XBox Accessibility Settings You Don’t Use but Should Use
Whenever a company adds accessibility features to its products, all users benefit from it. Case in point: the Xbox Series X|S, which has many useful, versatile features in its accessibility settings. While these options are ostensibly meant for players who need help and adjustments while playing, features like button remapping and night mode can help anyone improve their game. Here are a few special Xbox features worth exploring.
Xbox has night mode
If your gaming rig is in a room with little natural light, or if you prefer to play late at night, consider turning on night mode on your Xbox. This setting disables blue light and reduces eye strain while gaming. (There are claims that blue light interferes with your sleep, which is a common reason people use night mode on their phones or tablets, though the science doesn’t really back this up .)
The caveat is that these changes can make certain game elements hard to discover, but this feature offers enough customizable options for you to find the right balance.
To use this feature, press the Xbox button on your controller, then press RB until you reach Profile & System . Select ” Settings ” and go to “Accessibility” > “Night mode” .
Use high contrast mode for better clarity
Some displays make it difficult to find menu items or other useful options on the screen. If you have an older monitor or TV that doesn’t work as well anymore, turn on the high contrast mode on your Xbox, which will make everything a little more visible.
This setting is found in Settings > Accessibility > High Contrast on Xbox.
Remap controller buttons
Button remapping changes the actions assigned to different buttons on your Xbox controller. This feature is most useful for people who have difficulty controlling the motor because it allows them to map parameters to buttons that are easier for them to access.
However, this feature is also heavily used by gamers who prefer alternative button layouts. For casual gamers, this is also the most efficient way to bypass a controller that might have a stuck or broken button.
To get started, go to Settings > Accessibility > Controller > Button Assignment .
Disable notification sounds
When you play, your Xbox may still send you random alerts notifying you of messages from strangers, achievements you’ve unlocked, screenshots, and more. If you don’t like the alert sound, you can turn it off without turning off notifications completely. This way, you won’t miss important announcements and you won’t have to deal with annoying audio disrupting an important sequence in your game.
To access this feature, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio on Xbox.
Disable controller vibration
When implemented correctly, controller vibrations add a level of immersion to your gameplay, boosting the intensity when your character is low on health, or adding credibility to a dynamic scene.
However, if done poorly or in excess, controller vibrations can completely lose their magic. For example, every time you drive off-road in Forza Horizon 4 , the controller vibrates non-stop until you’re back on hard pavement. It’s not much fun to deal with and drains your controller’s battery at an alarming rate.
To avoid these situations, sometimes it’s best to disable vibration on your Xbox controller altogether. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Controller > Vibration Settings and disable Enable Vibration in order to fix this issue.