How to Customize Your Xbox Series S: A Comprehensive Guide
Customizing your Xbox Series S is all about making the console truly your own. It’s not just about playing games; it’s about crafting a personalized experience that reflects your style and preferences. You can tweak everything from the home screen layout to the visual presentation and even the gaming experience itself. Customization options allow you to pin your favorite games, adjust display settings, create unique backgrounds, and more, making your console feel like a tailored entertainment hub. This guide breaks down all the ways you can personalize your Xbox Series S.
Personalizing the Home Screen
The first thing you see when you fire up your Xbox Series S is the Home screen, and thankfully, it’s highly customizable:
Pinning Games and Groups
One of the most impactful customization options is the ability to pin games and groups directly to your Home screen. This allows for quick and easy access to your favorite titles and curated collections. To pin an item, simply navigate to it using your controller. Press the Menu button (the three horizontal lines) and then select “Add to Home.” The selected game or group will then appear as a tile on your Home screen.
Reordering Tiles
You aren’t stuck with the order that you pin items. Simply hover over the tile you want to move, press the Menu button, and choose “Move“. You can then move the tile to a new position on your Home screen. The most used games and apps should be near the beginning for quick access.
Custom Backgrounds
Personalizing your Xbox experience extends to the background of your Home screen. You’re not limited to default options; you can use custom images, dynamic backgrounds, or even achievement art:
Custom Images
To use a custom image, you’ll need a USB device that contains your chosen photo. Format your USB drive to FAT32 or exFAT. Transfer the image to the USB, then insert it into one of your console’s USB ports. Follow these steps:
- Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
- Navigate to Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Custom image.
- A dialog box will appear, showing the contents of your console and the connected USB device.
- Select the USB device and then choose your image.
Dynamic Backgrounds
Dynamic backgrounds offer a more lively feel with animated visuals. To select a dynamic background, navigate to Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic background and choose from available options.
Achievement Art
Another cool option is to set your background to a specific achievement art that you’ve unlocked in your favorite games. To do this, go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Achievement Art and select an achievement.
Optimizing Visual and Display Settings
Customizing your Xbox Series S extends beyond the home screen; it also includes adjusting how your games and other visuals are displayed on your screen.
Color Depth and Resolution
To optimize your console’s visual output, follow these steps:
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select Profile & system > Settings > General > TV & display options.
- Select Video fidelity & overscan > Color depth to choose the best color depth setting for your TV or monitor.
- Adjust the resolution settings in the TV & display options menu to match the native resolution of your display for the best visual clarity. Also, use the “Auto detect” connection setting to let the console choose the best options for your setup.
Color Filters
If you have difficulty distinguishing between certain colors, you can use color filters to make things easier. To adjust color filters, use the following:
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Navigate to Profile & system > Settings > Accessibility > Color filters.
- Use the sliders to adjust the Intensity and Color boost for Deuteranopia, Protanopia, and Tritanopia settings.
Widescreen Settings
If your screen appears to be stretched, it might be due to incorrect widescreen settings. Ensure that the console’s aspect ratio matches your TV. You can do so in Profile & system > Settings > General > TV & display options. Also, check the zoom settings on your TV itself to ensure they are set correctly.
Managing Games and Apps
Customizing your gaming experience also means organizing and hiding games you’re not actively playing.
Hiding Games
You might want to hide certain games, especially those with no achievements, from your activity feed. To hide a game:
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select Game activity > All achievements.
- Highlight the game you want to hide.
- Press the X button on your controller.
Game Groups
Create game groups to organize your library. These groups are accessible from the “My Games & Apps” section, but you can also pin these groups to your home screen for quick access. To create a group, go to “My Games & Apps”, navigate to the game you want to add to a group, press the menu button, and select “add to group.”
Additional Customization Tips
- Controller Settings: Customize button mapping, vibration, and sensitivity in the Accessories settings.
- Accessibility: Adjust numerous accessibility features for users with different needs, including text-to-speech, narration, and more.
- Profile Customization: Change your Gamertag, profile picture, and more in your profile settings.
By leveraging these customization options, you can create a truly unique and personal Xbox Series S experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use live wallpapers on my Xbox Series S?
Yes, you can use dynamic backgrounds, which are essentially animated or moving wallpapers for your Xbox Series S. You can access them in the settings under personalization.
2. Can I modify my Xbox Series S?
Mods are only allowed in games that explicitly support them. The Xbox operating system does not support mods. Modifying your console or using unauthorized mods can result in account restrictions and hardware issues.
3. Should my Xbox Series S stand up or lay down?
The Xbox Series S supports both horizontal and vertical positioning. There is no best way to position your console, so choose whichever orientation fits your space and preference. Just make sure it is in a well-ventilated area.
4. Why is my Xbox screen blurry?
If your screen is blurry, the first thing to check is your color depth settings. Make sure that the color depth is correctly set for your TV in the TV & display options. You may also want to check your HDMI cables to ensure they are high-speed and not damaged.
5. Why is my Xbox screen stretched?
Screen stretching is usually caused by an incorrect aspect ratio setting. Check your console and TV settings to ensure they match. Adjust the settings in the TV & display options menu on your Xbox.
6. Why is my Xbox screen black and red?
A black and red screen on your Xbox usually indicates a faulty HDMI cable or an issue with your HDMI port. Make sure all connections are secure and try using a different, high-speed HDMI cable.
7. Why is my Xbox screen small on my TV?
If your screen is smaller than it should be, check your resolution and display settings in the TV & display options menu on the console. Make sure that “Auto detect” is selected for your connection type.
8. How do I hide games with no achievements on Xbox?
To hide games without achievements, navigate to Game activity > All achievements, highlight the game and press the X button to hide it.
9. What does Xbox Series S stand for?
The “S” in Xbox Series S stands for slim or small, a reference to the console’s more compact and streamlined design compared to the Xbox Series X.
10. Do old games look better on Xbox Series S?
Many older Xbox One games benefit from improved resolution, faster frame rates, and auto HDR on the Xbox Series S, resulting in a noticeably enhanced experience.
11. Can I play my old Xbox games on Xbox Series S?
Yes, the Xbox Series S offers backward compatibility and allows you to play a wide selection of Xbox 360, Original Xbox, and Xbox One games that you already own.
12. How do I put old games on my Xbox Series S?
You can install old games using digital downloads from the Microsoft Store, or by inserting your physical discs into the console. Digital titles will be available in “My games & apps”.
13. Can Xbox Series S be upside down?
While the Xbox Series S can function upside down, it is not recommended. Instead, we recommend placing the Xbox Series S right-side up and in a mount with good ventilation, for proper airflow.
14. What’s the best setup for an Xbox Series S?
Place your Xbox Series S on a stable, well-ventilated surface away from heat sources. Avoid placing anything on top of, under, or directly beside the console.
15. What are the coolest features of the Xbox Series S?
Cool features include Xbox Game Pass integration, games optimized for Series X|S, cloud gaming, and upscaled 4K graphics. The console is also backwards compatible.