It’s easy to use your Windows laptop as a display for your Xbox Series X|S. And it’s an ideal solution if you don’t have a dedicated monitor, or if your laptop’s screen is of a higher quality than your existing monitor.
If you connect via Remote Play, this also has the advantage of being able to play Xbox games wherever you want. The only caveat is that your laptop must be able to connect to your console via the internet.
What is Remote Play?
Remote Play allows you to use your Xbox console with any device. This includes computers, Android and iOS devices; see how to play Xbox games on your iPhone as an example. You will be able to use your console just as you normally would. But instead of cloud gaming, you’ll connect directly to your Xbox.
It’s worth being aware of the differences between Xbox Remote Play and Xbox Cloud Gaming. When you open your Xbox or the Xbox app for PC, you’ll see an option titled Cloud Gaming. This requires an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and allows you to play Xbox games in the cloud. Unlike Remote Play, this does not require you to own an Xbox console.
If your laptop and Xbox are both on the same network, you don’t need to worry too much about the network settings. However, if you are playing on a different network, you may experience noticeable network lag if you fall too far below these settings.
How to start playing Xbox Series X|S games with your laptop
While you don’t technically need an Xbox controller for this, we recommend using an official controller for the best experience. If you’re not using an Xbox Series X|S controller, you may not be able to use Bluetooth to connect your controller to your laptop. In that case, you need to use another method to sync your controller with your PC.
Connect your Xbox Controller to your laptop
If you’re playing near your Xbox, you don’t need to do anything here. Your controller connects directly to your Xbox Series X|S. Otherwise, follow these steps to connect your Xbox controller to your laptop.
After a short loading screen, you will be greeted with the Xbox home screen. From here, you can interact with your Xbox exactly as you normally would. You won’t be able to use your mouse and keyboard to interact with your Xbox using this method.
However, by clicking the three-button menu at the top left of the screen with your mouse, you can access useful options. These include Mute, Send Feedback, Toggle Full Screen, and Disconnect.
As long as your Xbox is set to standby mode, you don’t even need to turn on your Xbox first. Just connect to your Xbox as described above, and your Xbox will turn on remotely. So even if you’re on a train, on holiday or even on a break at work, you can play games from your console.
What else can the Xbox app do?
If you’ve only used the Xbox app for PC for remote play, you should know that this is only a small part of its functionality. The Xbox app primarily serves as the platform for Xbox PC games. You can shop for new Xbox games, interact with the Xbox community, and take advantage of Xbox Game Pass. Even if your laptop isn’t powerful enough to run the latest AAA titles, you can play games via Cloud Gaming.
You are now ready to use remote play on your laptop
As we’ve previously discussed, Remote Play is available on more than just PC. You can install the Xbox app on iOS and Android devices, so you can play wherever your phone is. But since you have to hold a controller to play, you might want a stand to hold your phone.
If you don’t have a console, or want to play with a friend who doesn’t have one, you’ll want to give Xbox Cloud Gaming a try. You don’t even need an official Xbox controller for this, just a Game Pass Ultimate subscription.