Xbox SmartGlass is an Xbox One controller app that turns your phone or tablet into a remote for Xbox One (or Xbox 360 too). This is a great way to interact with your Xbox One if you already have your phone handy while watching a movie or TV show on your console. The SmartGlass app is also useful when you are playing games as you can use it to activate the game’s DVR feature on Xbox One, and many games use the Xbox 360 version to display critical second screen information such as maps. In addition to controlling the console from your phone, the app also gives you easy access to your Xbox friends list, player achievements and scores, TV playlists, and more.
How to get Xbox One SmartGlass
SmartGlass is available for phones and tablets and works on Android, iOS and Windows, so almost everyone can take advantage of it. The procedure outlined on the left shows how installing and configuring Xbox One SmartGlass works on an Android, but the process is similar no matter what type of phone or tablet you have.
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to get and set up Xbox One SmartGlass:
- Open the Google Play Store, App Store or Windows Phone Store, depending on your device.
- Search for “Xbox One SmartGlass”.
- Download and install the app.
- Launch the Xbox One SmartGlass app.
- Enter the email, phone or Skype name associated with your Microsoft account and tap Next .
- Enter your password and tap Sign In .
- If the screen displays your gamertag, tap Let’s Play . If not, tap Switch Account and log in to the account associated with your Gamertag.
Your device is now configured to work with SmartGlass and you can continue to connect it to an Xbox One.
How to connect Xbox SmartGlass to Xbox One
Before using the SmartGlass app for anything, you must connect it to an Xbox One. This requires the phone and Xbox One to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
If you’re not sure how to connect your phone to Wi-Fi, here’s how to connect an Android to Wi-Fi and how to connect an iPhone to Wi-Fi.
- With the Xbox One SmartGlass app open on your phone or tablet, tap the hamburger icon in the top left corner.
- Touch Connection .
- Tap XboxOne if you haven’t changed the console’s default name, or tap the assigned name if you have.
- Tap Connect .
How to use Xbox One SmartGlass as a remote
While SmartGlass has many different uses, one of the biggest benefits is being able to use your phone as an Xbox remote.
If you’ve successfully connected your SmartGlass app to Xbox One, here’s how to launch and use the remote function:
- With the Xbox One SmartGlass app open on your phone or tablet, tap the remote control icon located in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Tap where it says A , B , X or Y on the screen, and the console will work as if you pressed those buttons on a controller.
- Swipe left , right , up or down on the device screen and the console will register as if you pressed that direction on the d-pad. These controls work in the dashboard and apps, but not in games.
Recording and Accessing Game Hub with SmartGlass
Xbox One has a built-in DVR function that can record your gameplay, and you can activate it in many different ways. If you have a Kinect, you can even activate the voice recording feature. If you want to use SmartGlass to activate the game’s DVR function on your Xbox One, it’s an extremely easy process: with a game running on your Xbox One, tap the game’s name in your SmartGlass app, then tap Record this .
What else can Xbox One SmartGlass do?
The main purpose of SmartGlass is to control the console with your phone, but its usefulness doesn’t end when you turn off the console and move away from the couch. If you want to check your achievements, or your gamerscore, when you’re away from your Xbox One, SmartGlass is on to that. It also contains leaderboard information so you can keep tabs on your friends and even message them if they are online. SmartGlass also gives you access to video and screenshots, the Xbox store, and OneGuide, which is a built-in TV list feature that displays your favorite shows if you use your console to watch television.
How to get Xbox 360 SmartGlass
The Xbox 360 may no longer be Microsoft’s new system, but you can still use SmartGlass with it. The problem is that Xbox 360 and Xbox One use different versions of the app, so if you have both consoles, you will have to download and install two different versions.
- If you want to get the Xbox 360 SmartGlass app, these are the steps:Open the Google Play Store, App Store or Windows Phone Store, depending on your device.
- Search for “Xbox 360 SmartGlass”.
- Download and install the app.
- Launch the Xbox 360 SmartGlass app.
- Sign in to your Microsoft account or create one if needed.
- Tap the Get Started button and you’re good to go.
What can Xbox 360 SmartGlass do?
SmartGlass for Xbox 360 can turn your phone into an additional controller for a game, display information like maps when you’re playing games, and even turn your phone into a mouse to interact with apps like Internet Explorer.
