Xbox users were warned in September that their online backups of game captures, including videos and screenshots, older than 90 days would be deleted starting on May 30. Despite months of inaction, Xbox is now circulating messages to remind users of the impending deletion of their capture library. The ability to upload captures to the Xbox network has been available since 2013, with Game DVR allowing players to edit and share clips. The upcoming deletions will free up storage space on Xbox’s servers, making them cheaper to manage. Players who have not backed up their content will need to find alternative storage solutions.
The new policy was implemented with a September update, giving users until January to back up their content before deletions began. However, the mass deletion was delayed, leading to uncertainty among players. Xbox has not provided any specific reasons for the change but stands to benefit from reduced server storage costs. Players must now consider options for backing up their captures, such as transferring them to external storage or a cloud service like OneDrive. Those who have swapped consoles may have lost locally stored versions of older captures and will now need to rely on alternate storage solutions.
Xbox is deleting all game captures and screenshots that are older than 90 days and uploaded to the Xbox network. This does not affect locally stored clips or those saved on external drives or cloud services. Players can still manually or automatically upload new captures to the Xbox network, but they will need to share them within 90 days to prevent deletion. The process can be controlled through settings on the Xbox console, allowing users to choose whether to continue using the Xbox network for uploads.
To back up captures on Xbox, users can choose between external storage drives and OneDrive. The process for both options is similar, with external storage being a cost-effective one-time purchase, while OneDrive offers integration with the Xbox and easy sharing capabilities. Players can access their captures from either platform and may need to consider additional storage subscriptions for larger collections. Ultimately, the choice between external storage and cloud solutions depends on user preference and convenience.
Captures made with the Xbox Game Bar on PC are stored locally and not uploaded to the Xbox network, meaning they are not subject to the 90-day deletion policy. PC users can access their captures through the Xbox Game Bar and choose to back them up using cloud storage or external drives. Deleting old captures on Xbox is a straightforward process, allowing users to select and delete multiple clips to declutter their capture library before backing up. Once deleted, captures cannot be recovered, so users should exercise caution.
In conclusion, Xbox users need to take action to back up their game captures before the May 30 deadline to avoid losing them permanently. By transferring captures to external storage or cloud services, players can ensure that their content is safe and accessible even after deletions occur. The importance of maintaining backups for long-term storage is emphasized, especially for players with extensive capture libraries. Xbox’s policy change highlights the need for users to stay proactive in managing their digital content and investing in secure storage solutions.
