How to Download Starfield

If you recently bought Starfield or you’re planning to buy it in the future, here’s what you need to know about the download.

After a lengthy wait, Bethesda’s highly anticipated space RPG has arrived. The game’s global release date for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Windows was September 6th.

With that in mind, we want to take you through everything you need to know about the Starfield download and installation on Xbox and Windows.

Our guide covers Starfield’s download time, the game’s download size, and more.

How Long Will Starfield Take to Download?

The Starfield download on Xbox and Windows is 100GB+ which means you’ll need a ton of free space available on your console or PC. Given the size and scope of the game, this shouldn’t be surprising.

If you’re running out of space on your system’s internal storage, use this time to comb through your data and delete files and games you no longer play.

If you’re running out of space and you don’t want to delete files, you’ll want to invest in an external hard drive for your console.

Samsung’s T7 Portable SSD is one of our favorites, the Seagate Game Drive is another solid option, and the WD_BLACK 1TB is worth a look as well.

Mileage will of course vary based on connection speed, but a 100+GB download may take over an hour. For those with slower connections, it could take several hours to complete.

If you’re trying to download Starfield during peak hours, or if you’re using a slower Wi-Fi connection, you’ll need to remain patient.

If you’re curious about how long Starfield might take to download via your connection, you can use this tool to approximate the download time. It’s not an exact science, but it will help you plan ahead and set realistic expectations.

If you’re tired of dealing with slow download speeds, you might want to upgrade your router. If you’re interested in doing that, take a look at routers like the TP-Link Archer AC4000 or Netgear’s Nighthawk AX4 RAX40.

How to Download Starfield on Xbox

There are several ways to download Starfield on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.

The first way is to turn on your Xbox, head to the Store, and search for the game.” You should then see the game’s various editions.

If you haven’t bought a copy yet, you’ll want to select the Starfield edition you want to buy and purchase the game to start the download process.

If you want to download the game while you’re out and about, here’s how to do that.

First, make sure your Xbox has an internet connection. You’ll also need to enable the Always Connected power option in your Xbox settings. Always Connected means your Xbox goes to sleep instead of turning off.

After you’ve done that, follow these instructions:

• Go to Xbox.com in your web browser.
• Click on the Sign In link in the top-right corner. For this to work, you must use the same Microsoft Account that’s connected to your Xbox Live gamertag and Xbox.
• Head to the game’s landing page.
• Click the “Buy” button.

You can also use Microsoft’s Xbox application on your phone or tablet to initiate the download process. Tap on the Magnifying Glass in the toolbar, search for Starfield, choose your version of the game, and tap the green “Download to Console” button.

Enhanced Player Heath Bar

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Let's start with a Starfield mod that's extremely basic, but has a huge impact on gameplay. Enhanced Player Heath Bar is a popular Starfield mod for PC that simply changes the player's health bar color when health reaches 75%, 50% and 25%. At 75% health your player's health bar will change to yellow. At 50%, it changes to orange. And if you're at 25% and close to dying, it will of course change to red.  It's simple, but it's extremely nice at a glance, especially when you're in a particularly tough fight with Terrormorphs or a group of mercs.

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