How to change shutdown action on Xbox

If you're not a regular gamer or don't want to waste unnecessary energy, use these steps to change how Xbox shuts down.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
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Xbox power menu
Xbox power menu

On Xbox Series X, S, and Xbox One, when you open the Power menu and select the “Turn off console,” the device will not completely shut down. Instead, the console will enter into sleep, which speeds up the startup process the next time you turn it on, but it wastes more energy.

If you play Xbox games regularly or are a power gamer, perhaps that’s the best behavior to have in the power settings. However, if you are not, you will use more unnecessary power, which could also shorten the console’s lifespan. Thankfully, the Xbox settings include an option to change how the console shuts down when turning it off.

This guide will teach you the easy steps to change the power options on your Xbox console.

Change how Xbox shuts down from Power menu

To shut down Xbox Series X, S, or Xbox One completely from Power menu, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Xbox.

  2. Click on General.

  3. Click the Power Options tab.

  4. Select the Shutdown option.

    Xbox Power options shutdown

  5. (Optional) Under the “Options” section, choose when Xbox should wait before turning off automatically after inactivity or after playing videos or music.

Once you complete the steps, the next time you select the “Turn off console,” your Xbox Series X, S, or One will shut down completely instead of going to Sleep mode, saving energy.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].