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Guides › Setup › ROG Xbox Ally X20

Set up your ROG Xbox Ally X20: day one

The ROG Xbox Ally X20 is ASUS's 20th-anniversary Windows 11 handheld, on sale since Oct 15, 2026 for $1,299. Here's how to go from box to playing, step by step, based on ASUS and reviewer reports. Tick the boxes as you go; your progress is saved on this device.

Quick start

~60 minTime (est.)
EasyDifficulty
12Steps
What you need
Chip
AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
Screen
7.4" OLED, 1920×1080, 120Hz, VRR
Memory
24GB LPDDR5X · 1TB SSD
Battery
80Wh
Weight
756g
Price
$1,299 (US)
Jump to a step

  1. Check the box and charge it

    Unbox and plug in. ASUS lists a 68W USB-C charger for the X20, but says whether a charger is included varies by country, region and model, so check your box. Both USB-C ports support power delivery, per ASUS's spec page.

    Why: Windows setup and the first round of updates take a while, and big updates should never lose power halfway through.

    Unconfirmed

    ASUS hasn't published a full in-the-box list for the X20 that we could find. The spec page also lists 2 months of Xbox Game Pass Premium (terms and eligible markets apply).

    More detail
    New on the X20: Travel Mode limits charging to 65W so it works better with plane and train seat outlets. ASUS says it turns on automatically with Airplane Mode, or you can switch it on yourself.

  2. Do the Windows first-boot setup

    Pick your language and region, join Wi-Fi, and sign in with a Microsoft account (the one you use for Xbox, if you have one). If Windows offers Windows Hello, you can set up the built-in fingerprint sensor ASUS lists in the specs.

    Why: Your Microsoft account links Game Pass, your Xbox achievements and cloud saves.

    Tip from reviewers

    BGR suggests connecting a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to get through the Windows chores more easily.

  3. Get to know the Xbox full screen experience

    After setup the X20 starts in the Xbox full screen experience (Microsoft now calls it Xbox mode): a controller-friendly launcher built on the Xbox app.
    • Switch apps: long-press the Xbox button, or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (Task View).
    • Game Bar: press the Xbox button, or swipe in from the left.
    • Windows desktop: open Task View and tap Windows Desktop.
    • Back to Xbox mode: open the Xbox app and choose Xbox Full Screen (top right).

    Why: Windows limits background processes while in this mode to help games run better. Most people can do almost everything here without the desktop.

    Good to know

    When you come back from the desktop, Windows offers a restart. Restarting brings back the background-process savings; skipping it still works, just without them.

    More detail
    The Xbox app can show games installed from other stores too, so Steam and others appear in the same library. To stop it starting in Xbox mode: Settings → Gaming → Xbox mode (full screen experience) and turn off the startup option.

  4. Run Windows Update

    Open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Install everything, restart, and check again until it says you're up to date.

    Why: The first round fixes bugs and security issues that shipped in the box. It often takes more than one pass.

  5. Update everything in Armoury Crate SE

    Open Armoury Crate SE (ASUS's ROG app) → Update Center. Install everything under Official Updates: system drivers, the GPU driver and any BIOS update ASUS lists there.

    Why: ASUS ships its own drivers and firmware here. Windows Update alone doesn't cover all of them.

    Heads-up

    For BIOS or firmware updates, keep it plugged in and don't turn it off until it's finished.

    More detail
    Only use drivers from Update Center or ASUS's support site. Generic AMD drivers aren't guaranteed to include ASUS's handheld tweaks.

  6. Decide on the FSR 4.1 preview (Oct 23)

    ASUS says AMD FSR Upscaling 4.1 arrives as a preview GPU driver on Oct 23, 2026: Armoury Crate SE → Update Center → Preview Updates.

    Why: FSR 4.1 is AMD's machine-learning upscaler: the game renders at a lower resolution, then it's rebuilt to look sharp, so you get more frames.

    Preview means possible bugs

    ASUS says preview updates may contain bugs or instability. Want a rock-solid device? Wait. It moves to Official Updates and rolls out automatically once it leaves preview.

    Turning it on

    In games with FSR 4 support, pick FSR in the game's graphics settings. For older games with FSR 3.1 or newer: open Command Center, press Y to customize, add the new FSR tile and toggle it on. ASUS says this covers 400+ games.

    More detail
    Don't use RSR at the same time. ASUS says RSR is a system-level upscaler meant only for games that don't support FSR. Use one or the other, never both.

  7. Set your operating mode

    Open Command Center (the Command Center button) and pick an operating mode. Reviewers describe three: Silent (best battery), Performance (balanced) and Turbo (maximum power, best plugged in).

    Why: This is the biggest single control over speed, fan noise, heat and battery life.

    Unconfirmed: exact wattages

    We couldn't find ASUS's own wattage numbers for each X20 mode, so we're not listing them. Check Armoury Crate SE's operating-mode screen on your device for the real values. Manual/custom wattage is also in Armoury Crate SE.

    More detail
    Found settings you like for one game? The X20's Armoury Crate SE adds Default Game Profile 2.0: after tweaking settings like wattage, save them to that game's profile in one click, per ASUS.

  8. Set frame cap and resolution

    Set a frame rate limit (in Armoury Crate SE or the game's own settings) and lower the in-game resolution in demanding games if needed. Leave the screen at its native 1920×1080, 120Hz.

    Why: A frame cap stops the chip working harder than you need, which saves battery and heat. The screen supports VRR (FreeSync Premium Pro), so uneven frame rates look smoother.

    Good to know

    XDA reports VRR works down to 30Hz on the X20 (vs 48Hz on the Xbox Ally X), which helps 30-40 fps games feel smoother.

  9. Install your game stores

    From the Xbox app/Xbox mode you have Game Pass and the Microsoft Store ready. Add others from their official sites: Steam, Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, EA app, Ubisoft Connect, Battle.net.

    Why: It's a Windows PC, so almost any PC store works. Games from them show up in the Xbox app library.

    Only official downloads

    Get launchers from their own websites, never from mirrors or 'free games' sites.

    More detail
    Some launchers ask you to sign in with a browser window; this is easier on the Windows desktop with a keyboard. ASUS's spec page lists 2 months of Game Pass Premium (terms and eligible markets apply).

  10. Add a microSD card (optional)

    The X20 has a microSD Express reader (it also reads regular UHS-I cards). Insert the card; Windows can offer to format it. If not, in desktop mode open File Explorer → long-press the card → Format → NTFS. Then make a games folder on it and choose it as an install location in your store.

    Why: The internal 1TB SSD fills up fast with modern games. A card is the easy way to add room.

    Heads-up

    Formatting erases the card. Copy anything you need off it first.

    Which card?

    A microSD Express card is much faster than a normal card; regular A2/U3 cards work but load slower.

    More detail
    Those formatting steps are from ASUS's FAQ for the ROG Xbox Ally family; the X20 uses the same Windows setup. Want more internal space? The SSD is an M.2 2280 drive, per ASUS's spec page. Swapping it is an advanced job and we haven't confirmed it's simple on the X20.

  11. Get more battery life

    Use Silent or Performance mode for lighter games, cap the frame rate, lower screen brightness, and use FSR in games that support it.

    Why: Reviewers report short battery life when pushed: about 2 hours in most cases (XDA), 2-3 hours in demanding games on Turbo (BGR, The Independent). Lighter games last longer.

    Travelling?

    Turn on Travel Mode (or Airplane Mode) so it charges at 65W from seat outlets.

  12. If something goes wrong

    Try these in order:
    • Controls not working in a game: update everything in Update Center.
    • Stuck on a black screen or frozen: hold the power button to force it off, then restart.
    • Game looks blurry or odd after FSR 4.1: make sure RSR is off; if it persists, the preview driver may be the cause, so wait for the official release.
    • Doesn't wake properly from sleep: XDA mentions sleep can be unreliable on Windows handhelds; install the latest updates and restart.
    • Still broken: contact ASUS support.

    Why: Most first-week problems are fixed by updates or a restart.

    More detail
    See our Fixes page for more help.

Keep going

X20 or Portal?Windows vs AndroidEmulatorsOfficial downloadsCompat DBReal player settingsFixesWhen something breaks

Sources

  1. ASUS ROG: X20 official spec page
  2. ASUS Pressroom: X20 availability (Oct 15, 2026)
  3. ASUS ROG: FSR Upscaling 4.1 preview (Oct 20, 2026)
  4. ASUS ROG: How to get to the Windows desktop on ROG Xbox Ally
  5. ASUS Support: ROG Xbox Ally (RC73) FAQ (microSD formatting; same Xbox full screen experience)
  6. Microsoft Support: Windows gaming full screen experience / Xbox mode
  7. XDA Developers review (Oct 15, 2026)
  8. BGR review
  9. The Independent review (Oct 15, 2026)

Checked Oct 21, 2026. Nobody on the Overclocked team owns an X20 yet. Everything here is based on ASUS and reviewer reports, not our own testing.

By Sally · Published 2026-10-21 · Menu names may change with updates.