Home Gaming How to unlock “very high” quality Xbox One streaming in Windows 10

How to unlock “very high” quality Xbox One streaming in Windows 10

2 min read
40

X1PC

One of the coolest features of Windows 10, if you have an Xbox One, is the ability to stream your console games to your Desktop Pc or Laptop, provided they’re on the same network. It’s something I find myself using surprisingly often – especially when my kids are hogging the TV, and I have an overwhelming urge to shoot stuff or jump on things.

I use an Xbox 360 controller connected to my PC, and everything is mapped out as it should be – it’s all rather magical, provided you’re on a wired connection, or have Wi-Fi that’s up to the task. If Xbox One Streaming does have a problem though, it’s one of quality. Even on the highest available setting, the visual quality of the stream means games look worse than they should (though, it has to be said, better than PlayStation TV’s remote play – and less laggy, too).

Some enterprising chaps over at Reddit have found a way to unlock a higher quality stream, and it’s easy to do. Here’s how:

[Close your Xbox App before you begin]
  • Step 1: Open File Explorer, and copy/paste this location:
    C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Packages\
  • Step 2: Scroll down and open the folder that starts with “Microsoft.XboxApp…”
  • Step 3: Open the folder LocalState
  • Step 4: Right click the file called “userconsoledata” and choose Open With.. (select Notepad or Wordpad)
  • Step 5: Change this:
    <IsInternalPreview>false</IsInternalPreview>
    into this: <IsInternalPreview>true</IsInternalPreview>
  • Step 6: Now open the Xbox App, begin streaming- and in the top right of the stream window, click the ((o)) button to select Very High.

Checkit:

Ori

I’ve done it myself, and can attest that it not only works – but improves the quality of the stream dramatically. What it seems to do is remove the limit on network bandwidth available to the Xbox One app – so even if you weren’t getting great performance on high, you may have better streaming on “very high.” Here’s the wonderful Ori and the Blind Forest, streamed to PC:

OriVH

And here, from the same Reddit thread, is a comparison between World of Tanks on High and Very High, clickable, to save your bandwidth.

High: http://i.imgur.com/OKgmjxI.png
Very High: http://i.imgur.com/VJ41dRS.png

Last Updated: August 13, 2015

40 Comments

  1. RinceThis

    August 13, 2015 at 09:17

    Or just play on PC?

    Reply

  2. Kromas,powered by windows 10.

    August 13, 2015 at 09:17

    Step one: Open Steam
    Step two: Buy Ori and the Blind Forest
    Step three: Play it on high quality without the need for an X-Box.

    😛

    Reply

  3. Skyblue

    August 13, 2015 at 09:18

    Done. Thx Geoff. I have also found myself streaming games more often than not. It definitely comes in very handy.

    Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 13, 2015 at 09:23

    Hey! Pssst! Geoff’s kids! Say… XBOX OFF!

    Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      August 13, 2015 at 09:24

      No change the username to XBOXSIGNOUT and go play CoD. 🙂

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      August 13, 2015 at 09:26

      Don’t have one of those blasted Kinect things connected. Wouldn’t work. ;P

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        August 13, 2015 at 09:31

        Spoilsport 🙁

        Reply

    • Fweds

      August 14, 2015 at 10:28

      Or just go press the off switch on Trevors PC and damage the hard drive at the same time.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        August 14, 2015 at 10:33

        lol – that shuts it down properly. You should just pull the power plug, wait… don’t do that. :/

        Reply

        • Mr na

          August 14, 2015 at 12:06

          Hold for 4 seconds next time.

          Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    August 13, 2015 at 09:27

    Or play it on PC………..oh snap they’ve already said it.

    Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      August 13, 2015 at 09:30

      Waaaayyyyy late to the party. 😛

      Reply

      • DrKiller

        August 13, 2015 at 12:16

        So much for the PC “master” race 🙂 They usually late for everything!

        Reply

        • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

          August 13, 2015 at 13:48

          True but that is because they know that being an early adopter will just cause headaches so they always arrive late to any party. 🙂

          Reply

  6. Hammersteyn

    August 13, 2015 at 09:32

    Can you take it even higher?
    Or don’t you want to leave the comfort of this place?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      August 13, 2015 at 09:34

      I mean on PC there’s a hunger, a longing to escape standard resolutions.
      From the console live when the kids are awake

      Reply

      • Geoffrey Tim

        August 13, 2015 at 09:34

        Assassin’s Creed? 😀

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          August 13, 2015 at 09:35

          Hahahaha close enough

          Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      August 13, 2015 at 09:44

      can you take me higher?
      to a place where blind men see?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        August 13, 2015 at 10:06

        XD

        Reply

  7. HvR

    August 13, 2015 at 10:30

    But can it run SARS E-filing?

    Reply

    • CypherGate

      August 13, 2015 at 13:13

      You just reminded me that I need to file mine! Every year I hit a blank on how to file that stuff!

      Reply

  8. DrKiller

    August 13, 2015 at 11:03

    I honestly can’t see the difference between the High and Very High…

    Anyone who tried the streaming yet? Can you do the streaming while the Xbox Controller is still connected to the Xbox? (yes, I am that lazy)

    Reply

  9. Uberutang

    August 13, 2015 at 14:24

    How does this compare to Steam in home streaming from PC to PC, quality etc wise?

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      August 13, 2015 at 14:48

      It’s about the same, from my experiences. Quality/latency is perfect on a wired connection. Actually works better for me on “Very High”

      Reply

  10. Gardos

    August 13, 2015 at 14:48

    Streaming doesn’t work for me even on the lowest setting. All via wifi though so that may be the problem. To wire everything up now would just be a mission.

    Reply

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