How to Disable Automatic Updates on an Xbox One

Keeping your console up to date is usually recommended, but there are times when you may want to control when downloads occur. This guide explains the step-by-step process to disable automatic updates on your Xbox One, allowing you to manage system and game updates manually to save bandwidth or avoid interruptions during gameplay.

Accessing the Update Settings

To begin managing your update preferences, turn on your Xbox One and navigate to the home screen. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide, then scroll over to the Profile & system tab. Select Settings from the menu options. Within the Settings menu, choose the System category, followed by Updates. This section contains all the controls related to how your console handles new software and game patches.

Turning Off Console and Game Updates

In the Updates menu, you will see two primary toggles that control automatic downloads. The first option is Keep my console up to date. Switch this toggle to the off position to prevent the system from automatically downloading OS updates. The second option is Keep my games & apps up to date. Turning this off ensures that installed games and applications will not update in the background without your permission. You must disable both switches if you want to stop all automatic content downloads.

Adjusting Power Mode Settings

Automatic updates often rely on the console being in a low-power state rather than fully shut down. If you wish to ensure no updates occur while the device is off, check your power settings. Go to Settings > General > Power mode & startup. Here, you can select Energy-saving instead of Instant-on. The Instant-on mode allows the console to download updates while it appears off, whereas Energy-saving performs a full shutdown, which inherently stops background updates when the system is not in use.

Manually Checking for Updates

Once automatic updates are disabled, you will need to check for patches manually to ensure optimal performance and online connectivity. Return to the Updates menu in the System settings whenever you wish to install new software. Select Console update or Update games & apps to initiate the download process on your own schedule. This method gives you full control over your data usage and ensures updates do not install during critical gaming sessions.