Xbox owners are getting more customizations for backgrounds and the Guide menu
Xbox Alpha Skip-Ahead Insiders gain right-side Guide placement as Microsoft tests new customization options for console owners.
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The brief
Xbox owners enrolled in the Alpha Skip-Ahead Insider program can now open the Xbox Guide on the right side of the screen, according to coverage from Make Tech Easier. The coverage does not specify how many Insiders are in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring, nor does it detail whether the right-side Guide option will roll out to other Insider tiers or to the general Xbox user base.
The coverage frames the change as an incremental interface update rather than a major system overhaul, focusing specifically on the ability to reposition the Guide.
The Xbox Guide is the system menu that provides quick access to friends, messages, achievements, settings, and other console functions. The introduction of right-side Guide positioning represents a shift toward greater interface flexibility for Insiders, though the coverage does not state whether background customization options are being tested alongside this change in the same build.
Readers should watch for whether Microsoft extends right-side Guide placement beyond the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring to other Insider levels or to all Xbox consoles. The coverage does not indicate a timeline for a wider rollout, nor does it mention any additional customization features currently in testing. Coverage does not yet specify what other background or Guide menu changes may accompany this update in future builds.
Synthesized by PULSE from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: unsupported claims removed (67% supported) Updated 4h ago.
Quick answers
Who can access the right-side Xbox Guide?
Xbox owners in the Alpha Skip-Ahead Insider program, according to Make Tech Easier.
When was the report published?
November 12, 2026 at 23:00 UTC.
Will the feature reach all Xbox users?
The coverage does not specify a timeline or confirm a wider rollout beyond Alpha Skip-Ahead Insiders.
What other customizations are mentioned?
Coverage references more customization options for backgrounds and the Guide menu generally, without detailing specific features.
Coverage (1)
- Alpha Skip-Ahead Insiders can now open the Xbox Guide on the right side Make Tech Easier · 1d ago
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