How much data does Xbox use on mobile broadband?

The future of the gaming industry is shifting to multiplayer games and Xbox seeks to capitalize on that. However, it can take up significant resources to connect and use when you rely on a mobile broadband connection.

Connecting to the internet through your mobile broadband connection will use some data, though this should not be a significant drawback in most cases – depending on the broadband limits you use. Regardless of that, it is still helpful to know the different data demands that many online services will make and budget your bandwidth better.

The extent of data usage in your Xbox will depend on its specific use, as different activities will demand more bandwidth than others. Expect to use a minimum of 40 MB to 700 MB on average, with the highest demands being from streaming services and multiplayer games, while single-player games requiring the least data amounts.

The good news is you can monitor the data usage through numerous apps and default features in some smartphones that remind you when you exceed specific data limits.

How much data will you likely use on a hotspot when using Xbox?

From various information sources, online gaming demands the highest data bandwidth compared to other activities. When playing games, expect to use an average of 100 MB an hour, so playing for 4 hours per day will spend 400 MB on average.

The high usage is because the service needs high-speed connections to work efficiently and connect quickly to the internet. The minimum connection speed you need is 64 Kbps (upload) and 256 Kbps (download).

Data bandwidth required for various activities on Xbox

Note that your data consumption does not depend much on the type of network connection you use but on the actual activity. Different activities will consume different data amounts, as we will outline in the tables below.

Data required for general internet activities

Data requirements for different online games

Like carrying out online activities, the data you use when playing games depends on the game rather than the platform. For instance, if you play Call of Duty: World War II on your Xbox, you will use the same data as playing on a Microsoft Windows PC.

The only difference would be the specific console you use when downloading the game, though this is minor. For Xbox in particular, downloading a game should consume approximately 70 to 100 MB on average.

Are there additional issues that can impact your data use?

Even though setting up a high-speed internet connection can be a great way of using Xbox (even on mobile broadband), you may experience other issues that ultimately affect your performance.

Among these is spreading out of bandwidth when you are doing other online activities. If you want to reduce your bandwidth demands, it is a good idea to turn off any additional services such as streaming or downloading ones when you want to connect to your Xbox.

Additionally, the time you connect to Xbox is a major one. According to Microsoft, most user traffic happens during the evening and night hours, so connecting to it during daytime hours is a better idea if you want to minimize the bandwidth you use.

Conclusion

Using Xbox through a mobile broadband network is possible, though it is not advisable for long term use. It can become a drain on your resources depending on your activities – with some online games being a culprit. If you plan on using it intensively, it is best to opt for a 4G or Wi-Fi connection.

FAQs

How much data should I expect to use when accessing Xbox on mobile broadband?

Per hour, you can use an average of 40 to 300 MB. Note that this depends on the specific activity you are doing, as some will take up more bandwidth than others.

Is it possible to play Xbox through a mobile broadband connection?

Yes, it is possible.