Xbox Cloud Gaming on TV: How to Play on Any TV

TL;DR

• You can play Xbox Cloud Gaming on your TV without an Xbox console — you just need the Xbox app and a controller.
• Supported TVs: Samsung 2020 and newer (Gaming Hub), LG webOS 24 and newer (LG Content Store), and select Amazon Fire TV smart TVs.
• No smart TV? Use an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or Fire TV Cube plugged into any TV’s HDMI port.
• You need an active Xbox Game Pass subscription (Ultimate, Premium, or Essential) and at least 20 Mbps internet for the best experience.
• Enable Game Mode on your TV after setup to reduce input lag significantly.

Can You Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on a TV?

Yes — and you do not need an Xbox console to do it. Xbox Cloud Gaming lets you stream games directly on TVs with Game Pass via cloud gaming. All you need is a compatible controller and the Xbox app to start playing hundreds of games.

Microsoft has built native Xbox app support into several major TV platforms, and you can also add cloud gaming to any older TV using an Amazon Fire TV Stick. This guide covers every method, step by step.

Before setting up, make sure your connection and subscription are ready. See our Xbox Cloud Gaming requirements guide for the full checklist.

What You Need to Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on TV

• Xbox Game Pass subscription — Ultimate, Premium, or Essential. Free-to-play titles only need a free Microsoft account.
• A supported TV or streaming device — Samsung 2020+, LG webOS 24+, Amazon Fire TV smart TVs, or a Fire TV Stick/Cube plugged into any TV.
• A compatible controller — Xbox Wireless Controller, PlayStation DualSense or DualShock 4, or other supported Bluetooth controllers.
• Internet connection — minimum 10 Mbps, recommended 20 Mbps or above. 5GHz Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet is strongly preferred.

How to Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on Samsung TV

Samsung 2020 and newer Smart TVs and Samsung 2022 and newer monitors support the Xbox app via the Samsung Gaming Hub.

Samsung Gaming Hub is supported on all 4K and 8K Samsung Smart TV models from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. On 2022 and newer models, Gaming Hub comes pre-installed.

Step-by-Step Setup on Samsung TV

1. Press the Home button on your Samsung remote to open Smart Hub.
2. Select Gaming Hub from the sidebar menu. On 2022 and newer models this is pre-installed. On 2020 and 2021 models, look for the Xbox app in the Apps section — update your TV firmware first if you cannot find it.
3. Find and open the Xbox app inside Gaming Hub. If it is not there, search for it in the Gaming Hub store and install it.
4. Sign in with your Microsoft account. The easiest way is to use the on-screen QR code — open your phone’s camera, scan the code, and it will take you directly to the sign-in page. Or enter your email and password manually using the remote.
5. Pair your controller. Put your Xbox Wireless Controller into Bluetooth pairing mode (hold the Pair button on the top until the light flashes), then follow the on-screen pairing instructions on the TV. Most Bluetooth controllers pair directly to the TV.
6. Once signed in and paired, browse your Game Pass library and select any game to start streaming immediately.

Samsung TV Tips

• Enable Game Mode: Go to Settings > General > External Device Manager > Game Mode Settings and turn Game Mode on. This reduces input lag on your display, which matters for responsive cloud gaming.
• Check your TV firmware: If the Xbox app does not appear or behaves oddly, go to Settings > Support > Software Update and install any available updates.
• If picture or sound cuts out during play, go to Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Smart Hub Connection Test to check your network status.

How to Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on LG TV

The Xbox app is available on LG TVs with webOS 24 or newer. This includes select 2022 and 2023 models updated to software version 23.20.01 or higher, including 2022 OLED TVs and 2023 OLED, QNED, Nanocell, and UHD TVs.

Step-by-Step Setup on LG TV

1. Press the Home button on your LG remote to open the home screen.
2. Navigate to the LG Content Store or open the LG Gaming Portal (available on supported models).
3. Search for and open the Xbox app. Install it if it is not already present.
4. Sign in with your Microsoft account using the on-screen QR code with your phone, or enter your details manually with the remote.
5. Pair your controller via Bluetooth. Hold the Pair button on your Xbox controller until the light flashes, then accept the pairing on screen.
6. Select a game from your Game Pass library and press Play to start streaming.

LG TV Tips

• Enable Game Optimiser: Press the Settings button on your remote and look for Game Optimiser. Enabling this switches the TV into a low-latency display mode — critical for responsive cloud gaming.
• If the Xbox app is not visible in the LG Content Store, your TV may need a firmware update. Go to Settings > Support > Software Update > Check for Updates.
• Only webOS 24 and newer is officially supported. If your LG TV is running an older version of webOS, use the Amazon Fire TV Stick method below instead.

How to Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on Amazon Fire TV

The Amazon Fire TV method works two ways — on newer Fire TV smart TVs that have the Xbox app built in, and on Fire TV Sticks and Cubes that you plug into any TV’s HDMI port. This second method is what makes cloud gaming accessible on virtually any television, including older non-smart TVs.

Supported Amazon Fire TV Devices

Supported Amazon Fire TV devices include the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st Gen), Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen), Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen), and Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen). Support has also expanded to Fire TV 4-Series and Fire TV Omni QLED smart TVs.

Standard Fire TV Sticks (non-4K) are not supported. You need a 4K model or newer.

Step-by-Step Setup on Amazon Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Cube

1. Plug your Fire TV Stick or Cube into an HDMI port on your TV. Plug the power cable into a wall socket (not the TV USB port — this does not supply enough power).
2. Switch your TV to the correct HDMI input.
3. Complete the Fire TV initial setup if you have not already, connecting to your Wi-Fi network.
4. From the Fire TV home screen, go to Find > Search and type Xbox.
5. Select the Xbox app and press Download to install it.
6. Open the Xbox app and sign in with your Microsoft account. Use the QR code on screen with your phone for the fastest sign-in.
7. Pair your controller via Bluetooth: Go to Fire TV Settings > Controllers & Bluetooth Devices > Other Bluetooth Devices > Add Bluetooth Devices. Put your controller in pairing mode and select it from the list. The Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, DualSense, and DualShock 4 controllers all work seamlessly.
8. Select a game from your Game Pass library inside the Xbox app and press Play.

Amazon Fire TV Tips

• Keep the Fire TV software updated: Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for Updates. The Xbox app may not appear until the Fire TV firmware is current.
• Use a wired Ethernet connection if possible. Plug an ethernet cable into the Fire TV Cube (which has a built-in ethernet port) or use a USB-C to ethernet adapter with a Fire TV Stick 4K for maximum stability.
• The Fire TV Stick’s portability means you can plug it into any TV’s HDMI port and start playing — useful for hotel rooms, holidays, or moving between screens at home.

How to Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on Any TV (Non-Smart TV)

If your TV is older or not one of the supported Samsung or LG models, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the easiest solution. Just plug it into any TV with an HDMI port and follow the Fire TV setup steps above. It turns any screen into an Xbox Cloud Gaming display for around $50.

Other options include:

• A Windows laptop or PC connected to the TV via HDMI: Open the Xbox app or visit xbox.com/play in Chrome or Edge, connect a controller, and use your TV as the display. See our Xbox HDMI 2.1 settings guide for tips on getting the best picture quality. If you run into display issues, check our Xbox HDMI no signal fix.
• Meta Quest VR headset: If you own a Quest 2, Quest 3, or Quest Pro, install the Xbox app and play on a giant virtual screen — no TV required at all.

Getting the Best Experience: TV Cloud Gaming Tips

Enable Game Mode on Your TV

This is the single most important setting tweak after setup. Game Mode disables most of the TV’s picture processing (smoothing, upscaling, noise reduction) and reduces display latency significantly. On cloud gaming, where every millisecond of input delay matters, this makes the experience noticeably more responsive.

• Samsung: Settings > General > External Device Manager > Game Mode Settings > On
• LG: Settings > Game Optimiser > On
• On most other TVs, look for Game Mode in Picture or Display settings.

Use 5GHz Wi-Fi or Wired Ethernet

Connect your TV or streaming device to the 5GHz band on your router rather than 2.4GHz. The 5GHz band has less interference and lower latency. If your Samsung TV, LG TV, or Fire TV Cube supports a wired ethernet connection, use it — this gives the most stable low-latency link for streaming.

Sit Close to the Router

Walls, furniture, and distance all reduce Wi-Fi signal quality. The closer your TV or Fire TV Stick is to the router, the better the signal. If the TV is far from your router, a powerline ethernet adapter or a Wi-Fi 6 mesh satellite placed nearby is worth considering.

Close Background Apps

On Fire TV especially, background apps consume bandwidth and processing resources. Before launching the Xbox app, press and hold the Home button, select Manage Running Apps, and close everything else that is running.

Keep Everything Updated

TV firmware updates often fix Xbox app compatibility issues. Update your TV’s firmware and the Xbox app itself regularly — both Samsung and LG push updates that improve Gaming Hub and cloud streaming performance.

Supported TVs and Devices Quick Reference

Related Xbox Cloud Gaming Guides

• Xbox Cloud Gaming requirements
• How to set up Xbox Cloud Gaming
• How Xbox Cloud Gaming works
• Xbox Cloud Gaming getting started guide
• Xbox Cloud Gaming vs Game Pass
• Is Xbox Cloud Gaming free?
• Xbox Cloud Gaming free trial
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate guide
• Best games on Xbox Game Pass
• Xbox HDMI no signal fix
• Xbox download speed slow fix

Frequently Asked Questions