Microsoft is rolling out a new set of Xbox console updates to Xbox Insider Program members. The update covers the Home screen, local game save management, profile badges and wishlists. Most features go first to Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha ring members, while the Day One badge and wishlist change are available to all players immediately.
Instead of introducing a single big feature, this update aims to improve everyday experiences for Xbox users. We’ve covered what’s improved, what’s changed, and more about the update in detail below.
More Ways to Customize the Xbox Home Experience
Microsoft is giving players more control over what appears on the Home screen. Xbox Insiders can now remove individual items from the Recent Games and Apps list by just using the Menu button to clear something out, whether it’s a game or an app, including anything on the Play History tile. This means players get to decide what actually shows up on their home screen when they turn on their console, removing anything they are not interested in seeing.
Console updates coming in hot for XBOX Insiders 🔥
— XBOX (@XBOX) August 19, 2026
✨ Dashboard Customization
📁 Local Game Save Management
🎖 Detailed Profile Badges
📜 Wishlist Improvements
Take a deeper look at the changes that will be rolling out to everyone soon: https://t.co/0VTDTQtMoA
Microsoft is also testing an immersive background mode. Players can press the right thumbstick anywhere on Home to instantly fade out the usual interface, letting a custom or dynamic background fill the screen. Pressing any button restores the interface. It’s a simple way to enjoy the chosen background without dashboard panels in the way.
First Look | New XBOX immersive background mode
— Idle Sloth (@IdleSloth84_) August 19, 2026
Lets your dynamic or custom background take center stage
*Press the right thumbstick button anywhere on Home to fade away the UI pic.twitter.com/HOpt0MhawR
Local Game Save Management Gets More Flexible
While Xbox already backs up game saves to the Xbox network, local storage can still become full. If it does happen, saving new progress can be a problem. Now, players can see exactly which local saves are taking up space. Xbox Insiders get the option to view, sort, and delete local game saves that aren’t currently being used. They can wipe out one large file or clear all their unused local saves at once.
The feature can be accessed through Settings > System > Storage > Manage local game saves. The feature can also be reached directly from a low-storage notification. Xbox says the latest saves stay backed up online. When a game is launched again, it just syncs the save, so players can clear local space without worrying about losing recent progress.
Profile Badges Get More Details
Profile badges are also getting more detail. Their meaning was previously unclear as players accumulated more of them. Now, players can check out detailed information for every badge on their profile, including high resolution artwork and when or how they unlocked it.
This should make it easier to remember Xbox milestones, community events, or special achievements tied to badges. Players can explore their own badges or see what someone else has collected. Microsoft has also added a Day One profile badge to mark Xbox’s 25th anniversary. Players who unlocked the Day One achievement on November 22, 2013, the day the Xbox One launched, receive it automatically.
Wishlist Management Becomes Easier
Wishlists are getting a small but useful change. Games you’ve already purchased now automatically get removed from your wishlist. So, you don’t have to spend time removing them. Your wishlist stays focused on games you’re actually interested in purchasing next.
Overall, this Xbox Insider update is about making things smoother and more manageable. With a cleaner home screen, smarter save controls, richer profile badges, and automated wishlists, Xbox is giving Insiders more tools to simplify their everyday console use. What are your thoughts about this update?
You may also like to read – Xbox CEO Praises Elder Scrolls VI as Bethesda Workers Protest Outside
