Guide to using Xbox Series X, Series S online: Networking, fixing lag, slow download speeds, and more

The first step to pairing your powerful Xbox Series X|S with the internet is, well, getting your console online. There are two ways to connect your Xbox Series X|S to the internet: wired and wireless.

For most people, a wired internet connection is going to be the preferred route. A physical connection between your console and your router guarantees the best speeds and stability, at the expense of needing a cable connecting the two devices. Wireless connections can still provide perfectly adequate speeds for online play but trade some of the efficiency of a wired connection for convenience. Which one will work best for you depends on your setup and the overall convenience for which you're looking.

In this Xbox Series X|S networking guide, we'll go over how to connect your Xbox Series X|S to the internet both with and without wires.

Connecting your Xbox Series X|S to the internet using a wired connection is not only the best way to go for optimal download speeds, it's also the most effortless setup process.

All you need to do is plug an ethernet cable into your internet router and then run that ethernet cable to the corresponding port on the back of your Xbox Series X|S. Once your console is connected via ethernet, it'll automatically attempt to connect to Xbox Live and the internet.

Whether or not this will be worth it to you usually rests in how far away your Xbox Series X|S is from your router. Running ethernet cables around the house can be a hassle. However, it doesn't get any easier than simply plugging in a cable, and you're guaranteed the best possible connection through ethernet.