Yes. An Xbox One can download queued games and updates while it appears to be off, provided it stays plugged in, connected to the internet, and set to a power mode that allows background downloads. On older software, that generally means Instant-on; newer Xbox One software also supports overnight downloads in Shutdown (energy saving).
How to download a game while your Xbox One is off
- Check the power mode. Open Profile & system > Settings > General > Power options. On older software, look for Settings > Power & startup.
- Choose a mode that supports background activity. If your console offers Instant-on, select it for the connected-standby behavior described in older Xbox One guidance. On newer software, Shutdown (energy saving) can also receive overnight system, game, and app downloads, according to Microsoft’s January 2023 announcement.
- Queue the game or update. Start the download while the console is on and confirm it appears in the download queue.
- Turn off the console normally. Use the controller or console interface, and leave the console plugged in and online so it can perform background activity.
For legacy automatic-update behavior, Xbox Support pairs Instant-on with Keep my console up to date. Its guidance says, “You can set your console to automatically receive updates when it’s turned off.” See Xbox One system updates. Menu labels vary with software version.
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Which power mode should you use?
| Mode or label | Background downloads | Trade-off or context |
|---|---|---|
| Instant-on (older Xbox One menus) | Supports the legacy connected-standby behavior and automatic updates when the relevant setting is enabled, according to Xbox Support. | Older menu label; the exact options depend on your console’s software. |
| Sleep (newer label) | Microsoft describes remote play and mobile game installs as available during configured active hours, not as a guarantee that every queued download will complete in every configuration. See the April 2023 Xbox update. | Wakes more quickly than Shutdown (energy saving). |
| Shutdown (energy saving) | Microsoft says Xbox One consoles can receive system, game, or app downloads overnight in this mode. See the January 2023 announcement. | Boots more slowly than Sleep. |
Microsoft renamed Standby to Sleep and Energy saver to Shutdown (energy saving) in October 2022. Older instructions that say Instant-on is the only option predate the newer Shutdown (energy saving) support for overnight downloads. For the naming change and power-options path, see Xbox Wire’s October 2022 update.
Queued downloads are not the same as automatic updates
A game you have already queued is different from an update the console finds automatically, or a game you purchase remotely. Older Xbox One documentation discusses remote purchases and downloads when automatic updates are enabled, but this does not mean every new purchase will install immediately or that a fully unplugged console can download anything. Microsoft’s Xbox One first-year feature list describes those earlier connected features.
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Remote or mobile installs are also related but separate from leaving a queued download running. With Sleep selected, configured active hours can make the console available for remote play and mobile game installs; that describes availability during those hours, not a promise of installation while fully shut down.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the download does not continue
- Check that the download is still in the queue and has not paused or failed.
- Confirm the console is connected to the internet.
- Check that there is enough storage space for the game or update.
- Verify that the selected power mode and automatic-update settings match the behavior you want.
External storage can help if the internal drive lacks room, but it is not needed to enable background downloads. Xbox Wire lists external storage among Xbox One features; it does not make an otherwise unsupported power mode download in the background. See the Xbox One feature list.
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