Xbox Series X and Series S consoles are available starting November 10, and with them, Microsoft is unleashing a new generation of gaming, which brings 4K graphics at 60 fps (with support for up to 8K resolution at 120 fps) and support for Ray Tracing, variable refresh rate, and variable refresh shading.
And since the company has been investing a lot of efforts to maintain compatibility of games and hardware between consoles, if you’ve been using the original Xbox One or Xbox One X, the move to the Xbox Series X (or Xbox Series S) should be a smooth and straightforward process using the “Backup & transfer” settings.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to transfer your games and settings to migrate from Xbox One to Xbox Series X as quickly as possible.
- How to transfer Xbox One games to Xbox Series X using external storage
- How to transfer Xbox One games to Xbox Series X using network
- How to transfer Xbox One settings to Xbox Series X
How to transfer Xbox One games to Xbox Series X using external storage
If you have a supported external storage to save your games, it’s recommended to simply connect the drive to the Xbox Series X (or Xbox Series S) to move all your content. However, if you have a lot of games stored in the internal storage of the console, or you want to use a new external hard drive, it’s possible to bulk move the games across devices.
To transfer the Xbox One games to an external storage to use on Xbox Series X, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Select the System tab.
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Click on Backup & transfer.
Xbox backup & transfer -
Click on Hard drive transfer.
Hard drive transfer -
Under the “Manage transfer” section, click the Select all option.
Transfer Xbox games to external hard drive -
Click the Copy selected or Move selected option, depending of the action you want to take.
After you complete the steps, the games will be exported to the external storage, which you can then disconnect and connect into the Xbox Series X console to finish the transfer.
How to transfer Xbox One games to Xbox Series X using network
If you don’t have an external hard drive, it’s also possible to move your games and apps using the network transfer feature.
To transfer Xbox One games to Xbox Series X over the network, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Select the System tab.
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Click on Backup & transfer.
Xbox backup & transfer -
Click the Network transfer option.
Network transfer -
Check the Allow network transfer option.
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On the right, select the Xbox Series X.
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Check the Select all option. Or the check the games and apps you want to migrate.
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Click the Copy selected option.
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Select the Internal or External drive you want to copy the content.
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Select Copy again.
After you complete the steps, the games and apps will transfer over to the Xbox Series X without having to redownload any content from the internet.
How to transfer Xbox One settings to Xbox Series X
If you are planning to upgrade your console to the Xbox Series X (or Series S), you want to go through the transition as quickly as possible without having to go through setup process, and this is when the settings backup option comes in handy.
Since both generations use the same operating system, the backup option on Xbox One allows you to move your account and many other settings (such as notifications, power options, sign-in information, and more) to the Xbox Series X.
To backup and transfer your Xbox One settings to Xbox Series X, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Select the System tab.
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Click on Backup & transfer.
Xbox backup & transfer -
Click on Back up my settings option.
Back up my settings -
Click the Back up to device option to create a new backup.
Back up to device
If you have multiple storage devices connected to the console, remember to select the drive you want to use under the “Storage device” section.
Once you complete the steps, connect the storage to the Xbox Series X before powering it on for the first time, during the initial setup the console will transfer your settings automatically.
If you’re planning to get one of the consoles, remember that you’ll need a 4K TV to take advantage of all the benefits of Xbox Series X. Below, you’ll find the links to order the console along with a short list of the best 4K TVs to get the best gaming experience.
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 14 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 20 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].