Microsoft guts Xbox One OneGuide as part of Xbox March Update

By Sean Endicott
published

OneGuide isn't as much of a guide anymore on the Xbox One.

Xbox One S
Xbox One S (Image credit: Matt Brown | Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • The Xbox March Update removes OneGuide TV listings from the Xbox One.
  • The Xbox Series X and Series S don't have OneGuide at all.
  • You can still view content on the Xbox One through HDMI devices and USB tuners.

While the Xbox March Update added some features to consoles, including Auto HDR and FPS Boost toggles on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, it also removed a feature. With the Xbox March Update, Microsoft removed TV listings for OneGuide.

Microsoft has moved away from using Xbox consoles as central hubs for media for years. The new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles don't support OneGuide at all. But now, even the Xbox One that has had TV listings in OneGuide since launch is losing access to listings.

Microsoft's Jonathan Hildebrandt outlined the update. He also clarified the state of OneGuide going forward (emphasis added):

TV Listings in OneGuide Are Going AwayBased on customer usage and feedback, we're constantly evolving the Xbox experience. To that end, beginning this May we'll be sunsetting live TV listings for OneGuide on Xbox One. You can continue to use OneGuide to view your connected HDMI devices or USB TV tuner. You can also keep using OneGuide for HDMI-passthrough and to watch TV via USB TV tuners, but you won't be able to access the on-screen TV Listings guide.

OneGuide still exists on the Xbox One, but with content missing. It seems a bit odd to call something a guide if you remove TV listings. After all, what are you guiding people to, if not listings of content?

On the plus side, HDMI devices and USB TV tuners still work. In his piece on if the Xbox Series X and Series S can replace your Xbox One for TV, our executive editor Zac Bowden highlights that you can't use these types of devices on newer Xbox consoles.

Not even the official Xbox One Digital TV Tuner (or an equivalent from third-parties) works. Because the OneGuide app is gone, the protocols built to handle setting up the TV just aren't part of the OS on Xbox Series X. So, for anyone looking to use the Xbox Series S/X as their TV box either through cable or OTA TV, you're out of luck.

Do you still use OneGuide? Are you affected by this change? Let us know in the comments below.

Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com (opens in new tab).

12 Comments
  • I've seen it there, but never used it. Additionally, I use most of the popular apps for watching video that I enjoy. I don't even have cable anymore.
  • I knew this was coming. Still totally pissed at the move. I use TV tuner and One Guide EVERY day. Thanks Xbox, nice move. Seriously, how much did this cost to support the tv listings and an app that never if ever got updates? USB tuner is great for cord cutters. Typical Microsoft awful consumer support on products they've heavily supported. I'm the 1% who thought this was great feature. I had planned to keep my XB1 S just for the TV options. 😭
  • I just relocated my old Xbox One and was going to use it as a TV box. Guess I'll need to stick with HDHomeRun for that. Would happen just as I found the USB tuner as well.
  • Considering that TiVo, HDHomeRun, Tablo and others charge $15 per month to consumers, it's probably not an insignificant cost even at trade prices when multiplied by millions of users. It's disappointing but to be expected. One thing that isn't clear is whether this will work in countries that aren't the USA where guide data is freely available via the OTA signal (e.g. UK, Australia). When Windows Media Center had guide data cut, my HTPC switched from using the MS provided guide data to that of the OTA signal. Yes it dropped from 2 weeks to one but it made little practical change for me. What isn't clear from the unlinked Xbox blog post or this article is whether the Xbox One has a similar implementation or not.
  • Yes in my old Xbox One X, I ran my Xfinity DVR cable box through the Xbox. Because of the new Xbox Series X I had to give up an HDMI port on my TV, where previously the cable box was going through the Xbox One, then Xbox to the TV. So yeah a little disappointing.
  • Reason I gave up on xbox moved on to roku and plex server.
  • Not familiar with Roku, but xbox has a fine Plex app. Does Roku let you integrate Plex and a TV guide?
  • If microsoft want a dedicated games machine, how difficult would it be to evolve a media machine to add to the microsoft arsenal!
  • It won't be long now until we toss our Xbox One in the old garbage heap, never to return to having a console. There's zero point.
  • People are still watching TV? This is sooo 2000's lol 😜
  • I use mine for Chromecast. At least that will still work for now. But once I upgrade to an Xbox Series console, I'll have to relocate the Chromecast. Booo...
  • I used this to get local over-the-air broadcasts. Was great for cord cutting. Extremely disappointed 😞