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Can I Play XCloud on Apple TV?

As an owner of both an Apple TV who likes to game, I can understand the frustration of wanting to play Xbox titles through XCloud on my Apple TV. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share my experience, and the solutions I’ve discovered. Whether you’re an avid gamer or just getting started, this blog post will help guide you in the right direction.

The answer is that you technically can display xCloud on your Apple TV, but you won’t get a stellar experience. XCloud works much better with other Apple devices. 

Apple has a specific set of devices its users can use xCloud with. You can find those on the compatible devices list, which will be updated as more units become compatible with xCloud. Generally, you need to have a device on the list, and you also must have a version of iOS equal or greater than version 14.4.

Tips
xCloud can be displayed on an Apple TV, but experience may not be great
Compatible device and iOS version 14.4 or greater are required
Only way to play xCloud on Apple TV is through AirPlay, which can result in lag
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is required
Connection speed of 10-20 Mbps is recommended
You can mirror the gaming experience from a compatible iOS device to your Apple TV via AirPlay

Can I Play XCloud on Apple TV?

The only way to play xCloud on an Apple TV is to do it by mirroring it from your phone or iPad through Apple AirPlay. That said, you will get quite a bit of lag, and the experience you have may not be enjoyable. 

For the best experience, you’ll need to play xCloud directly from one of the devices on the list. The iPhone XR, XS, and 11 are examples of some compatible devices you can use.

Third and fourth-generation iPad Air models also work as well as many other iPads. Users have tried the xCloud gaming experience with those models and have reported that they had an almost perfect session.

Requirements for XCloud

To play xCloud from your Apple device, you need to ensure that you have iOS version 14.4 or greater. Update your software if you do not have that version. You also need a mobile or internet connection with at least 10 to 20 Mbps speeds.

Additionally, you should be connected to a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, though a 2.4 GHz network will still operate. 

The next thing you must do is grab a subscription to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The subscription will cost you $1 for the first month and $14.99 thereafter. You’ll have access to many games, and some of them will be brand new offerings.    

Read more: Why do my AirPods make a high pitched noise

How to Use XCloud With Apple TV?

As mentioned before, your best option is to play xCloud from one of the compatible devices, such as an iPad or iPhone on the list. You most likely will have an issue getting xCloud to work by opening a Safari browser on your Apple TV and visiting Xbox.com/play.

That’s what you will have to do to play xCloud directly from your Apple TV. However, some Apple TVs do not come equipped with web browsers, and xCloud likely won’t work from your Apple TV even if it does.

Read more: Can I use Mac Mini as an Apple TV?

Playing xCloud From Compatible iOS Devices

You can easily access xCloud from a compatible iOS device once you’ve signed up for your Game Pass subscription. You’ll need to visit Xbox.com/play from the Safari browser on your device.

Sign in with the username and password for your Microsoft account. Once you get in, you can choose from over 100 games to play from the cloud. 

Mirroring XCloud From a Compatible iOS Device

You can mirror your gaming experience from your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV via AirPlay.

This might work well for you if you want to see the gameplay on a larger screen, or if you want to share your gaming experience with other people in the room. 

First, ensure that your iPhone device or iPad is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV.

Next, turn your television’s AirPlay setting on by going to “Settings” and then “AirPlay” and moving the toggle switch to the “On” position. 

Next, open your iPhone control center by swiping up from the very bottom of your screen or down from the top right, depending on your model version.

Tap the screen mirroring icon and select which television you want to mirror your iPhone’s screen.

Finally, you’ll need to enter your AirPlay passcode to see your gameplay show up on your Apple TV. If you really want to get your gameplay to show up on your Apple TV, you can try that method.

However, other users have reported lags in the game when using that strategy. 

Will XCloud Come to Apple TV?

Apple most likely prefers to push its own Apple Arcade gaming service to its customers.

Therefore, it’s not very likely that xCloud will come directly to Apple TV. However, Microsoft is currently developing an Xbox Stream Box.

This unit should give people with internet-connected televisions access to Xbox gaming. You may want to keep your eyes out for that one to see if it can help you achieve what you desire. 

You now know how to use the xCloud service from an iOS device and how to see it on your Apple TV if you so desire. Reach out to a respectable Apple or Microsoft technician to gather additional information.

Those professionals can assist you if you have difficulty connecting or using your device with the xCloud service as well. 

Pros of Xcloud with Apple TV/h3>
  • Compatible with many Apple devices
  • Access to over 100 games on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
  • Can be mirrored to Apple TV with AirPlay

Cons of Xcloud with Apple TV

  • Compatible devices list is limited
  • May experience lags or poor performance