A guide to using live TV on Microsoft’s Xbox One entertainment console

Microsoft’s Xbox One entertainment console isn’t just a game box. It’s also a universal remote control and input for your TV. Getting the most out of Xbox One’s live TV functionality is a bit tricky. Here’s what you need to know and what you need to do to watch live TV on Xbox One.

Before buying

Before you commit to buying an Xbox One to use the live TV functionality, there are a few things you need to know.

Live TV on Xbox One is one of the least understood features of the console itself. Part of this is because Microsoft doesn’t often show off the feature much these days; they prefer to talk more about the upcoming exclusive games and the new game features that users can expect these days. The second reason live TV is misunderstood is because it doesn’t work the way users expect it to.

If you’re thinking of buying Xbox One as a replacement for the cable box provided by your cable company, then you need to wait a little longer. Despite what some people think, the Xbox One can’t really replace a cable box in most situations. You’ll still be stuck with that giant box provided to you by Comcast, Time Warner, and other cable companies. Instead of communicating directly with your home cable line, the Xbox One actually communicates directly with the cable box. When users change the channel, the Xbox One is actually using your Kinect 2 sensor to change the channel on the cable box.

This is how at least most homes will work. Today, there’s a small subset of users who will be able to completely replace their cable box in some rooms thanks to Xbox One. Mainly, just Verizon users. This is because Verizon creates an app that allows its users to stream TV channels directly to the Xbox One over the Internet. This mitigates the need for the Xbox One to communicate with the cable network and allows users to save a bit on those monthly cable box rental fees. It’s worth checking frequently to see if your cable company offers an Xbox One app like the one Verizon offers its FiOS customers in the Xbox Store if you already have an Xbox One.

What to buy

Buying the necessary hardware to watch live TV on Xbox One is relatively simple, as long as you do your homework.

hdmi cable box

If you’ve had cable for a while, you’re probably familiar with high-definition cable boxes. They allow users with HDTVs to watch movies and TV shows with incredible clarity. Unfortunately, all cable boxes don’t necessarily have high definition capabilities. Go to the cable box in the room you plan to put the Xbox One in and look on the back for an HDMI port like the one pictured above. If your cable box doesn’t have something like this, then you’ll need to upgrade your cable box. There is no way around that.

This is because Xbox One uses an HDMI pass-through port to connect directly to your cable box. It’s that port that allows the Xbox to display what your cable box displays. No pass-through port, no live TV on Xbox One. Getting an upgraded box is simple, though it could add a few bucks to your monthly bill with some carriers. Just go to the local office of your provider to change your box.

Which Xbox One to buy

If you have a cable box with an HDMI port, the next thing to focus on is which Xbox One bundle to buy. For the best experience you’ll want the $499 Xbox One console because of the Kinect 2 sensor it includes. It’s that Kinect 2 sensor that sends instructions to your cable box.

If the $499 Xbox One is too much for you, you can always buy the $399 Xbox One without the Kinect 2 sensor. To be clear, it won’t let you do things like tell Xbox One which channel you want to watch, and the list of shows from Xbox OneGuide will be almost useless. You also won’t be able to turn the volume on your TV up or down. That said, you’ll still be able to change the channel with your cable box remote and switch between live TV and gaming. You will also be able to snap the Live TV app to the side of your screen.

I’d say get it right the first time and buy the $499 Xbox One, but you can buy the cheaper Xbox One and add a Kinect 2 sensor to it later if you prefer. We don’t yet know how much the Kinect 2 sensor will cost when it hits stores on its own later this year.

Remember to pick up an HDMI cable as well. You’ll want to connect the console directly to the cable box via that HDMI pass-through port we’ve talked about so much.

setting it all up

In a guide to these past holidays I have to be mobile showed you how to set up the Xbox One. Dive into that guide to connect your console to your TV and turn it on. The only additional step you’ll need to pay attention to in setting up your hardware is connecting the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on your cable box and to the pass-through port on the back of your Xbox One.

Now that you’ve finished the initial setup of your Xbox One, highlight with your joystick and press the A button on your controller.

Now highlight the option on the right side of your screen and press the A button.

Within the apps screen, scroll to the far left and select the app.

Now select .

Select first.

Select TV Schedule. This is where you’ll need to tell Xbox Live who your provider is and what zip code you live in. This will allow Xbox Live, the service that powers Xbox One, to go out and get your area’s channel lineup and more. When you’re done, press the B button to exit the OneGuide setup area.

Now select . Here you will need to tell the Xbox One what type of TV you have and what type of cable box you have. Moyens I/O covered this in How to make your Xbox One turn on your TV.

What to keep in mind

There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when using Xbox One to watch live TV. First, you’ll want to keep the Kinect 2 sensor plugged in. Don’t bother trying to navigate the UI with your hands, but use voice commands. Switching to a channel from anywhere on Xbox One is as simple as saying “Xbox, go to TV” or “Xbox, watch ABC Family.” Of course, you can also use the Xbox One controller to navigate the user interface. Saying “Xbox, on” or turning on your controller will also turn on your TV. Finally, “Xbox, OneGuide” or the X button on your controller will bring up an interactive list of what’s streaming on each channel. OneGuide is also available through the Xbox SmartGlass smartphone app.

Have fun watching your favorite live channels on Xbox One!