You may have seen the many different custom Xbox background designs going around all over the web. These recent Xbox 360-style 'Blades' designs caught our eye in particular and got us thinking, how many Xbox users out there know how to add custom images as backgrounds? We've got some tips to help you get started.
How To Add Custom Images As Backgrounds On Xbox Via USB
One of the primary methods for adding custom Xbox backgrounds is via a USB drive. This method allows you to add any images to your Xbox, as long as each image is under 3MB in size, and either a JPG or PNG file. Xbox also recommends using a 1920x1080 resolution image.
- Copy your chosen image onto a USB device and plug it into your Xbox console
- On your Xbox, select 'customised image'. Then, a popup box will appear showing any images on your console, and any on your USB device
- Select your USB device and then pick your chosen image.
Voila, your image will move over from your USB drive and be applied as a custom background! However, if you don't have access to a USB device, there's arguably an even easier method.
How To Add Custom Images As Backgrounds On Xbox Via Microsoft Edge Browser
This way of adding custom backgrounds on Xbox requires nothing but an internet connection, so it's ideal if you don't have a USB drive to hand.
- Open the Microsoft Edge app on your Xbox console
- Find your chosen background image online
- Then, move the browser cursor over the image, hit the menu button on your Xbox controller, and press 'Set as background'.
You can see an example of this below (it's now available to all users now, not just Xbox Insiders)
And there you have it, a custom background will be set! This is a pretty awesome feature, especially having that second method as an online option for custom backgrounds. There are also some apps on the Microsoft Store that can set themes (TMX is a popular one), but we haven't tested these thoroughly enough to comment on them.
This feature has slipped under the radar a little, so we hope this guide comes in handy!
Comments (7)
Thanks for this info. Much appreciated.
So long Master Chief…
Too much hassle will just stick to the standard ones. Plus you can't really see the image that good due to all the tiles anyway. I find it a waste of time.
They really should some more of their own dynamic pictures as they only have a pathetic four options with only the Halo ones looking decent. They have plenty of games that they could do but guessing that this feature isn't popular enough to bother with like avatars.
Is this still the case if you are operating the dashboard in 4K? Or would it prefer 3840x2160?
@themightyant Good point, this information is taken from the official Xbox website but it's entirely possible they haven't updated it to account for the 4K dashboard.
It feels like this feature has been around for ages, but until now I’ve not really thought about adding custom wallpapers to my Xbox, other than using screenshots that I’ve taken, in-game.
Given how wallpaper-unfriendly the dashboard is, I’m definitely going to try making a custom template, to better position images, around the tiles that always get in the way. Shouldn’t be that difficult to do.
@FraserG @themightyant You can set it at 4K, my TV is 4K and the dash is 4K and my pic looks great
That deedlit wallpaper looks really good, I'm gonna try it on pc this night, maybe this is the second time I use microsoft edge though, lol.
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