Xbox Cloud Gaming has two new previews live from November 4, 2026: you can now use your Android or iOS phone as a controller on supported Smart TVs in every country where the service is available, and US players can try “cloud connect”, which links the new Xbox Nano Controller straight to the cloud server over Wi-Fi. Here is how to turn each one on, and what you need.
Microsoft announced both in an Xbox Wire post on November 4 and stresses that “both experiences are still being tested”, so supported games and devices may be limited for now.
- Phone as a controller: supported Smart TVs, Android or iOS phone, all Xbox Cloud Gaming countries, rolling out now.
- Cloud connect: Xbox Nano Controller only, US only, works on supported Smart TVs and the web.
- Status: both are previews; Microsoft is collecting feedback before a wider release.
Table of Contents
How to use your phone as a controller on a Smart TV
The idea is simple: no controller in the room, no problem. Your phone becomes the gamepad, and the controls open in the phone’s web browser, so there is no extra app to install on the phone. Microsoft says some games will also get touch layouts tailored to how they play.
- Update the Xbox app on your supported Smart TV to the latest version.
- Go to Settings > Account and turn on Preview Features.
- Launch a cloud game without a physical controller connected.
- Choose the option to use your phone for that session, then scan the QR code shown on the TV with your phone.
The phone controller opens in your phone's browser; some games get their own touch layout. Image: Microsoft
Xbox Wire points to its verified-devices list rather than naming TV brands; Insider Gaming says that covers Amazon Fire, LG, Samsung and some VIDAA-powered models. Because the feature is “rolling out today”, it may take a little while to show up on your set: Insider Gaming’s writer said the prompt had not appeared yet on his compatible TV.
What is Xbox cloud connect on the Nano Controller?
Normally a controller talks to your TV over Bluetooth, and the TV passes your inputs on to the cloud. Cloud connect skips that hop: the Nano Controller joins your Wi-Fi network and connects directly to the cloud server running your game. Microsoft says that “can help reduce input latency, so gameplay may feel more responsive”.
The limits for now: it is US only, Microsoft names only the $49.99 Xbox Nano Controller, and it runs only on supported Smart TVs and the web. Microsoft calls it “an early test” that “won’t work with every cloud gaming experience yet”.
How to set up cloud connect
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Set up the controller | Use the Xbox beta app on Android, or the Xbox Accessories app on PC. The PC route requires Xbox Insider enrollment. |
| 2. Connect to Wi-Fi | Follow the in-app steps to put the Nano Controller on your Wi-Fi network. |
| 3. Start playing | Open a supported Xbox Cloud Gaming app or the website and sign in with the same Xbox account you used during setup. |
Microsoft’s full walkthrough is on the cloud connect support page.
Cloud connect setup in the Xbox beta app on Android links the Nano Controller to your Xbox account. Image: Microsoft
How to send feedback on the previews
Microsoft wants reports from both previews. For the phone controller, tap the Xbox icon in the top-left corner of the phone controls and pick “Give Feedback”, or open the Guide on the TV app and choose Give Feedback. For cloud connect, use the “Feedback” icon in the Xbox Accessories app on PC or the Xbox mobile app.
Why it matters
Both features attack the same problem: getting into a cloud game on a TV with as little hardware as possible. The phone controller removes the need for a gamepad at all, which makes cloud play an easier sell on the cheaper tiers covered in our guide to Xbox Cloud Gaming without Game Pass. Cloud connect goes after input latency, the delay between pressing a button and seeing it on screen, which is the trade-off of streaming games. According to Pure Xbox, the Nano Controller itself released on November 4, the same day as the preview.
What’s next
Microsoft says it will use preview feedback to “shape future updates” but gave no date for a full release, a wider country list for cloud connect, or support for other controllers. If you want something to try both features on, our Xbox Game Pass November 2026 list lists every game confirmed for the service so far this month.
Sources: Xbox Wire (November 4, 2026), Xbox Wire: Meet the Xbox Nano Controller, Xbox Support: cloud connect, Insider Gaming, Pure Xbox.
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Featured image: Microsoft
