Here's how to use the new Xbox One party chat overlay
In some recent Xbox One software updates, Microsoft enabled a new party chat overlay — and it's pretty awesome. Here's how to use the feature.

The new party chat overlay allows you to see who's talking, and also gives you feedback when you're emitting sound, too, which can be handy for determining if someone is echoing or is responsible for loud static in the background of chats.
The party chat overlay is only available to Xbox Insiders at the moment, but it will roll out more broadly in the coming weeks.
Here's how to enable it.
- Access the Guide menu by tapping once on the Xbox button on your controller.
- Navigate to the party menu using the joystick and A button.
- While in a party, press "A" on the new Enable party overlay switch.
- Configure the transparency and position. (See below.)
- Enjoy on-screen voice response indicators!
What do you think of the new feature? Let us know in the comments.
More Xbox tips and guides
- Xbox Help Guides
- Xbox Insider Program
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Jez Corden a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
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Nice little feature this, will it work when I play with somebody on Xbox 360 and they join my party? Like when I play Black Ops 2 with friends who are still on x360
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Awesome. I'm definitely going to enable this
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Enabled and love it. I think i like it more than any other feature because i wasnt expecting it or knew about it before hand.
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I'll be trying this during Paladins tonight.
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be nice for streaming