How to Transfer Games from Xbox One to Series X Fast
Finally got your hands on an Xbox Series X or Series S? Congratulations! But now you’re facing the daunting task of moving 500GB+ of games from your old Xbox One. If you have a data cap or slow internet, re-downloading everything is a nightmare. Thankfully, Microsoft built a “hidden” feature called Network Transfer that lets you beam games directly between consoles over your home network.
At AwesomeGaming101.com, we’ve timed the different transfer methods to find the absolute fastest way to get you into the next generation. Here is your step-by-step guide.
⚡ The Ethernet Secret
While Network Transfer works over Wi-Fi, it is 10 times faster if you plug both consoles into your router using Ethernet cables. You can hit speeds of up to 1Gbps, moving a 50GB game in just a few minutes.
Method 1: The Network Transfer (Wireless or Wired)
- Turn on both consoles and ensure they are on the same home network.
- On the Xbox One: Go to Settings > System > Backup & transfer > Network transfer and check the box for Allow network transfer.
- On the Series X|S: Go to the same menu. You should see your Xbox One listed under “Local Consoles.”
- Select the Xbox One, check the games you want to move, and hit Copy Selected.
Method 2: The External Drive “Plug & Play”
If you already have your Xbox One games stored on an External USB 3.0 Hard Drive, the process is even easier. Just unplug the drive from the Xbox One and plug it into the Series X. The new console will recognize the games instantly.
- Pro: Zero wait time for Xbox One games.
- Con: You must still move “Optimized for Series X|S” games to the internal SSD to play them.
Transfer Speed Comparison
| Method | Avg. Speed | Time for 100GB | Setup Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired Network Transfer | 800+ Mbps | ~18 Minutes | Medium |
| Wi-Fi Network Transfer | 50 – 150 Mbps | ~2 Hours | Low |
| Re-downloading (Fiber) | 300 Mbps | ~45 Minutes | Very Low |
| Re-downloading (Standard) | 25 Mbps | ~9 Hours | Very Low |
❓ FAQ: Moving to Next-Gen
Q: Will my save games transfer too? A: Yes! Xbox uses the Cloud Save system. As long as your Xbox One was connected to the internet, your saves will automatically sync to the Series X the moment you launch the game. Q: Do I need to transfer my Xbox 360 games? A: You can, but it’s often faster to just re-download them as they are much smaller in size. If they are on an external drive, they will work instantly on the Series X. Q: Can I transfer games from a Series X back to an Xbox One? A: Only the standard Xbox One versions. Games that are “Series X|S Only” cannot be played on the older hardware unless you use Xbox Cloud Gaming.Final Verdict
If you have both consoles in the same room, Wired Network Transfer is the gold standard. It’s faster than most internet connections and saves you from hitting your data cap. Once the transfer is done, you can enjoy the incredible loading speeds of your new machine!
Are you making the jump to Series X today? Let us know which game you’re most excited to see in next-gen quality! And if you’re looking for more ways to speed up your gaming life, check out our guide on Why Your Xbox One Downloads Are Slow.