How to Use Xbox Cloud Storage in 2026: Store and Backup Your Games

Microsoft’s Xbox has had many iterations over the years. The company has improved its hardware and software, and cloud storage has been a useful add-on since the Xbox 360. In this article, we’ll show you how to use Xbox cloud storage to improve the quality of your gaming life.

The Xbox Live service enables you to access cloud storage and save your game session to its servers. Though it’s a far cry from the flexibility offered by our best cloud gaming services, it’s still pretty cool and will allow you to play on your saves at a friend’s house without lugging your console along.

Xbox cloud storage also acts as a backup should your console give up the ghost, making it a decent gaming alternative to our best online backup providers. Read our article on the difference between storage and backup if you want to know more about the concepts involved.

How Can I Set Up and Use Xbox Live Cloud Storage?

As long as you’re signed in to Xbox Live and have at least 514MB of storage space, your Xbox One will keep your saves synced to the cloud. Xbox Smart Delivery feature works seamlessly with cloud storage, automatically detecting which version of your game save to use when transitioning between console generations, ensuring you always have the optimal experience whether playing on Xbox One or Series X|S.

However, to use cloud storage with your Xbox 360, you’ll need to set it up manually and move games to it.

Note that your save is cached locally while playing, then moved to the cloud when you exit the game. Even if you turn off your console, it will only shut down once the saved files are safely in the cloud.

However, if you disconnect from Xbox Live while playing, it won’t be able to store your data in the cloud until you go back online. To look at the status of your saved games transferring to the cloud, go to “games & apps” and then select “active downloads.”

Xbox cloud storage automatically synchronizes your entire game library across devices, ensuring all your saves are up-to-date regardless of which console you’re using. Plus, Xbox cloud storage encrypts your game save data during transfer and storage, providing industry-standard security to protect your gaming progress and achievements.

While these steps apply to Xbox One, they’re also fully compatible with Xbox Series X and S consoles, which feature enhanced sync speeds for cloud saves.

Before setting up cloud storage, it’s highly recommended to enable two-factor authentication on your Xbox account to protect your saved games and prevent unauthorized access to your cloud data.

1. Go into your system settings

   To set up cloud storage on your Xbox, go to the “settings” tab on the Xbox dashboard and then select “system.”

   

2. Go to “cloud saved games”

   In “system,” find the “storage” tab. This will give you a list of connected storage devices with “cloud saved games” as the final option.

   

3. Enable “cloud saved games”

   In “cloud saved games” you can select “enable cloud saved games.” This will reserve a local cache on your console and allow you to move saved games to the cloud. You’ll also be able to access your Xbox 360 cloud saves from your Xbox One console.

   

How Do I Manage My Saved Game?

Managing your saved game properly allows you to continue playing your game the way you want. Plus, using cloud storage should help you avoid mishaps, such as unintentional deletion or power loss.

Your Xbox will sync your save to the cloud whenever you exit a game, but you don’t need to worry about space, as each game on Xbox One has its own storage. As a user’s game library grows, the cloud does, too. In short, Xbox One users get unlimited cloud storage for saved files.

For games supporting Cross-Progression, your Xbox cloud saves can synchronize with the same title on PC or other platforms where you use the same Microsoft account, allowing seamless continuation of your progress across ecosystems.

You can monitor your usage through the Storage Quota Management section in system settings. Plus, cloud saves integrate with Quick Resume on compatible consoles, allowing you to switch between multiple games while maintaining cloud sync.

For Xbox consoles with multiple accounts, Family Sharing settings allow designated family members to access your game saves through the cloud, though game progress remains separate for each profile.

How Do I Move Games to the Cloud?

To move games to the cloud, you can select “cloud saved games” as the storage device when you start a new game. After that, every time you sign in to your profile and play the game, it will be saved to the cloud. However, if you want to store an existing saved game to the cloud, you’ll need to manually move it over.

1. Go into your storage settings

   Open the dashboard, then select “settings,” then “system” and finally “storage.”

   

2. Find the game you want to move

   In the storage device that currently holds your save, click on “games” and then find the game you want to move over.

   

3. Move your game save

   After selecting the game, click “move” or “copy” and then select “cloud saved games.” You can also delete the game file from here.

   

Plus, you can move, copy or delete saved games in the cloud as if you had stored them locally. To learn more about that option, click here. Now, you will be able to resume playing “Red Dead Redemption 2” on your friend’s Xbox.

How Do I Load Games on a Different Console?

Loading games on a different console is easy, as cross-save functionality allows seamless transition between different Xbox consoles — and even Windows PCs, mobile devices, and Meta Quest VR headsets when using the same Xbox account — while maintaining all your progress through cloud storage.

Xbox Series X|S consoles utilize the Velocity Architecture to decompress cloud save data more efficiently, allowing for near-instantaneous loading of even the largest game saves when switching between devices.

When accessing your saved games on a different console, make sure you’re signed in with the same gamertag that originally created the save files to ensure proper synchronization.

Just do the following:

1. Turn on “cloud saved games”

   On the new console, sign in to your Xbox Live profile. Then repeat the steps above to turn on “cloud saved games” for this console.

   

2. Start the game with the cloud save

   Open up the game you want to play and it should immediately sync your saved data. If it asks for a storage device, select “cloud saved games.”

   

How Do I Delete Saved Games?

To delete saved games on the Xbox 360 you’ll need to go to the same place you found the file to move it, but on the Xbox One, it’s done in the “my games & apps” menu on your home screen.

1. Find the game under “my games & apps”

   Press the Xbox button to open the guide. Then you can select “my games & apps” and scroll down to find the game you want to delete.

   

2. Enter the “manage game” settings

   With the game selected, press the menu button on the controller and select “manage game.”

   

3. Find your saved data

   Find the “saved data” option in “manage game” and select the data you want to delete.

   

4. Delete the data

   You will get three options here: “delete from console,” “delete everywhere” and “cancel.” Deleting it from the console will leave any data in the cloud and on other devices, deleting the data from everywhere will wipe it forever and canceling will leave your saves intact.

   

How Do I Turn Off Xbox Cloud Storage?

To turn off Xbox cloud storage, there are two options to disable Xbox One cloud storage for game saves.

How Do I Turn Off Cloud Saves?

To turn off cloud saves, the first option is to move saved games out of the cloud in the same way as before, then turn off cloud saves.

1. Move your saved game back to local storage

   Follow the previous steps for moving a game to the cloud, except the data will be in “cloud saved games” and you need to move it back to your local storage.

   

2. Disable “cloud saved games”

   In the “storage” menu, highlight “cloud saved games,” press the Y button on your controller and then select “disable cloud saved games” to stop your games from syncing to the cloud.

   

How Do I Turn Off Cloud Saves for One Console?

To turn off cloud saves for one console, the second option is to keep saved games in the cloud and turn off cloud saves for a single console.

1. Go to your primary storage device

   You can find this by going into “settings,” then “system” and selecting “storage.” One of the options will be the primary storage device; normally, this is the internal hard drive.

   

2. Delete the “cloud storage console copy”

   Under “system items” you’ll see the “cloud storage console copy.” You should select and delete this. There will be a prompt asking you to confirm that you want your saved games to remain in the cloud and for your console to stop syncing with any future updates to the file.

   

What Are Common Problems With Xbox Cloud Storage?

Common problems with Xbox cloud storage can occur like with all software, as using cloud storage with Xbox might throw you an error. Below are the most common errors, as well as some easy fixes.

What Does Game Not Supported Mean?

“Game Not Supported” means the game is not designed to be saved on the Xbox Live servers. Your only choice is to use the local cache.

What Does “We Couldn’t Sync Your Info With the Cloud” Mean?

“We Couldn’t Sync Your Info With the Cloud” pops up when you can’t connect to the Xbox Live servers and generally means there’s a problem with your internet connection. Look for a problem on your end. If you can’t find anything, contact your internet service provider.

To ensure smooth cloud save syncing, your network should maintain at least 2 Mbps bandwidth, though 10 Mbps or higher is recommended for optimal performance. Lower speeds may result in sync issues or failed save attempts.

What Does “Your Cloud Saved Games & the Saved Game Copies on Your Console Are Out of Sync” Mean?

“Your Cloud Saved Games & the Saved Game Copies on Your Console Are Out of Sync” means the Xbox One has detected two versions of your saved games and doesn’t know which to use. You’ll have to help your console by deciding which saved file you want to use.

How Do I Fix Xbox One Network Problems?

To fix Xbox One network problems, check if issues in your Xbox One settings may be causing network-related problems. To check for that, go to the Xbox Dashboard, select “settings” → “all settings” → “network” → “network settings” → “test network” button. The test result should show you the problem.

Final Thoughts

Now you’re armed with the knowledge you need to manage your Xbox cloud storage. By using it, you’ll be able to enjoy your gaming more, whether you’re playing on multiple consoles or at a friend’s house. However, you may want to check out our articles on the best VPN for gaming and the best VPN for Xbox One to keep your online activity safe and your ping low.

Have you saved your Xbox games to the cloud? Have you used the saves on a different console? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks for reading.

FAQ

• How Do I Access the Cloud on Xbox One?

  Your Xbox One will automatically give you access to the cloud as long as you have an Xbox Live account and you are online. Although the Xbox One accounts for the extra space out of the box, the Xbox 360 does require 514MB of free storage to start using the cloud.

• Is There Cloud Storage for Xbox One?

  All Xbox Live accounts will get access to enough cloud storage to hold your game saves. This increases proportionally to the number of games in your library, so you’re unlikely to fill it up, and it automatically syncs whenever you exit a game to prevent data loss.

• How Much Cloud Storage Does Xbox One Have?

  Microsoft doesn’t specify the amount of cloud storage you have on an Xbox One. However, as each game has an individual limit and you’ll only be putting saved games on there, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever run out of space.

• How Do I Restore My Xbox One Cloud Saves?

  The Xbox One automatically syncs the local and cloud saves when you exit a game. However, if the two files become desynced — a result of playing on a different console, playing offline or having a corrupt save — it will ask which one you want to use the next time you boot up the game.