Xbox Series X|S

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• 4K at 120 Hz on Xbox Series X: requirements and setup

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides, Troubleshooting

  4K at 120 Hz needs a Series X, an HDMI 2.1 TV and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Set 4K UHD and 120 Hz in TV & display options; AV receivers are a common weak link.

• Capture cards on PS5, Xbox and Switch 2: HDCP and setup

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Guides

  A capture card sits between the console and the TV. PS5 needs HDCP turned off first or the capture is black; Xbox doesn’t apply HDCP to games; Switch 2 needs no setting but must go through the dock.

• Controllers with Hall-effect or TMR sticks for PS5, Xbox, Switch and PC

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories

  Third-party controllers whose makers state Hall-effect or TMR sticks, by console: Nacon, Victrix and Razer for PS5; Razer, Turtle Beach, GameSir and 8BitDo for Xbox; PowerA, EasySMX, 8BitDo and GameSir for Switch and Switch 2.

• HDMI 2.1 cables for 4K 120 Hz on PS5 and Xbox: what to buy

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Upgrades

  For 4K at 120 Hz, PS5 and Xbox Series X need their included cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable; the Series S needs one bought separately. How to recognise certification, and cables checked.

• How to turn off a PS5, PS4, Xbox or Switch without the controller

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides

  PS5 and PS4: hold the power button until the console beeps. Xbox: hold the Xbox button on the console for 10 seconds. Switch and Switch 2: hold POWER for three seconds and choose Power Options.

• Keyboard and mouse on PS5 and Xbox: what works

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Guides

  PS5 takes USB or Bluetooth keyboards and mice; Xbox takes wired USB ones. On Xbox a mouse only works in games and apps whose publisher enabled it, never on the dashboard.

• Stick drift: what it is, why controllers get it and what helps

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides, Troubleshooting

  Stick drift is when a controller registers stick movement you aren’t making. Most controllers use potentiometers that wear with use. Calibration and dead zones can mask it; replacement or Hall-effect sticks fix it.

• When did each console come out? Release dates for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and more

  Updated6 October 2026 Consoles, Guides

  Release dates of PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Sega and Valve consoles and handhelds, from the NES (1983) to the Steam Machine (2026), with regional launch dates where they differed.

• Which headsets work on PS5, Xbox and Switch 2? Bluetooth, USB and 3.5 mm

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Compatibility

  PS5 and Xbox don’t connect to Bluetooth headsets; Switch 2 does, but without the microphone. What each console accepts (USB, 3.5 mm, Xbox Wireless, Sony wireless) and multi-platform headsets by console.

• Which racing wheels work on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 and PC?

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Compatibility

  Most racing wheels are sold in a PlayStation version and an Xbox version. Logitech, Thrustmaster, Fanatec, MOZA and HORI wheels by console, from the makers’ compatibility lists.

• Which Xbox One accessories work on Xbox Series X|S?

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Compatibility

  Xbox One controllers, the Elite Series 2, Adaptive Controller and most headsets work. Kinect and the Digital TV Tuner don’t. Bluetooth headsets can’t connect.

• Xbox “Something went wrong” errors E100 to E305: fixes by code

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Each start-up E code has its own fix order. E100/E200/E204/E207 start with a restart, E101 with an offline update, E102 and E105 with a factory reset.

• Xbox controller stick drift or buttons not working: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the game’s settings, clean the controller, update its firmware and reset the button mapping. If drift remains, replace it, or repair it with Xbox replacement parts.

• Xbox controller won’t connect or turn on: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Fresh batteries first, then power cycle the controller (hold Xbox 5–10 s) and the console (unplug 30 s). If it fails over a working USB cable, it needs replacing.

• Xbox disc won’t play or isn’t recognised: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the disc orientation, clean it, and test it on another console. If no disc is recognised, switch from Sleep to Shutdown mode and power cycle; otherwise request a repair.

• Xbox error codes: what they mean and how to fix them

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Common Xbox error codes such as 0x80072EFD, 0x87DD0006, 0x800705B4 and 0x803F8001, plus Xbox 360 codes, with Microsoft’s meaning and fix for each.

• Xbox Series S specifications (512 GB and 1 TB)

  Updated4 October 2026 Consoles

  Xbox Series S specs: same 8-core Zen 2 CPU as Series X, 4 TFLOPS RDNA 2 GPU, 10 GB GDDR6, 512 GB or 1 TB SSD, 1440p target, no disc drive, 74 W gaming draw.

• Xbox Series X specifications (disc, Digital Edition and 2 TB)

  Updated4 October 2026 Consoles

  Xbox Series X specs: 8-core Zen 2 at 3.8 GHz, 12 TFLOPS RDNA 2 GPU, 16 GB GDDR6, 1 or 2 TB NVMe SSD, HDMI 2.1, 4K UHD Blu-ray on disc models, 153 W gaming draw.

• Xbox Series X vs Series S: hardware differences

  Updated4 October 2026 Consoles, Guides

  Series X has a 12 TFLOPS GPU, 16 GB memory and an optional disc drive; Series S has 4 TFLOPS, 10 GB, no disc drive and targets 1440p. CPU design and SSD speed are the same.

• Xbox Series X|S no picture: how to fix a blank TV screen

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the HDMI cable is in the ‘out to TV’ port and the TV input, power cycle, then start in low-resolution mode by holding Power and Eject until the second beep.

• Xbox Series X|S not detecting an external hard drive

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Checks for a USB drive the Xbox ignores or only offers as media storage: USB 3.0, 128 GB, a partition, max three drives, updates, and the Sleep-mode storage setting.

• Xbox Series X|S storage expansion: expansion card vs USB drive

  Updated4 October 2026 Upgrades

  Only the internal SSD and a Storage Expansion Card (512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB) can run Optimized for Xbox Series X|S games. USB drives (USB 3.0+, 128 GB+) store them and run older games.

• Xbox Series X|S won’t turn on

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Reset the internal power supply: unplug for 10 seconds, then press the console’s Xbox button. Then check the outlet and cable before requesting service.

• Xbox Storage Expansion Card not recognised

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Reseat the card and wait 30 seconds, then restart with the card removed. For a blank screen at start-up, disconnect the card and other peripherals.