Kinect game tips

If game players get switched, try the following:

• Have both players step out of the play space and then step back in one at a time.
• Make sure that the players’ clothes are different colors and the room is well lit. See Kinect room-lighting tips.

If a game is not tracking a player or is tracking someone else in the room:

• Make sure non-players are not in the play space.
• Make sure the players are at least 40” (1m) tall.
• Have one of the players hold their hand a few inches (5 cm) from the sensor for three seconds, and then step back into the play space. Be careful to not touch the sensor. This should help the game to find both players.

The Kinect sensor has a built-in microphone used for speech recognition and chat. When you are connected to Xbox LIVE, you can chat with friends using the Kinect sensor (a headset is not needed).

For information about how to chat with friends, see Chat and communicate using Xbox LIVE.

Turn on the Kinect microphone
Before you turn on the Kinect microphone, disconnect any wired or wireless headsets. A connected headset disables the Kinect microphone.

From the Xbox 360 Guide

1. On your console, sign into Xbox LIVE.
2. On your controller, press the Guide button.
3. Select Chat & IM.
4. Select Kinect Microphone to turn the microphone on or off.

From the Dashboard

1. On your console, sign into Xbox LIVE.
2. Do the Guide gesture to open the Kinect Guide.
3. Hover your hand over the chat icon (lower left corner of the screen) to turn the microphone on or off.

Note If the microphone is on and someone cannot hear you (or vice versa), please see Troubleshooting problems with chat.

To adjust the volume for chat

From the Xbox 360 Guide

1. On your console, sign into Xbox LIVE.
2. On your controller, press the Guide button.
3. Go to Settings, and select Preferences.
4. Select Voice.
5. Choose what you want to adjust:
   • Voice Volume: Adjusts how loud other people sound.
   • Game Volume: Adjusts the game’s volume during chat.

Note These settings apply to private chat and party chat. They do not apply to chat sessions started by a game’s built-in chat function.

Want to use a headset?

If you do not want to use the Kinect microphone, you can plug in a wired headset or connect a wireless headset. When you do this, the Kinect microphone will automatically mute. To use the Kinect microphone, unplug or disconnect the headset.

Hearing an echo?

If you hear an echo while using chat:

1. Start the Kinect tuner to calibrate your audio.
2. If you still hear an echo, have the friends that you are chatting with also run the Kinect tuner.

To learn how to set up and use video chat, please see Setting up Video Kinect.

To find games that are designed to work with Kinect, look for these logos:

Better with Kinect

Games with this logo don’t require a Kinect sensor, but they’re a lot more fun if you have one.

Find great Kinect games!

Some Kinect games can take photos and videos of you and your friends while you’re playing a game. You can then upload these photos and videos to websites and services such as KinectShare.com. Photos and videos uploaded to KinectShare.com can be downloaded, printed, and shared with your friends and family on social networking sites like Facebook.

To upload your photos and videos to KinectShare.com or similar websites, you need to be signed into Xbox LIVE, and the Kinect Sharing setting must be "Allowed." This setting is part of your console's online safety and privacy settings.

To change the Kinect Sharing setting

1. On your console, sign in using your Xbox LIVE gamertag.
2. Go to Settings, and then select Privacy.
3. Select Change Settings.
4. Select Customize.

5. Select Kinect Sharing.

6. Select Allowed or Blocked.

• Allowed: You can upload and share photos and videos to websites and services such as KinectShare.com. Use your Microsoft account to sign in to KinectShare.com and see your uploaded photos and videos. Learn more.
• Blocked: Photos and videos cannot be uploaded and shared on websites and services.

Note The default setting is Blocked for Xbox LIVE child accounts. The default setting is Allowed for adult and teen Xbox LIVE accounts.

7. Press B on your controller.

8. Select Save and Exit.

Complete these steps for each person in your family. If you are changing a setting on a child account, you are asked to enter the Microsoft account (email address and password) of the associated adult account.