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Xbox 360: Connect to Xbox LIVE

Advanced Networking

Ready to take your gaming—and your Xbox 360™ experience—to the next level? Then you're ready for advanced networking: fine tuning your network or your preparations for a network so you'll be poised to enjoy maximum convenience and performance.

High-Performance Gaming

For the easiest and most streamlined Xbox Live experience, always use networking devices certified with the Xbox Live® Compatible logo. Remember that the logo applies not merely to a make and model of a product, but to a specific release of its firmware, too. To see if your product and its firmware have been certified as Xbox Live Compatible, see our list of Compatible Networking Equipment for Xbox 360.

Whether you're assembling your network or already have a network in place, use the following tips to maximize your system's gaming potential:

For wired networks: Wired connectivity usually provides the most consistent and reliable performance for your network. When connecting to a wired network, you can use standard Ethernet (Cat5) cables to connect your Xbox 360 console to a modem, router, gateway, hub, or switch. The Xbox 360 console's auto-sensing port frees you from worrying about whether to use standard Ethernet cables or special crossover cables.
For wireless networks: If you use a device like the Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter to enable a convenient wireless connection between your Xbox 360 console and a wireless router or gateway, be sure to use a wired connection between your router and your PC or your router and your Internet modem if you plan to stream media from your PC to your console.

And, for the best wireless performance with your media or Xbox Live gaming, make sure that your wireless network is subject to as little signal interference as possible. Wireless networks can operate on one of at least two radio frequencies: current wireless standards include 802.11b, g, and a.

802.11b and g operate on the same radio frequency (2.4 GHz), while 802.11a networks operate on 802.11 in the 5-GHz frequency range. It's important to know that there's a strong likelihood that other devices in your home also operate in the 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g) range—and these devices may interfere with the performance of your wireless network.

This interference may not be noticeable when you're surfing the Internet or sending e-mail. However, interference-based bandwidth constraints can be painfully obvious during high-bandwidth activities like streaming media and playing on Xbox Live.

The solution? Use a dual-band wireless access point, router, or gateway.

Dual-band devices support both 802.11b/g as well as the less-common 802.11a. This lets you establish two independent networks with your PC common to both.

Use a high-speed 802.11a wireless network to connect your Xbox 360 console to either your PC or your router (as long as there's a wired connection between your router and your PC). Use the 802.11g standard to connect your PC to other computers in your home, like your laptop. This separation will ensure the best network performance for your different activities.

Get help with building a home network that works for you: Watch Video.

System Link: Original Xbox and Xbox 360

You can connect your original Xbox video game system to an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system if you want to play system link games. Connect the two consoles directly with a cable or connect them wirelessly.

For a wired system link connection between two consoles, use a standard Ethernet (Cat5) cable; the auto-sensing Ethernet port in the Xbox 360 console does not require a special crossover cable. You can also connect your consoles for system link gaming using a wireless ad-hoc network or by joining them in a more common infrastructure network using a hub, switch, router, or gateway.

For more information, see Link Your Console to Another Console.

Network Security: MAC Filtering

If you have or are planning a wireless network, MAC filtering is an additional security measure to help you restrict network access. To enable MAC filtering for Xbox 360, just make sure that your associated networking device (wireless access point, gateway, or router) lists the MAC addresses of both your Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter or Xbox Live Compatible bridge (one of which is required for wireless operation) and the Xbox 360 console among its allowed devices.

To find the MAC address of your Wireless Networking Adapter, select Wireless Information from the Advanced Settings screen in the Xbox Dashboard (under System, Network Settings). If you have the Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter, this MAC address will match your console's MAC address.

If you use an Xbox Live Compatible wireless-to-Ethernet bridge instead of the Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter, each device will have a unique MAC address, so you must supply each one individually to your wireless access point, gateway, or router.

To obtain the MAC address of your console, go to the System area of the Xbox Dashboard and select Edit Settings, Additional Settings, Advanced Settings. Your console's MAC address will be identified as the "Wired MAC Address."

If you encounter problems with your adapter, see Troubleshoot Your Wireless Networking Adapter.

For More Info

For information about wireless networks, see Overview of Wireless Networking for Xbox 360.