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How to Use Your Logitech Harmony Remote with Xbox One

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On the day that the Xbox One was officially launched, Logitech announced that its Harmony line of universal remote controls will work with the new gaming console, allowing you to fully control your Xbox One using a traditional TV remote control method. This can come especially in handy when you use your Xbox One for TV purposes, where you can quickly navigate the OneGuide, as well as Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video.

Microsoft had its own TV remote control for the Xbox 360, and we’re not sure if the company will do the same for the Xbox One, but we can already tell that there probably won’t be a need for it, seeing as how the most-popular universal remote line has added full support for the console. If you’re wanting to pair the two up in synchronous harmony, here’s how to do it.

xbox-one-logitech

Instructions

First thing you’ll need to do is plug your Harmony remote into your computer using the USB cable that came with the remote. If you don’t have one, or you lost it, any miniUSB cable will work. Now let’s get started!

  • Go to setup.myharmony.com and sign in or create a Logitech account if you don’t already have one.

Screenshot 2013-11-25 14.47.05

  • After you sign in, a window will pop up. This is the control panel for your Harmony remote.
  • You should see your remote listed in the window, but if not, click Add Remote. Either way, click on your remote once it’s added.

Screenshot 2013-11-25 14.47.58

  • On the next screen, click Your Devices.

Screenshot 2013-11-25 14.48.19

  • You’ll be taken to a screen where you’ll be able to add devices to it. As you can see below, I have my TV and sound system already set up with my Harmony remote.
  • To add your Xbox One to the list of devices, click on the big plus sign where it says Add Device.

Screenshot 2013-11-25 14.49.57

  • You’ll be asked to type in the manufacturer and the model number. Type in Microsoft in the Manufacturer text box, and Xbox One in the Model Number text box, then click Add.

Screenshot 2013-11-25 14.50.58

  • The console will now show up in the list of devices as a Microsoft Game Console. Be sure to click Sync to save your changes.

Screenshot 2013-11-25 14.51.42

  • Once it’s done syncing, click Finish and you’ll be all set to go!

Screenshot 2013-11-25 14.51.59

I have yet to find any incompatibilities with the Harmony 200 remote that I’m using with my Xbox One; the arrow buttons work, as does the power button. I can turn the console on and off and navigate around the dashboard with ease.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Bill

    12/09/2013 at 5:45 pm

    Seriously? What a pointless article. All you’ve done is walk people through the basic steps of setting up a Harmony remote, something that has been widely know for literally years. The Xbox One is a special case, and while the Harmony software will communicate with it, a perfect integration has not yet been established. There is no preset key for the large home “X” button on any Harmony remote. This is a major issue, as without this, you can do almost nothing. A soft-key must be specially programmed for this. Ditto for the standard buttons, such as A, B, X, Y, not to mention the left and right shoulder buttons and triggers. There is quite a bit of specialty programming (at least nine custom soft keys) that goes into setting up any Harmony remote to work well with the Xbox One… And even then, there are a number of features you will not be able to control properly. The issues arise from the fact that the Xbox One can’t control all the aspects of a DVR, so until it can, Harmony will need to write a program that supports an Activity which correctly tells the Xbox One or the DVR to do different things within different sub-programs. For instance, when you select “TV” from your Xbox One menu, the channel up and down buttons should control your DVR. However when you’re watching Netflix, those same channel up and down buttons should be sending a signal to the Xbox One. This is very complex, and I’m unsure if it’s even possible with how the Harmony software is designed. For a universal remote to work 100%, then the Xbox is going to need to control the DVR completely.

    • Don

      11/29/2015 at 3:43 pm

      Were you able to program the left and right shoulder buttons and triggers; if so can you share how you did it.

  2. TheGreenMachineSW

    01/05/2014 at 1:57 pm

    Seriously? What a pointless statement Bill. All you did was complain about features that you want/feel are missing from the harmony remotes and the xbox. The person who wrote these instructions did a damn fine job in my opinion of giving the basic know how of setting up a harmony remote for the xbox one, something I’ve been unable to do, until now. Just have a little patience buddy Bill and your ridiculous list of features will be added soon I’m sure… Happy new year…

  3. James

    01/07/2014 at 4:06 am

    The only Logitech remotes that work with Xbox One are the Harmony Ultimate $275 and the one that uses your smart phone as a remote with a receiver $99. I just got off the phone with Logitech and they told me this since my Harmony 700 was not working with the Xbox One !

    No Go !

  4. Mr America

    01/08/2014 at 5:28 pm

    My old Harmony One seems to work fine. I tried to use the old Harmony Remote Software 7 at first which was a no go for the Xbox One.

    • Captain Europe

      08/06/2014 at 10:44 am

      Harmony 300 works well too with xbox one

  5. Eirik

    05/13/2014 at 11:15 pm

    Cheers for clearing that up. After upgrading from PS3 to PS4 my harmony ultimate no longer works. Different forums suggest this is because Sony do not allow for third party controls on the new console. For me, this is a huge dealbreaker as the PS3 was the primary hub for Bluray and netflix. Now that I know the One supports the remote I am considering moving from Sony to Microsoft, though it is with a heavy heart. I bought and played 50 games during the reign of the PS3 and the lovely controller for the playstation will be missed.

  6. Lee

    04/27/2016 at 1:33 pm

    Ok why use this older remote

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