Xbox Series X is one of the most powerful gaming consoles on the market. And all that power can result in a significant energy cost, especially if it’s the cornerstone of your gaming setup.
Microsoft is well aware of this, too. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles feature a range of power options intended to provide a balance of high-end features and energy efficiency. If you’re using the Xbox Insider Program, you may have noticed that the Xbox Series X’s power options have reverted to the default “off” position. This is intentional, as Microsoft is exploring ways to live up to its carbon neutrality pledge.
But if you’d prefer a different power-saving setting on the Xbox Series X, what are your options? More importantly, what do each accomplish for you and your controller? Read on if you’d like to learn more about Xbox Series X power saving modes and how they affect your game time.
How to change power options on Xbox Series X.
You will have to navigate through your console’s Settings app to change to the power options you want on Xbox Series X. You can easily do this by clicking on the Xbox Wireless Controller Center residence button, either on the dashboard or in the game. This will bring up a quick access side panel. Go to the gear icon at the bottom and select it to open a file settings Implementation.
Once you’re in, head over to Public and go to File Power options to divide. Here, you will be given several power options, each of which shows how it will affect the console and gameplay. Read on to find out how each power option affects your Xbox Series X.
Xbox Series X Power Options: Off
Off mode is what the Xbox Series X is set to out of the box. The Xbox Series X power option is the most energy efficient, as it will completely shut down your console when you’re done playing. If you want to reduce your energy bills, you should consider using the off mode.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind. The console takes approximately 45 seconds to turn back on once it’s restarted. In addition, operations such as the Xbox Series X’s Quick Resume feature will be reset, meaning your games won’t pick up where you left off; Instead you will run it fresh.
Xbox Series X power options: sleep
Sleep mode will be your go-to power option if you play Xbox Series X regularly and has convenient features like Quick Resume that lets you pick up a game right where you left off without having to restart it again. Sleep mode puts your console into standby mode when it is turned off. This means that Xbox caches most of the processes from your last gaming session, which makes for much faster boot times.
While sleep mode consumes more electricity than shutdown when it’s turned off, its convenience is certainly attractive. It’s the power option to consider if you frequently switch between games or want to start a gaming session in a pinch. In that sense, it’s an excellent choice for Xbox Game Pass users who find themselves downloading and playing multiple titles.
How much energy does each Xbox Series X power option consume?
There’s a significant difference in power consumption between the two main Xbox Series X power options. When in sleep mode, your console draws about 13 watts, which is the more demanding option. However, when set to off, that drops to a much lower 0.5W.
Which Xbox Series X power option should I use?
If you play Xbox Series X regularly and want continued use of premium features like Quick Resume (plus enjoy faster boot times), you’ll need to put your console to sleep. For those who play a lot or want to save power, the off mode is the best option.