Decide whether to stream or download Movies & TV content to your Xbox 360

When you buy or rent a video, you need to decide whether to stream or download it. This article helps you make that decision.

Streaming requires a lot of bandwidth, so it’s a good option if you have a fast network and a fast Internet connection. And it’s the only option if you want to watch a video immediately.

A connection test runs when you try streaming a video on your Xbox 360 console. If your network isn't fast enough to stream the video, you'll be notified before you confirm payment.

Note If you can't stream the video in HD, you might be able to stream the SD (standard definition) version.

To learn how to improve the speed of your network, try the Xbox 360 Slow Performance Solution.

Downloading is a good option if you have a slower Internet connection. Downloading is also good if you want to make sure you get the best possible video quality. Also, you can watch the video offline. We recommend a broadband Internet connection such as cable or DSL for Movies & TV. However, most Internet connections support downloading video.

The download starts immediately after you confirm payment. A Play button appears after the video has begun downloading. Just select the Play button to start watching. Or, you can complete the download and go to your video collection to play the video later.

If you have trouble streaming or downloading video, contact Xbox Support.