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Yes for basic video passthrough, but not as a general-purpose PC monitor input. Connect a second console or another HDMI video source to the Xbox One’s HDMI-In port, connect the Xbox One HDMI-Out to your TV or monitor, then open the Xbox TV/OneGuide view. The external picture can appear on the same display path as the Xbox One. Microsoft does not guarantee every console, display and format combination, however, and Microsoft support describes a relevant Xbox One S PC-monitor arrangement as unavailable because of system limitations.
If your objective is to record, stream or preview a console on a computer, use a capture card with HDMI input and passthrough instead of treating the Xbox One as a monitor adapter.
What the Xbox One HDMI-In port actually does
HDMI-In accepts the video output of an external device and routes that signal through the Xbox One to the display connected to HDMI-Out. Its original design target was an external video device such as a cable or satellite box, particularly a device that primarily plays video. A second console can use the same signal path, but that is a practical use reported by users rather than a universal compatibility promise from Microsoft.
The port is a passthrough input, not a second HDMI output. It does not give the connected console access to Xbox menus, Xbox controllers, Xbox services or game compatibility. The second device still runs its own software and sends its own picture; the Xbox One is only in the middle of the video chain.
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What appears on the screen
When the chain is working, selecting the Xbox TV/OneGuide view displays the incoming HDMI source on the television or monitor connected to the Xbox One. Switching back to the Xbox dashboard returns you to the Xbox One’s own interface. The external source does not become an application inside the Xbox One.
What the port cannot reliably do
- It is not a dependable way to turn the Xbox One into a PC monitor.
- It is not a capture device that automatically sends the incoming picture to a computer.
- It does not remove HDCP, resolution or HDR compatibility requirements from the signal chain.
- It does not guarantee a particular latency, refresh rate or image mode for every source and display.
How to connect a second console
- Connect the second console’s HDMI output to the Xbox One HDMI-In port.
- Connect the Xbox One HDMI-Out port to an HDMI input on the TV or monitor.
- Turn on the Xbox One, the second console and the display.
- Open the Xbox TV/OneGuide view so the Xbox One shows the incoming source.
- Set the source and display to a mutually compatible video mode if the picture does not appear.
The Xbox One must be powered and operating for this route to work. The display is not connected directly to the second console; it receives the signal after it has passed through the Xbox One.
Can a PS4, Nintendo Switch or another Xbox use it?
Those devices have HDMI outputs, so they are the type of source that can be tried with HDMI-In. The practical result depends on the exact console model, its output mode, the Xbox One model, the display and any content-protection requirements. User reports show second-console connections working, but those reports should not be read as a manufacturer guarantee for every combination.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor a fair test, connect the source directly to the display first and confirm that it produces a picture. Then insert the Xbox One into the chain. This separates a source or display problem from a passthrough problem without assuming that every HDMI device behaves identically.
Why a PC is a different case
A PC can produce an HDMI signal, but the Xbox One HDMI-In path is not a supported general-purpose PC-monitor workflow. A Microsoft Q&A response about passing a PC through an Xbox One S says the requested arrangement was unavailable because of system limitations and recommends using a TV for that setup.
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That limitation matters because a computer expects a monitor connection with predictable display negotiation and desktop-oriented modes. The Xbox One input was designed around external video playback, not as a universal display adapter. Even if a particular PC happens to show an image, that does not establish reliable support for every desktop resolution, refresh rate, HDR mode or application.
If you only want to view a PC picture
Connect the PC directly to the monitor or TV whenever possible. This removes the Xbox One from the handshake and gives the computer and display a direct connection. If the display has only one HDMI input, an HDMI switch is the normal hardware solution for selecting between sources; it does not provide a captured signal to the PC.
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Use a capture card with HDMI input and passthrough. Elgato’s documented setup for Game Capture HD60 states: “Connect your Xbox One to the HDMI In of Elgato Game Capture HD60 via an HDMI cable.” In that arrangement, the card receives the console signal, passes video to a TV, and sends a capture feed to the computer. A similar capture-card design is the appropriate route when the computer must record or stream the source.
The capture card does not make the Xbox One HDMI-In port necessary. The usual layout is source console HDMI-Out to capture-card HDMI-In, capture-card HDMI-Out to the TV or monitor, and the capture-card USB connection to the computer. Follow the specific card’s software and input requirements; the Xbox One is not a substitute for that hardware.
If you mean Xbox game streaming
Xbox game streaming is a separate network feature, not HDMI-In. Microsoft’s support instructions require enabling Allow game streaming to other devices and using the Xbox app. That route sends a game stream over a network and has different requirements and behavior from a physical HDMI passthrough connection.
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Direct passthrough, capture card or HDMI switch?
Choose the device according to whether you need simple viewing, a computer signal or convenient source selection.
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| Option | Intended purpose | Sources | PC capture | Format and HDCP considerations | Cable complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox One HDMI-In | View one external video source through the Xbox One and its HDMI-Out connection | One source at a time through the Xbox One input | No | Depends on the source, Xbox One, display and any required HDCP or video-format support | Source to Xbox One, then Xbox One to display |
| HDMI capture card with passthrough | Record, stream or preview a console on a computer while feeding a display | Usually one HDMI source per input; the supported count depends on the card | Yes | The exact card, source, display and HDCP conditions determine whether capture and passthrough work | Source to card, card to display, card to computer |
| HDMI switch | Select between multiple HDMI sources for one display | Multiple inputs; the number is model-dependent | Normally no captured computer signal | Every source, switch and display must support the required video and HDCP capabilities | Sources to switch, switch to display |
An HDMI switch is usually simpler than routing every source through the Xbox One when the real problem is a shortage of display inputs. A capture card is the right category when the computer needs the video as data. HDMI-In is most useful when you already have an Xbox One in the display chain and only need basic viewing of one external source.
HDCP, resolution and display compatibility
HDMI devices negotiate capabilities when they are connected. The source, Xbox One, display and any intermediary device must agree on a usable signal. Xbox Wire notes that every device in a 4K passthrough chain must support the required 4K and HDCP capabilities, and that suitable certified HDMI cables should be used.
Do not assume that an Xbox One passthrough chain will preserve a specific resolution, HDR mode or refresh rate merely because each device advertises that feature when connected directly. The intermediary Xbox One can change the negotiation. Test the exact Xbox model, source, display and cable arrangement you intend to keep.
HDCP-protected content
HDCP can block capture or passthrough. A protected video source may show a blank screen, an error or a picture that disappears when playback starts. This is a content-protection behavior, not evidence that the HDMI port is physically damaged. Capture devices in particular may be unable to record protected material even when an ordinary display can show it.
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Resolution and HDR mismatches
If the source works directly with the display but not through the Xbox One, temporarily choose a more conservative output mode on the source and test again. Once a basic picture is established, add higher-resolution or HDR modes one at a time. The successful setting is determined by the complete chain, not by the source alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting a blank or unstable picture
No picture at all
- Verify that the source is connected to HDMI-In, not another Xbox One port.
- Verify that the display cable leaves the Xbox One through HDMI-Out and reaches the selected TV or monitor input.
- Turn on the source, Xbox One and display, then open the TV/OneGuide view.
- Test the source directly on the display. If it fails there, fix the source or display connection first.
- Swap one HDMI cable at a time with a suitable certified cable, especially in a 4K chain.
The source works directly but not through the Xbox One
This points to compatibility or signal negotiation in the added link. Check the source’s output mode, the display’s accepted modes and any HDCP requirement. If the source is a PC, treat the result as an unsupported monitor workflow rather than expecting a permanent fix.
The picture appears briefly, then disappears
A change in output mode or HDCP state can interrupt the handshake. Restart the source and display with the Xbox One connected, then retry with a lower or simpler output mode. Protected playback may also be the reason that menus appear while video remains blocked.
Audio is missing
Confirm that the source is sending audio over HDMI and that the display or audio system is selected to receive it from the HDMI path. Avoid changing several devices at once; isolate the source, Xbox One and display so you can identify which link loses audio.
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Gameplay feels delayed
No universal latency figure is published for Xbox One HDMI-In. Display processing, the source mode and the Xbox One path can all affect the experience. Use the display’s low-latency or game mode if available and compare the same source connected directly to the display. If direct connection feels better, use an HDMI switch or another direct-input arrangement for play.
A practical decision checklist
- Need to see one console on a TV that is already connected to an Xbox One? Try HDMI-In passthrough, accepting that compatibility is not universal.
- Need the PC to act as the monitor? Do not depend on Xbox One HDMI-In; connect the PC directly to the display.
- Need to record or stream console video on a PC? Use a capture card with HDMI input and passthrough.
- Need to share one display among several consoles? Use an HDMI switch unless you specifically need the Xbox One in the signal path.
- Using 4K, HDR or protected video? Confirm support across every device and cable in the chain; a direct connection may be more reliable.
The short answer is therefore conditional: Xbox One HDMI-In can pass video from a second console to the connected display, but it is an external-video input with source-dependent compatibility. It is not a dependable PC monitor interface, and it is not a replacement for a capture card when a computer must receive, record or stream the signal.
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