How to disable the screenshot button on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X feature a capture button where you can take screenshots and record gameplay videos.

If you find yourself accidentally hitting this button, then it may be somewhat annoying seeing the captured screenshot and cloud upload notifications appear when you are playing a game.

You can check out this step-by-step tutorial at Seeking Tech to see how you can disable the capture button.

How to disable screenshot and video captures on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

If you don’t want to take screenshots or record videos, you can disable the capture feature on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X by doing the following:

1. First off, press the Xbox button on your Xbox Series controller. For the uninformed, this button has the Xbox symbol and should be lit up when your system Is turned on.

2. You should be in the Guide menu. Here, you can press the right directional pad, point to the right with the left analog stick or press the RB button on your controller to navigate over to the “Capture & share” tab.

3. In this tab, select the “Capture settings” option with the A button.

4. In the “Preferences – Capture & share” menu, select the “Allow game captures” drop-down menu.

5. In the “Allow game captures” drop-down menu, select the “Don’t capture” option.

How to disable automatic cloud uploads for captures on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

If you want to continue taking screenshots and record videos but don’t want them to be automatically uploaded to the cloud storage, you need to do the following:

1. Open the Guide menu with the Xbox button on your controller.

2. Head over to the “Capture & share” tab.

3. Select “Capture settings.”

4. Inside the “Preferences – Capture & share” menu, select the “Automatically upload” drop-down menu.

5. Finally, set the “Automatically upload” setting to “Don’t upload.”

Can you completely disable the capture/screenshot button on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X?

Unfortunately, you can’t completely disable the capture/screenshot button on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X.

Even if you disable the capture feature, you will get an error message every time you press the capture button.

How to disable screenshot and video capture notifications on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

To get rid of the error message even if you already disable the game captures (or you want to keep taking screenshots and videos without the pop-up notifications appearing), you need to take the following steps:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the Guide menu.

2. Navigate over to the “Profile & system” tab.

3. Scroll down and select “Settings.”

4. In the “Settings” menu, select the “Preferences” option on the left side.

5. On the right side in the same menu, select the “Notification” option.

6. In the “Preferences – Notifications” menu, select the “Xbox notification” option.

7. In the “Preferences – Xbox Notifications” menu, select the “Captures” option.

8. In the “Preferences – Capture Notifications” menu, make sure the box next to the “Capture notifications on” option is unchecked.

It you see a check mark, simply select this option to disable it.

How to turn off FPS Boost on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

FPS Boost is a new Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X feature that will increase the frame rates of older backwards compatible videogames.

While this display setting will make these games run smoother, it may come at a sacrifice of lower visual fidelity (such as a lower resolution). Not to mention that increasing the frame rate may cause bugs and glitches.

To find out how you can disable FPS Boost for a single game, you can check out this step-by-step guide from Seeking Tech.

1. To begin, turn on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console if you haven’t done so already.

2. Next, you need to open the “Guide” menu, which you can do be pressing the Xbox button on your Xbox Series controller.

If you have a hard time finding it, the Xbox button is in the top-middle part of the controller. It has an Xbox logo and should be lit up.

3. Once you got to the “Guide” menu, navigate down and then select (with the A button on the controller) the “My games & apps” option.

4. In the next screen, you need to select the “See all” option.

5. Once you get to the new menu, you need to first select the “Games” option on the left column.

6. On the right side of the same menu, you should see the currently list of games you currently have installed on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X system.

Navigate over to the game that you want to disable FPS Boost for.

7. With the game in question highlighted, press the Menu button on your controller.

If you have a hard time finding the Menu button, it is the small button with the symbol that features three horizontal lines.

8. If done correctly, you should open a small pop-up menu.

Here, you need to select the “Manage game and add-ons” option.

9. In the next menu, you need to select “Compatibility options” from the left side.

10. In the “Manage – Compatibility options” menu, you should see the “FPS boost” setting for that specific game.

If the box next to the setting is checked, then that means that the game is currently using the frames boosting feature. If that is the case, simply select the “FPS boost” setting to clear the box and disable it for that specific game.

If you see the “FPS boost” greyed out with an unchecked box, then it indicates that the game does not support the frames boosting feature.

How to re-enable FPS Boost on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

If you want to re-enable FPS Boost for a game on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console, you need to do the following:

1. Turn on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X game console.

2. Press the Xbox button on your controller to launch the “Guide” menu.

3. Select “My games & apps.”

4. Next, select “See all.”

5. In the new menu, select “Games” from the list of options available on the left column.

6. On the right side of the same screen, hover over to the game that you want to re-enable the FPS boost feature for.

7. With that game highlighted, press the Menu button on your Xbox Series controller.

8. In the pop-up menu, select “Manage game and add-ons.”

9. In the new game-specific menu, select “Compatibility options” on the left side of the screen.

10. In the next screen, you should see the “FPS boost” setting.

If the box next to this setting is unchecked, then it indicates that FPS booster is currently disabled for that individual game. You simply need to select “FPS boost” to check the box and enable that feature.

If the “FPS boost” setting is greyed out and can’t be selected, then the game doesn’t support the frames boosting feature.

How to fix Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X controller input lag issues

When using the controller that comes with the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X console, you may notice a long delay between your button presses and the actions that appear on your television screen or monitor.

You can check out this troubleshooting guide at Seeking Tech to see how to potentially fix the input lag issues.

Potential Fix #1: Enable Game Mode on TV

If you are playing your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X games on a television set, then the first step we recommend taking is to check to see if the TV’s game mode setting (or its equivalent) is enabled.

For the uninformed, the game mode is designed to reduce input lag when you are playing a videogame. You should be able to find this setting, if there is one available, in the menus of your television set.

Potential Fix #2: Enabling Auto Low-Latency Mode on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

Auto Low-Latency Mode is a new feature introduced in recent television sets that will automatically change the TV’s setting to game mode when you are playing a videogame.

To use this feature, first make sure that you enable ALLM support on your monitor or TV.

You then need to enable it on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X by going to Settings > General > TV & display options > Video modes. Make sure that the box next to Allow auto-latency mode is checked.

Potential Fix #3: Remove Any HDMI Passthrough Devices

If you plug your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console into another device (such as a capture card or audio system) and then connect the other device to your monitor or TV, then it may cause latency issues.

So, if you want to reduce the lag, we recommend connecting your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console directly to your monitor or television set.

Potential Fix #4: Play at Higher Frame Rates

You should get lower input delay when you play a Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X game at higher frame rates.

Some modern games feature a performance mode where the frame rate is prioritized over visual fidelity. You should be able to find this visual mode in the in-game menus.

Some backwards compatible games also support FPS Boost on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. This mode will let you play games at a higher frame rate than what was originally intended by the developer. To enable FPS Boost, you need to do the following:

  • Go to My games & app > Games.
  • Next, highlight the game you want to enable FPS Boost for and then press the Menu button on your controller.
  • In the pop-up menu, select Manage game and add-ons.
  • Finally, select Compatibility options.
  • Make sure that the box next to the FPS boost setting is checked.

Potential Fix #5: Variable Refresh Rate

Variable Refresh Rate is a new feature that was added to many modern televisions and monitors. In addition to removing stutters and screen tears, it will also reduce input lag for your Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X controller.

To enable VRR, you need to do the following:

  • Make sure that you enable Variable Refresh Rate support on your monitor or TV.
  • On your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console, go to Settings > General > TV & display options > Video modes.
  • Make sure that the box next to Allow variable refresh rate is checked.

Potential Fix #6: Disable Auto-HDR

Auto-HDR is an Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X feature that converts games that don’t display a HDR image into HDR. This process uses machine learning that may add extra latency to the converted games.

To disable this feature on your console, you need to take the following steps:

  • Head to Settings > General > TV & display options > Video modes.
  • Make sure that the box next to Auto HDR is unchecked.

Potential Fix #7: Download the Latest Patch for Game

A new patch for a videogame may help resolve its input lag issues. To manually update a game, you can do the following:

  • Head to My games & app > Games.
  • Highlight the game and then press the Menu button.
  • In the pop-up menu, select Manage game and add-ons.
  • Select Updates.

Potential Fix #8: Download the Latest Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X Firmware

Updating your console to the latest available firmware may also help fix your input lag problems.

To manually update your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X, go to Settings > System > Updates.

Potential Fix #9: Update Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X Controller Firmware

You can also try updating the firmware of your Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X controller, which you can do by taking the following steps:

  • Go to Settings > Devices & connections > Accessories.
  • Underneath the image of your controller, select the “…” option.
  • Select the top option to update your gamepad.

Potential Fix #10: Download the Latest Firmware for TV or Monitor

Updating the firmware for your television set or monitor may also help reduce the input delay. To update your screen, please refer to the manual provided by the manufacturer.

Potential Fix #11: Remove Bluetooth Interference

If you connected your controller to the Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console wirelessly, then the Bluetooth connection may be causing the input latency.

To avoid potential interference, you should make sure that your controller has a direct line of sight to the console as there should be no physical object in between the two.

Furthermore, you should avoid having any other wireless devices (such as Wi-Fi router and Bluetooth headphones) near your controller and game console.

Finally, you can also try moving the gamepad closer to the Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X system to get a better Bluetooth connection.

Potential Fix #11: Use Wired Connection

You can also try not using Bluetooth altogether and just connect your controller to your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console via a USB cable.

For a wired connection, you will need a USB-C to USB-A cable.

Connect the USB-C end of the cable to the USB-C port of the controller and then the USB-A end of the cable to a USB-A port of the game console. The wired connection should automatically be enabled when the system is turned on.

Where to find a full list of Xbox Game Pass games on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

Finding a full list of videogames available in the Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription plan can be a little bit tricky, especially if you aren’t familiar with the user interface of the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X.

If you are having trouble finding the location of these titles, then you can check out this step-by-step tutorial from Seeking Tech.

Before we begin, it is important to note that you will need to be a member of Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

If you aren’t subscribed, then you can purchase the subscription for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes more games and perks than the standard Xbox Game Pass, on Amazon with this link. (#CommissionsEarned).

How to find a full list of Game Pass/Game Pass Ultimate games on Xbox Series S and X

In order to find the full list of Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console, you need to take the following steps:

1. If you haven’t done so already, turn on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console.

2. After the console has been turned on, press the Xbox button on your Xbox Series controller.

This button has the Xbox logo and should be lit up.

3. If done correctly, you should open the Guide sidebar menu.

Here, you need to select the Game Pass icon at the very bottom. It should be located in between Notifications and Store.

4. Inside the Game Pass menu, you need to select the “Show all” option from the menu.

You may need to scroll down a little bit from the top banners to find that option.

5. In this new screen, you should find the full list of Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate videogames that can be downloaded and played on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console.

6. To download an Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate game, select it from this list. On the next screen, select the Install option.

7. To add an Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate game to a “Play Later” list, hover over to that game and then press the X button.

You can find the “Play Later” list in the same section as the “Show all” option from the aforementioned Game Pass menu.

How to find a full list of Game Pass/Game Pass Ultimate games on PC or mobile

In order to find a full list of videogames that are included with the Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on a PC or mobile device, you simply need to visit this page from the official Xbox website.

In the aforementioned page, you can sort to view Console games or PC games. On the left side, you can also sort the listing based on the following criteria:

Collections:

  • All
  • Most popular
  • Collections
  • All
  • Most popular
  • Recently added C
  • Coming soon
  • 20 Years of Xbox
  • Leaving soon
  • Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
  • Bethesda Softworks
  • EA Play
  • ID@Xbox
  • Family friendly
  • Play day one

Play on:

  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox One
  • Windows PC
  • Android phones & tablets
  • Apple phones & tablets

Delivery:

  • Download
  • Cloud Inputs

Controller:

  • Touch controls

Genres:

  • Indie
  • Strategy
  • Classics
  • Shooters
  • Sports
  • Action & Adventure
  • Platformers
  • Puzzle

Features:

  • Smart Delivery
  • 4K
  • HDR
  • Online multiplayer
  • Local multiplayer
  • Online co-op
  • Local co-op

Maturity rating:

  • Everyone
  • Everyone 10+
  • Teen
  • Mature 17+

On the top right side, you can also use the sorting option. You can sort based on the newest available in addition to ascending or descending alphabetical order.

Finally, you can use the bottom options to view the next page of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games.

There is also an option on the bottom right to change how many games gets shown per page. You can choose to show 20 games, 50 games, 100 games or 200 games at a time.

Where to find your games on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

Finding your games on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X can be a little tricky if you are not familiar with the menus as both consoles will only display a small list of the most recent software titles that you have played in the Home menu.

If you having a hard time finding your games on these new Microsoft gaming systems, then you can check out this step-by-step tutorial from Seeking Tech.

Finding the “My games and apps” menu

The full list of games you have on your Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, as well as the games you have attached to your Xbox Live/Xbox Network account, can be found in the “My games and apps” menu.

There are two ways to get to this menu.

The first method is from the Home menu as you should find “My games and apps” on the second row.

The second method is from the Guide menu. You can get to the Guide menu by pressing the Xbox button, which is the big button located on the top middle on your controller. In the Guide menu, you should see “My games and apps” on the second row. Select “My games and apps” and then “See all.”

Where are your installed games on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X?

Once you are in the “My games and apps” menu, you can take the following steps to find your installed games:

1. On the left side of the “My games and apps” menu, select Games.

2. On the right side of the same menu, you will see a list of games you have currently installed on the system.

If you have a lot of games, then you can use the sort, filter and search options at the top.

You can sort your games based on the following criteria:

  • A – Z
  • Group by letter
  • Group by console type
  • Sort by Size
  • Sort by last used
  • Sort by last update

You also have the following filter options:

Console Types:

  • All console types
  • Optimized for Xbox Serie X/S games
  • Xbox One X Enhanced games
  • Xbox One games
  • Xbox 360 & Xbox games

Number of Players:

  • Any number of players
  • Local multiplayer
  • Online multiplayer
  • Local co-op
  • Online co-op

Genre:

  • Any genre
  • Action & adventure
  • Card & board
  • Classics
  • Educational
  • Family & kids
  • Fighting
  • Multi-player online battle arena
  • Music
  • Other
  • Platformer
  • Puzzle & trivia
  • Racing & flying
  • Role-playing
  • Shooter
  • Simulation
  • Sports
  • Strategy

How to find your games that are not installed on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

To find games you have attached to your Xbox Live/Xbox Network account that are not currently installed on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console, you can do the following:

1. On the left side of the “My games and apps” menu, select the “Full library” option.

2. On the right side of the same menu, select the “All owned games” option.

3. In the “Full library- All owned games” menu, you should see all the digital games you have attached to your Xbox Live account. The list includes the software titles you have purchased in addition to the free games you have downloaded.

4. If you have a lot of games, you can use the top options to sort, filter and search.

How to find Game Pass, EA Play, Games with Gold on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

In order to find games from subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass, EA Play and Games with Gold, you can try taking the following steps:

1. Return to the aforementioned “My games and apps” menu and then select “Full library” from the options available on the left side.

2. In the “Full library” menu, you will see options for Xbox Game Pass, EA Play and Games with Gold.

Select the subscription service that your games are tied to.

3. In the “Full library – Game Pass games,” “Full library – EA Play games” and “Full library – Games with Gold” menu, you can also use the sort, filter and search options to find the game you are looking for.

How to pair DualShock 4, DualSense and Xbox wireless controllers to Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro

The DualShock 4, DualSense, Xbox One wireless controller and Xbox Series wireless controllers are all compatible with the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro.

You can take a look at this step-by-step guide at Seeking Tech to see how you can pair these Bluetooth gamepads to your Android smartphone.

How to pair DualShock 4 and DualSense to Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro

In order to connect your DualShock 4 or DualSense to the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro, you need to do the following:

1. First off, we recommend unplugging the power cable from your PlayStation 4 and/or PlayStation 5 console as the pairing process may turn the game systems on.

2. If you have an USB cable connected to the DualShock 4 or DualSense, then make sure that you unplug it.

3. If your controller is not already turned off, press and hold the PS button until you no longer see any lights appear on the light bar.

4. On your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, go to the Settings app.

This app can be found by swiping upwards from an empty space in the home screen, which will reveal a list of installed applications on your phone.

5. In the Settings app, select the “Connected devices” option.

6. Inside the “Connected devices” menu,” select the “Pair new device” option.

7. If you have a DualShock 4 press and hold the Share button. If you have a DualSense, press and hold the Create button.

8. With the Share/Create button held down, you then need to press and hold the PS button.

After a short while, you should see the light bar of your PS4 or PS5 controller double blinking at regular intervals. This indicates that the gamepad has been set to pairing mode.

9. In the “Pair new device menu” on your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, your DualShock 4 or DualSense will show up as “Wireless Controller.” Select it to start the pairing process.

10. In the “Pair with Wireless Controller” notification, select Pair to connect your wireless PlayStation gamepad to your smartphone.

How to pair Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X controllers to Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro

In order to pair the wireless controller that came with your Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X to the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro, you need to do the following:

1. Unplug the power cable from your Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X game console.

2. If an USB cable is attached to your controller, make sure that you also disconnect it.

3. If the Xbox One or Xbox Series gamepad is turned on, press the Xbox button for six second to power it down.

4. On your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 smartphone, head to the Settings app.

5. After getting to Settings, tap “Connected devices.”

6. Inside the “Connected devices” menu, tap “Pair new device.”

7. Next, turn on your Xbox One or Xbox Series controller by pressing the Xbox button.

8. Afterwards, you need to press and hold the pair button on the controller for three seconds.

The light indicator on the Xbox button should then blink rapidly, signaling that the gamepad is in pairing mode.

9. On your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, you should see your Xbox One or Xbox Series controller as “Xbox Wireless Controller.” Tap it to being the pairing process.

10. In the “Pair with Wireless Controller” notification, tap Pair to connect your Xbox controller to the phone.

How to turn off Auto HDR on Xbox Series S and X

With the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, Microsoft added Auto HDR. This feature is designed to convert videogames that don’t display a HDR image (also known as a SDR image) into a HDR image. To take advantage of Auto HDR, you will need to connect your console to a television set that can supports the HDR10 format.

If you use this feature, then your non-HDR games will look different. Some games may look better than before while others will look worse than the original image.

If you believe that Auto HDR is making the videogames you are playing on the Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console look worse than before, then you can check out this step-by-step tutorial from Seeking Tech to see how you can disable this display feature.

How to disable Auto HDR for a single game on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

In order to turn off Auto HDR for just a single game on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console, you need to take the following steps:

1. To begin, you need to press the Xbox button on your Xbox Series controller to bring up the “Guide” menu.

For the uninformed, the Xbox button has the Xbox logo and should be lit up.

2. Once you get to the “Guide” menu, select “My games & apps” by using the A button on your controller.

3. In the next screen, select “See all.”

4. In the next menu, select “Games” from the left column.

5. You then need to hover over the game that you want to disable Auto HDR for.

6. With the game in question highlighted, press the Menu button on your controller.

For the uninformed, the Menu button is the small buttons with three horizontal lines.

7. In the new pop-up menu, select “Manage game and add-ons.”

8. In the next screen, select “Compatibility options” on the left side.

9. Finally, you should see the Auto HDR setting for that specific game in the next menu.

If the box next to that setting has a check mark, then that indicates that Auto HDR is currently enabled.

To disable it, simply select that setting to uncheck the box.

If you are currently playing the same game you are trying to disable Auto HDR for, then you will get a notification to quit the game in order to apply the new display setting.

How to disable Auto HDR for all games on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X

To turn of Auto HDR for all non-HDR videogames on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X system, you need to do the following:

1. Press the Xbox button to use the “Guide” quick menu.

2. In the “Guide” menu, switch taps until you get to “Profile & system.”

For the uninformed, you can use the directional pad, analog stick or LB/RB shoulder buttons to switch tabs.

3. After navigating over to the “Profile & system” tab, you need to select “Settings.”

4. Inside the “Settings” menu, select “General” from the list of options available on the left column.

5. On the right side of the same screen, you then need to select “TV & display options.”

6. Once you get to the “General – TV & display options” menu, you need to select “Video modes.”

7. Lastly, you should see the Auto HDR setting from the “General – Video modes” menu.

If the box next to the setting is checked, then it indicates that Auto HDR is enabled for all non-HDR games (with the exception of games that were manually disabled for using this display feature by you using the first tutorial in this guide).

To disable Auto HDR altogether on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X, simply select Auto HDR to remove the check mark.

If you are currently playing a non-HDR game, then you may need to close and then restart a game to remove the Auto HDR effects.

How to fix issue with Xbox Series X and S controller not turning on

The new controller that comes with the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X console may not properly power on when you press the Xbox button. You can tell that the gamepad is turned on as the Xbox button should be lit up with a white LED light.

So, if you are experiencing power issues with the new Xbox controller, then you can check out this troubleshooting guide from Seeking Tech to find some potential fixes.

1. The first step we recommend taking it to open up the battery compartment of the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X controller.

  • In order to do so, flip the controller over and then slide the battery cover off.
  • For the uninformed, you should can only use AA batteries or a battery pack. For the battery pack, make sure you are using one that was designed for the new Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X controller as the battery pack for the Xbox One controller may not work.
  • Inside the battery compartment of your controller, make sure that the batteries or battery pack is correctly placed. The + and – connectors on the gamepad, as well as the batteries or battery pack, should not be damaged. If the connectors are damaged, you may have to send your controller in for repair.
  • If the batteries or battery pack are correctly inserted, try to power on your controller again. If nothing happens after pressing the Xbox button, then you can either try using different batteries. If you are using AA rechargeable batteries or a battery pack, then you can recharge your batteries before trying again.

2. If your Xbox Series controller still won’t turn off after getting new batteries or recharging your batteries, then we suggest connecting the controller to your console with a wired USB connection.

  • For the uninformed, you will need a USB-C to USB-A cable, which unfortunately isn’t included with the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X console. If you don’t have one on hand, then we recommending picking up the Anker USB-C to USB-A cable, which you can find on Amazon with this link.(#CommissionsEarned).
  • Now that you have the compatible USB cable, connect the USB-C end of the cable to your Xbox Series controller and the USB-A end of the cable to one of the available USB-A ports of your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console.
  • Next, press the Xbox button on your controller to turn it on. With or without batteries (or a battery pack), the gamepad will draw power from the USB connection. If your Xbox Series controller still won’t turn on when you are using a wired connection, then you may want to try another USB cable.
  • If controller is not turning on after trying multiple USB cables, then it is highly likely that your gamepad has some kind of hardware damage that may need to be repaired by Microsoft.

3. If your controller managed to turn on successful when you are using a wired connection, then you can try updating the firmware of it.

In order to do so, you need to do the following:

  • Press the Xbox button to open the Guide quick menu.
  • In the Guide menu, scroll to the Profile & system tab by pressing the RB button on your controller several times.
  • On the Profile & system tab, select Settings.
  • Inside of the Settings menu, first select Device & connections on the left column.
  • On the right side of the same screen, you then need to select Accessories.
  • Locate your problematic Xbox Series controller and then select the “…” option underneath it.
  • You should have opened the “Xbox Wireless Controller by Xbox” menu. Here, the top-most option will show whether or not a new firmware update is available for the gamepad. If there is, make sure you update your controller.
  • If your controller is not updating, turn off your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X by holding the power button on the console for 10 seconds. Disconnect and then reconnect the USB-A end of the cable to the USB port of your console (you may want to try a different USB port on the console or use a different USB cable). You can then try to update the controller once again.
  • After updating the firmware of your controller, disconnect it from the USB port.
  • The gamepad should remain turned on after you removed the USB connection.

If none of the aforementioned potential solutions help fix issues with turning on your Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X controller, then there is a chance that your gamepad has some sort of hardware damage.

If you believe that your controller may need to be repaired and is still under warranty, then you need to contact Microsoft, which you can do so with this link.

How to filter blue light on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

The blue light intensity when playing a videogame on the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S may cause issues with your eyes and more, especially if you are playing in the dark. If you are experiencing vision or other issues, then you might want to dim or completely turn of the blue light output.

You can check out this step-by-step guide from Seeking Tech to see how you can filter out the blue light output on your Xbox Series X or S console.

Updating the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S firmware

The ability to adjust the blue light output was added via a recent firmware update for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. So, if you haven’t done so already, you need to download and install the latest available firmware.

In order to do so manually, you can take the following steps:

1. Turn on your console if you haven’t done so already.

2. Make sure that your console is connected online.

3. Next, you need to open the Guide menu, which you can do by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.

4. In the “Guide” menu, switch over to the “Profile & system” tab, which you can do by pressing the RB button several times.

5. Once you arrive at the “Profile & system” tab, select the “Settings” option by scrolling to it and then pressing the A button on your controller.

6. After getting to the “Settings” menu, first select the “System” option on the left side.

7. Next, you need to select the “Updates” option on the right side of the same screen.

8. In the “System – Updates” menu, the top-most option will show if there is a new update available. If there is, select that option to download and install the latest firmware for your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.

How to dim or turn off blue light on Xbox Series X and S

In order to dime or turn off blue light on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console, you need to do the following:

1. Get to the “Settings” menu.

2. From the “Settings” menu, you first need to select “Accessibility” from the list of available options on the left side of the screen.

3. On the right side of the same screen, you then need to select “Night mode.”

4. Inside the “Accessibility – Night mode” menu, you first need to select the “Night mode” option on the top left side.

5. In the drop-down menu, you can either choose “On” or “Scheduled.”

The “On” option will filter out the blue light as long as Night Mode is enabled.

The “Scheduled” will filter the blue light based on a customized scheduled you can set to enable Night Mode.

6. After setting the “Night mode” option to “On” or “Scheduled,” you should now be able to select the “Display” option on the same screen.

7. In the “Accessibility – Night mode display” menu, scroll down to the “Filter blue light” option. Here you can use the directional pad or left analog stick to adjust the blue light intensity from None (0%) to Max (100%) in increments of 2 percentage points.

Every time Night Mode is enabled, the blue light will now be filtered based on your adjustment.

How to dim or turn off the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S controller light

The Xbox button on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S controller will light up when turned on. The same button will also blink when trying to sync with another device. This light can be overly bright and distracting, however.

You can check out this step-by-step tutorial at Seeking Tech to see how you can dim or turn off the light on the gamepad.

Updating to the Latest Firmware of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

The ability to dim and turn off the Xbox button light was added just recently via a firmware update on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. So, if you haven’t done so already, make sure you download and install the latest firmware.

To manually update your console, you can take the following steps:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open up the “Guide” menu.

2. In the Guide menu, scroll to the “Profile & system” tab by pressing the RB button several times.

3. Once you landed in the “Profile & system” tab, select “Settings” with the A button.

4. Inside the “Settings” menu, you first need to select “System” on the left column.

5. On the right side of the same screen, you then have to select “Updates.”

6. If there is a new firmware available, then you need to select the top-most option in the “System – Updates” menu.

How to dim or turn off the Xbox Series X and S controller light

With your console updated, you can dim or turn off the Xbox button light on your Xbox Series S and Xbox Series S controller by doing the following:

1. Head to the “Settings” menu.

2. After getting to the “Settings” menu, you need to select “Accessibility” from the options available on the left tab.

3. On the right side of the same screen, you then need to select “Night mode.”

4. In the “Accessibility – Night mode” menu, select “Controller brightness.”

5. In the “Accessibility – Controller brightness” menu, first select the “Customize brightness” option in order to check the box next to it and enable this brightness level changing feature.

6. On the “Default brightness” bar, you can manually change the brightness level of the Xbox button to the following:

  • Off (0%Brightness Level)
  • 20%Brightness Level
  • 33%Brightness Level
  • 50%Brightness Level
  • 75%Brightness Level
  • 90%Brightness Level
  • Default (100% Brightness Level)

You can use either the directional pad or left analog stick to change the brightness level.

How to dim or turn off the Xbox Series X and S controller light via Night Mode

Night Mode is a new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S feature that will change certain settings, including the light intensity of your controller, when enabled.

In order to dim or turn off the Xbox Series X and S controller light using this mode, you can take the following steps:

1. Go to “Settings.”

2. In “Settings,” select “Accessibility “of the left side of the screen.

3. On the right side of the same screen, select “Night mode.”

4. Inside the “Accessibility – Night mode” menu, select the “Night mode” option.

5. In the drop-down menu you can select “On” to manually enable Night Mode.

6. You can also select “Scheduled” so that you can set when your console will automatically turn on Night Mode.

If you selected “Scheduled,” then you can set when the Night Mode starts and ends on your console. There is also an option that will let you scheduled the mode during the sunrise and sunset of your time zone.

7. After either manually enabling or scheduling Night Mode, you then need to select the “Controller brightness” option on the same screen.

8. Once you get to the “Accessibility – Controller brightness” menu, you should see the “Night mode brightness” bar.

Here you can use the D-Pad or analog stick to adjust the brightness level of the Xbox button.