Xbox 360: How to use private chat on Xbox Live (911810)

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Voice communication with Xbox 360

You can use Xbox 360 to communicate with other users by using a private chat session or by using in-game voice communication.

Note Both a private chat session and in-game voice communication require the Xbox 360 Headset.

Private chat

Xbox 360 private chat lets you send and accept invitations to chat directly from the Xbox Dashboard. This feature works just like when you send or accept a game invitation.

Unlike general in-game voice communication, a chat session is a closed conversation between you and one other person. Your chat session partner can be playing the same game that you are, but he or she does not have to be. Your partner can be playing a different game, watching a DVD movie, or listening to music. Both of you may be just be sitting around wondering what to do next.

The Xbox 360 console can support up to four separate one-on-one chats across four chat channels, and let you participate in "public" in-game communication during Xbox Live-enabled multiplayer games at the same time.

You can switch between chat participants on the Private Chat screen, or page someone with whom you are chatting to prompt that person to switch back to you.

Note The paging function only works after a chat session is already in progress. To initiate a private chat from your Xbox 360 console, follow these steps:

1. Verify that voice communication is enabled in the Privacy Settings area and in the Family Settings area in the Xbox Dashboard.
   • To determine whether voice communication is enabled in the Privacy Settings area, follow these steps:
     1. Sign in to your gamer profile, and then select Edit Gamer Profile.
     2. Select Privacy Settings, and then select Communications to determine whether voice communication is enabled.
   • To determine whether voice communication is enabled in the Family Settings area, follow these steps:
     1. If there is a child profile on the console, sign in to the child profile. If there is no child profile on the console, you do not have to enable voice communication in the Family Settings area.
     2. Select Xbox Live Controls, and then select Communications to determine whether voice communication is enabled.
2. Attach the Xbox 360 Headset to the console.
3. Press the Xbox Guide button.
4. In the Xbox Guide, select Private Chat.
5. Select an available Chat Channel, select Enter Gamertag, and then enter the gamertag of the person with whom you want to chat. Alternatively, you can select a gamertag from your friends list.
6. Select Send Invite.

The person who you invite will have five minutes to accept your invitation. After five minutes, the system assumes the other party is unavailable and cancels the invitation. If this is the case, you can send another invitation later.

Note If you or another recipient declines a chat invitation, the cancellation does not appear to the sender. The sender is not informed whether the invitation was declined or if it expired.

In-game voice communication

All Xbox Live-enabled games that support multiplayer gaming also support in-game voice communication. You do not have to enable any feature in the Dashboard. You just have to attach the headset to the console. This means that you can taunt opponents, strategize with teammates, groan in despair, and exult with a war cry all in real time. If other players are obnoxious with extreme trash talk or other inappropriate behavior, you can mute the player and continue gaming.

To enable in-game voice communication on your Xbox 360 console, follow these steps:

1. Verify that voice communication is enabled in the Privacy Settings area and in the Family Settings area in the Xbox Dashboard.
   • To determine whether voice communication is enabled in the Privacy Settings area, follow these steps:
     1. Sign in to your gamer profile, and then select Edit Gamer Profile.
     2. Select Privacy Settings, and then select Communications to determine whether voice communication is enabled.
        
        Note If you are a minor, talk this over with your parent or your adult guardian.
   • To determine whether voice communication is enabled in the Family Settings area, follow these steps:
     1. If there is a child profile on the console, sign in to the child profile. If there is no child profile on the console, you do not have to enable voice communication in the Family Settings area.
     2. Select Xbox Live Controls, and then select Communications to determine whether voice communication is enabled.
2. Attach the headset to the console.
3. Start an Xbox Live-enabled game.

For a list of all the Xbox Live multiplayer-enabled games for Xbox 360, visit the following Web site: In the Advanced Search area of the games catalog, select the Xbox 360 check box and the Xbox Live Multiplayer Enabled check box, and then click Search.