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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo let an Xbox download games, apps, and system updates overnight while it is switched off, set the console to Shutdown (energy saving) under Settings > General > Power Options, leave it plugged in, and keep it connected to the internet. Choose Sleep instead only if you need to wake the console remotely or send a game install from a mobile device, because remote wake is not available once the console is fully shut down.
Set the power mode for overnight downloads
The steps below cover Xbox Series X|S. Xbox One uses the same Shutdown option, but menu labels can shift between software versions, so follow the power options shown on your console.
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- On the console, open Settings > General > Power Options.
- Select Shutdown (energy saving). This is the mode Microsoft describes as supporting system, game, and app downloads overnight.
- Open the console’s update settings and turn on automatic updates for the console and for games and apps. Microsoft’s support material refers to an option labelled Keep my console up to date, but the exact wording and location can differ by software version, so match the label on your screen rather than a fixed path.
- Confirm the console is connected to the internet and stays plugged in. Microsoft lists both as conditions for scheduled update downloads.
Shutdown or Sleep: which mode to use
Both modes sit under the same Power Options menu, but they trade off different things. The table compares them on the three points that usually decide the choice.
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| Feature | Shutdown (energy saving) | Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight system, game, and app downloads | Supported on Series X|S and Xbox One, according to Microsoft | Not stated in the sources reviewed; use Shutdown when overnight downloads are the goal |
| Remote wake | Not supported while fully shut down | Available during active hours |
| Mobile game installs | Not described by Microsoft for this mode | Available during active hours |
| Power use while off | Lower; quantified in the power figures below | Higher than Shutdown by Microsoft’s comparison |
| Resume speed | Not stated in the sources reviewed | Described by Microsoft as offering quicker availability |
Choosing Sleep for remote wake and mobile installs
If you want to start an install from a phone or wake the console from another room, select Sleep and review its active hours. Microsoft’s April 2023 Xbox update states that active hours default to always active unless you change them, so set a window that matches when you actually need the console reachable.
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Why the two jobs don’t overlap
Automatic overnight updates and remotely starting a new install are different actions. Shutdown supports the scheduled overnight downloads Microsoft describes. Sleep is the mode that keeps the console reachable for remote requests, which is why the two settings serve different goals.
What the power figures mean
Microsoft’s Mike Nelson, writing for Xbox Wire in Getting Started with Xbox Series X|S on November 15, 2024, said: “By using the Shutdown option (energy saving) feature, your console will use up to 20 times less power when off compared to Sleep mode.” Read that as Microsoft’s own comparison under its stated conditions, not an independent measurement of your household’s bill.
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- 0.5 watts after active hours versus 10 to 15 watts while active. Microsoft’s 2023 Xbox Wire description of Sleep active-hours behavior gives these figures. They describe that behavior and should not be read as a reading every Xbox model or home will produce.
- Illustrative carbon estimate. Microsoft’s January 2023 announcement said two consoles using Shutdown for a year would save roughly the carbon equivalent of one tree grown for a decade. The estimate assumes Series X|S and Xbox One consoles in Shutdown 20 hours per day for a year, and Microsoft says actual savings vary.
Xbox One: what Microsoft says is different
Microsoft’s January 13, 2023 announcement said: “Shutdown (energy saving) will allow Xbox One consoles to receive system, game or app downloads overnight, just like Xbox Series X|S.” The same setting path applies, but check the labels on your own console because older software may present the options differently.
If a download doesn’t run while the console is off
Microsoft’s published material does not guarantee that every queued download finishes while the console is off, and the sources reviewed do not identify one cause for failures. Work through these checks in order:
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- Network: confirm the console is online and not on a connection that has dropped overnight.
- Power: confirm the console is still plugged in and was left in Shutdown (energy saving), not fully powered down by another method.
- Storage: confirm the drive has enough free space for the game or update.
- Update settings: confirm automatic updates for the console and for games and apps are still on.
- Queue: look for paused or stalled items in the console’s download queue and restart them.
The cloud-streaming background download test
On September 9, 2026, Xbox Wire said Xbox Insiders can test downloads that continue in the background while cloud streaming, when network conditions allow. The setting appears under Settings > Cloud gaming > Streaming preferences. This is a streaming-related Insider test, not a change to how Shutdown or Sleep handles downloads while the console is off, so don’t rely on it for overnight installs.
No firsthand testing of these menus or downloads was carried out for this guide. The steps reflect Microsoft’s published descriptions as of this writing.
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