The latest console from Microsoft came bundled with everyone’s favourite (or not so favourite) motion controller, the Kinect. This time however it was a brand new version dubbed by the company Kinect 2.0 and with it came some interesting controls, more specifically, voice controls, allowing you to control your Xbox One using nothing but your voice.
If you’re one of the lucky few to get an Xbox One for Christmas or were lucky enough to grab one in the January sales, here’s some voice commands that you should really know.
First thing’s first, if you’re not a fan of a console that’s always listening to you, you can simply unplug the Kinect, thankfully it’s not mandatory for it to be plugged in. If you are a fan, read on:
- Xbox On – Simple enough, this command turns the Xbox on.
- Xbox Turn Off – Again, simple enough, this turns the Xbox off.
- Xbox – This command is for those that don’t have this list handy, it shows you a list of available commands that you can say, if you want to see the entire list just say “More Shortcuts” to see more.
- Stop Listening – If you’ve accidentally said something like “Xbox Off” or “Xbox Sign Out” but don’t actually want to do those things, just say “Stop Listening” and the Xbox will ignore those commands.
- Xbox Sign In as [person] – For those of you who have multiple accounts on your Xbox One this command will give you the ultimate hands-off experience. Obviously this command allows you to sign in as anyone who has an account on your Xbox One. As you might have guessed from the previous post, “Xbox Sign Out” will sign you out.
- Xbox Record That – Have you ever done something absolutely amazing in a game only to realise no one saw you do it? Now with this command you can record the past 30 seconds of gameplay so your friends will never miss a trick (shot).
- Xbox Go Home – If you’re done for the day and want to switch to a different app, this command will take you back to the dashboard
- Xbox Go To [game or app] – Simply put this command launches whichever game or app you choose.
- Xbox Snap [app] – With the Xbox One you can “Snap” a snippet of an app to the side of your screen whilst you’re in the middle of a game or watching a movie, this is perfect for the multitasker in you. If you want to see the snapped app in full screen just say “Xbox Unsnap” and it’ll go full-screen – to switch between the two just say “Xbox Switch“.
- Xbox Show Menu – Sometimes pressing the middle button on the Xbox controller can be a pain in the butt, so why not just say “Xbox Show Menu” to do just that.
- Xbox Skype [person] – Now Microsoft own Skype it has become an integral part of the Xbox One experience. If you’re an avid Skype user you’ll love this command that allows you to begin a chat with someone on your Skype list. To call that person just say “Xbox Call [person]” if you receive a call you just have to say “Xbox Answer” or “Xbox Answer Without Video” to hang up.. well.. you’ve probably got the jist right now, “Xbox Hangup“.
So there’s just a few of the Xbox One voice commands that you should know. There’s also a small handful (pun intended) of gesture controls too, including the full list of voice commands, on the Xbox Wire which you can find here.
Are you a fan of voice controls and the Xbox One always listening? Let me know in the comments below!