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Microsoft’s November 14, 2024 Xbox update brought back friend requests, began rolling out a redesigned Home page in the Xbox app for Windows, and introduced improved AI-powered game search on Xbox consoles and Windows. It also added console personalization options and accessory updates. These features rolled out over time, so not every player necessarily saw them on announcement day.
Friend requests return, alongside followers
The update restored two distinct kinds of Xbox social connection. Friends are reciprocal relationships that require an invitation and approval. Followers are one-way: you can follow another player to keep up with their shared content without becoming mutual friends.
Xbox automatically carried existing relationships into the new model. People who had added each other remained friends; connections that were not mutual remained followers. That means a familiar player appearing as a follower rather than a friend does not necessarily indicate a problem.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteOn console, press the Xbox button, open People, and view your friends list to accept or delete pending requests. You can search for a player there and send a request. Your profile also shows who you follow and who follows you. Xbox’s September Insider preview documented privacy controls at Settings > Account > Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy > View details & customize > Friends, followers & clubs. Notification options are under Settings > Preferences > Notifications. Menu labels can change, and child or family accounts may have additional restrictions.
#1 Best Overall
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
These controls let players manage who can send requests, who can follow them, and which social notifications they receive. If a request seems missing, check the People tab and the player’s profile, then review privacy and notification settings. Also confirm that both accounts are signed in, check for blocking or account restrictions, and make sure the console or app is updated. Those are practical checks, not a guarantee that a particular setting or connection is the cause.
Microsoft’s November update announcement and its September preview of the friends-and-followers experience describe the changes.
Rank #2
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
AI-powered search is for finding games and content
Xbox described the search improvement as a discovery feature, not a general-purpose chatbot. The system is intended to find relevant results when someone searches with a natural-language description, a typo, a shortcut, a synonym, or even an emoji. Example searches include “cozy farming games with fishing” and “FPS games with zombies.” The aim is to help when you know what kind of game you want but not its title.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe feature began rolling out on Xbox consoles and in the Xbox app for Windows, across supported regions and languages. “Rolling out” does not mean all accounts received it at once. Results can also vary with language, region, catalog availability and subscription status. A game appearing in search does not mean it is included with Game Pass or available in your market, and broad terms such as “cozy” can return subjective matches. Xbox did not promise that every query would be understood or produce an exact result.
Rank #3
- PLAY LIKE A PRO — The XBOX Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 features over 30 ways to play like a pro. Designed in collaboration with pro-level players, it puts exceptional performance, customization, and durability where it matters most.
- ADJUSTABLE-TENSION THUMBSTICKS — Fine-tune your aim with thumbsticks that let you adjust resistance for improved accuracy, consistency, and control in every match.
- SHORTER HAIR TRIGGER LOCKS — Fire faster and react quicker with three-step hair trigger locks that reduce pull distance for rapid input in competitive gameplay.
- INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS — Swap thumbstick toppers, D-pads, and paddles to tailor your controller to your preferred gaming style. Includes 6 thumbsticks, 4 paddles, 2 D-pads, carrying case, and charging dock.
- SAVE AND SWITCH PROFILES — Save up to 3 custom profiles on the controller and switch between them on the fly with the dedicated Profile button. Even pick which color the XBOX button lights up as.
Xbox’s announcement provides the examples and platform details.
A new Home page in the Xbox app for Windows
The redesigned Home experience was for the Xbox app on Windows, not the console dashboard or necessarily the Xbox mobile app. After Insider testing that began in October 2024, it started rolling out to all players over the following weeks.
Rank #4
- XBOX ELITE WIRELESS CONTROLLER SERIES 2: Play like a pro with adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks..Audio : 3.5mm stereo headset jack. Also compatible with the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and all other Xbox controller accessories made by Microsoft.
- CORE ESSENTIALS: Includes just the components you need to unleash your best game. Additional components sold separately for even more customization with the Complete Component Pack.
- LIMITLESS CUSTOMIZATION: Exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox Accessories app—even pick which color the Xbox button lights up with.*
- CUSTOM PROFILES: Save up to 3 custom profiles on the controller and switch between them on the fly.*
- EXTENDED GAMEPLAY: Stay in the game with up to 40 hours of battery life and refined components that are built to last.*
The page brings together Jump back in for recently played games, Game Pass and Microsoft Store content, new releases, news, curated recommendations, free-to-play games and deals. Jump back in is a shortcut to recent play, not a replacement for the full library. It is also available in Compact Mode. The more centralized layout may save browsing time, though its recommendations and promotional content will not suit everyone.
The Tool Desk
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On console, the update added ways to create gamerpics using achievement art or screenshots, and more flexibility to zoom and crop images used as Home backgrounds. These are personalization additions, not a wholesale redesign of the console Home page.
Best Value
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Microsoft also announced updates involving the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller and Xbox Accessories app. The announcement’s headline list alone does not establish specific new firmware, remapping or accessibility capabilities, so those should not be inferred from the fact that accessories were included.
What this update is—and isn’t
This is the November 2024 update, announced November 14, 2024. It is separate from both the 2023 console Home redesign and Xbox’s distinct November 2025 update, which covered Gaming Copilot, a Windows full-screen experience, cloud streaming and regional availability. Later dashboard or app revisions may also change the menu labels cited above.
Quick Recap
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