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To let an Xbox download games, apps, and system updates while it is switched off, set the console’s power mode to Shutdown (energy saving). On Xbox Series X|S, that option is under Settings > General > Power Options. Microsoft says the console can then receive system, game, and app downloads overnight, and that it draws less power while off than it does in Sleep. The trade-off is that a fully shut-down console cannot be woken remotely, so if you want to start an install from your phone, you need Sleep instead.
Set the power mode on Series X|S
Microsoft’s own setup guidance for the Series X|S uses one menu path for this choice, and the steps below follow it.
- Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
- Go to Settings, then General, then Power Options.
- Select Shutdown (energy saving).
- Leave the console plugged in and connected to your network overnight, which Microsoft lists as a condition for scheduled downloads.
On an Xbox One, Microsoft’s January 13, 2023 announcement says the same Shutdown (energy saving) option lets the console receive system, game, or app downloads overnight, just as Series X|S does. Menu names can shift between software versions on Xbox One, so look for the power options screen on your console rather than relying on a fixed path.
Turn on automatic updates
Downloads only start if the console is allowed to fetch updates on its own. Open the console’s update settings and turn on automatic updates for both the console and games and apps. Microsoft’s support search results point to an option labelled Keep my console up to date. The support page itself redirected when this was checked, so the exact wording and location can differ on your software version. Find the matching option on your own console instead of assuming a specific path applies everywhere.
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Shutdown or Sleep: which one to use
Both modes can keep your library current, but they serve different purposes. Choose by what you need the console to do while it is off.
| Question | Shutdown (energy saving) | Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight system, game, and app downloads | Supported, per Microsoft’s 2023 and 2024 guidance | Not described as the overnight download mode in the sources reviewed |
| Remote wake from a phone or other device | Not supported while fully shut down | Supported during active hours |
| Mobile-initiated game installs | Not offered | Supported during active hours |
| Power draw while off | Microsoft says up to 20 times less than Sleep | Higher than Shutdown |
| Quick availability when you sit down | Slower start from a full power-off | Faster return to use |
If the main goal is to have new releases and updates already installed the next morning, Shutdown is the setting Microsoft describes for that. If you need to start an install from a phone while you are away, select Sleep and configure active hours so the console is reachable at the times you need.
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What the power figures mean
Microsoft’s Xbox Wire guide, Getting Started with Xbox Series X|S (November 15, 2024), says: “By using the Shutdown option (energy saving) feature, your console will use up to 20 times less power when off compared to Sleep mode.” That is a manufacturer comparison, not a measurement of your own household’s electricity use, and it does not state the test conditions.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The 2023 Xbox Wire material also gives a Sleep figure: about 0.5 watts after active hours, compared with 10 to 15 watts while active. Treat this as Microsoft’s description of Sleep behavior, not a universal reading for every Xbox model or setup.
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Microsoft’s 2023 announcement adds an illustrative carbon comparison: two consoles in Shutdown for a year, running 20 hours a day, would save roughly the carbon a decade-old tree absorbs. Microsoft notes that real savings vary. This is background context and has no bearing on the setup steps.
The April 2023 Xbox update also states that Sleep active hours default to always active unless you change them, so check that setting if you rely on remote wake.
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- Gaming Resolution: 1440p; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
A recent streaming-related download change
On September 9, 2026, Xbox Wire said Xbox Insiders can test downloads that keep running in the background while you cloud stream, when network conditions allow. The setting is listed under Settings > Cloud gaming > Streaming preferences. This is a preview tied to cloud streaming. It is not a replacement for the Shutdown or Sleep behavior described above, and it does not change what happens when the console is switched off.
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When a download does not start
If the console is set correctly and a download still does not begin, check these items in order. The sources do not establish a single cause, and Microsoft does not guarantee that every queued download completes while the console is off.
- Power mode: confirm you are still on Shutdown (energy saving) under Settings > General > Power Options.
- Power and network: the console should stay plugged in and connected to the internet overnight.
- Storage: make sure the internal storage or attached drive has enough free space for the download.
- Automatic updates: confirm automatic console and games/apps updates are still on.
- Download queue: check whether the item is paused, queued behind another install, or waiting for a different download to finish.
- Remote install attempt: if you tried to start a mobile install, remember that this requires Sleep during active hours, not Shutdown.
If none of these resolve it, restart the console once, then check the download again after the next overnight window.
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