than $100 boasts excellent wireless connectivity, and sound quality is way better than you'd expect at this price. Dust buildup can make your Xbox run hotter than necessary, potentially leading to performance issues or shorter lifespan. Regular cleaning is simple but important maintenance that many people skip. Focus on the air vents. your Xbox pulls cool air in through some vents and pushes hot air out through others, so you need to keep all of them clear. Use compressed air or a soft brush to remove any dust or debris from all vents and surfaces. Pay special attention to intake vents since these get clogged most easily. A clean console runs cooler and quieter, and you'll avoid the potential for overheating issues during long gaming sessions. Most people put their Xbox in standby mode when they're done playing, which lets it start up quickly next time but never fully refreshes the system. Occasionally doing a complete restart can fix various issues like sluggish performance, network problems, or weird glitches. Hold the Xbox button on your controller and select "Restart console" rather than just turning it off. A full restart takes longer because the system completely shuts down and boots back up, similar to restarting a computer. This clears out temporary files and resets system processes that might be causing problems. Do this whenever you notice performance issues or about once a week for general maintenance. A sophisticated yet affordable pad that has rear paddles, hall effect sensors and hair triggers and ll for less than $50. It looks fantastic and has a long cable to accommodate for couchplay. Its lightweight design also feels great. A nearly full hard drive can slow down your Xbox's performance, so keep some free space available on your internal storage. Aim to keep at least 10-15% of your storage free for optimal performance. Regularly uninstall games you've finished or no longer play, and move older games to external storage if you might want to play them again someday. You can also clear out saved clips and screenshots that accumulate over time, which takes up storage space. Check your capture gallery periodically and delete anything you don't need. If you're constantly running out of space, consider which games you actually play versus which ones you just keep installed "just in case." Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Hans India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Microsoft Updates Xbox 360 Dashboard After 20 Years — With a Nudge Toward Newer Consoles
Nearly 20 years after its original debut, the Xbox 360 has received a surprise dashboard update—one that fixes a persistent UI bug but also subtly encourages users to consider newer consoles. Earlier this week, longtime Xbox 360 users were met with a redesigned home screen that finally addressed a glitch affecting game thumbnails and box art, which appeared stretched or distorted following last year's store shutdown. The visual issue has now been resolved, much to the relief of fans still booting up the beloved system. However, the update also brought a new, unexpected addition: ads promoting the Xbox Series X and Series S. According to posts on Reddit and confirmations from outlets like Kotaku and TrueAchievements, the updated dashboard now prominently displays two types of promotional banners—one showing images of the current-gen consoles, and another featuring a QR code with the message, 'Experience next gen performance.' The ads themselves are static and not interactive via the console. Users must scan the QR code with a mobile device to be redirected to the Xbox website, where they're further prompted to upgrade. Microsoft's last significant Xbox 360 update came in July 2024, shortly after the company officially closed the Xbox 360 online store. That update removed outdated tiles but inadvertently introduced the now-fixed image distortion bug. Despite its age, the Xbox 360 continues to hold a nostalgic and marketable value. Since its launch in 2005, it has remained Microsoft's top-selling console with approximately 84 million units sold globally. The system continued to be especially popular in regions such as Mexico, even after newer generations were released. Microsoft's sustained support of the Xbox 360—including updates like this one—shows its enduring legacy. Yet, with ads for modern hardware now greeting users on the home screen, the message is clear: the future of Xbox is already here.
Hans India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
GTA VI Listed on Xbox Store Before Release
The game Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) will come out next year. Fans are waiting for it, but now it shows up on the Xbox Store. What This Means The game will be on Xbox Series X and Series S. It does not say if it will work on older Xboxes like Xbox One. You Can Make a Wishlist You cannot buy the game now. But you can add it to your wishlist. This means you will get a message when the game is ready to buy or to pre-order. This way, you don't forget about the game. How to Add GTA VI to Your Wishlist
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
GTA 6 hits Xbox store: Here's how to wishlist the game now ahead of launch
Rockstar Games has officially opened the wishlist option for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) on Xbox Series X and Series S. Players on these consoles can now add the game to their wishlists ahead of its official release, which is scheduled for May 26, 2026. This move comes over a month after PlayStation 5 users received the ability to wishlist GTA 6 back in May 2025. The Xbox store page for the game went live on June 25, 2025. GTA 6 is now available for wishlist on Xbox Series X/S ahead of its 2026 release.(Rockstar Games) Open the Microsoft Store on your Xbox Series X or Series S console. Search for 'Grand Theft Auto VI.' Select the game from the search results. Click on the heart icon to add it to your wishlist Also read: Nintendo sells record 3.5 million Switch 2 consoles in four days At this stage, it is not possible to purchase or pre-order the game, as Rockstar Games has disabled the buy option. The developer will probably enable pre-orders closer to the release date. The current Xbox store page includes two official trailers and eight screenshots, all released on May 6, 2025. Rockstar has not shared any additional updates alongside the new wishlist feature. The game is expected to carry a Mature rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, according to the studio's estimate. Also read: Microsoft launches Xbox Copilot beta on Android app to assist gamers with real-time support Interestingly, Xbox players can download a small 328 MB placeholder file of GTA 6. This file serves as a pre-install placeholder to save space on the console until the full game launches. Meanwhile, the GTA 6 community remains divided over recent technical details. A report from Digital Foundry suggests that the game may run at 30 frames per second (fps) on current-generation consoles, rather than the preferred 60 fps. The analysis explains that achieving 60 fps while maintaining the game's advanced lighting effects, such as ray-traced global illumination and reflections, would be challenging without sacrificing visual quality. Also read: Mafia: The Old Country releasing on 8 August, 2025: Here's everything you need to know Some fans on the r/GTA6 subreddit express excitement but also hope for a version that can run at 60 fps on more powerful hardware. One user commented that they expect a balance between performance and visual loyalty, but remain committed to buying the game regardless of frame rate. Mobile finder: iPhone 16 LATEST price, specs and all details
