Use the Xbox Dashboard

The Xbox Dashboard is the control center for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system. The Xbox Dashboard consists of four clearly defined areas, or pages, that you can flip between using either the D-pad or the left stick on your Xbox 360 controller.

Each of the four areas—Xbox Live, Games, Media, and System—gives you the power to make the Xbox 360 experience your own. Here's what you can do in each:

Xbox Live

From the Xbox Live area of the Xbox Dashboard, you can:

• View and edit your gamer profile.
• Send messages and invites and chat with your friends.
• Check messages and invites from other players.
• Scan and add friends to your friends list.
• Visit Xbox Live Marketplace.
• Join or sign in to Xbox Live.

Games

From the Games area of the Xbox Dashboard, you can:

• View and edit your gamer profile.
• See the games you've played so far.
• Check out and download simple, fun games in the Xbox Live Arcade.
• Try demos from Xbox Live Marketplace.
• Watch trailers from Xbox Live Marketplace.

Media

From the Media area of the Xbox Dashboard, you can:

• View and edit your gamer profile.
• Listen to music and create playlists from a portable player like an Apple iPod, a Microsoft Windows XP–based PC, a CD, or an Xbox 360 Hard Drive.
• View pictures and slideshows, and set background images from a camera, a Windows XP–based PC, or a recordable CD.
• Use a single mixed-media CD to watch a custom digital-photo slideshow with a custom soundtrack.
• Watch videos stored on your Xbox 360 Hard Drive.
• Listen to music and view photos, live and recorded TV, and on-demand movies by connecting to a Windows Media Center–based PC.

System

From the System area of the Xbox Dashboard, you can:

• Edit your console settings, including settings for display, audio, language, remote control, clock, and locale.
• Adjust your Xbox 360 Family Settings to allow all members of the household to enjoy Xbox 360 in a user-appropriate environment.
• Manage your memory, including moving or deleting saved games, profiles, and other items on Xbox 360 storage devices.
• Set up and test network connections and settings to get your Xbox 360 console connected to a home network or to Xbox Live.
• Manage a connection to a Windows XP–based PC or a Windows Media Center–based PC.
• Run the system setup you saw the first time you started the Xbox 360 console.