So, you’ve got a shiny Xbox Series X hooked up to your 4K TV, you've downloaded the latest version of Ubisoft’s rhythmic powerhouse, and now you’re standing in your living room feeling kinda confused. Where do you put the camera? Honestly, if you grew up with the Xbox 360 or even the early Xbox One days, your first instinct is probably to look for that sleek black motion-sensing bar. You might even have one buried in a closet somewhere under a pile of tangled HDMI cables.
Stop digging.
The biggest hurdle for anyone trying to figure out how to play Just Dance on Xbox Series X is realizing that the hardware landscape has shifted beneath our feet. Microsoft officially killed off the Kinect years ago. The Series X doesn't even have the proprietary port for it. While you can technically use an adapter for older consoles, the Series X OS doesn't support the camera for gameplay purposes in new titles. It's a bummer, I know. But the good news is that you actually have everything you need to start dancing right in your pocket.
The Phone is the New Sensor
Basically, Ubisoft pivoted. Instead of relying on expensive, niche hardware like the Kinect or the PlayStation Camera, they turned to the one thing everyone owns: a smartphone. To play the modern versions of the game—specifically anything from Just Dance 2023 Edition, 2024, or 2025—you’re going to use the Just Dance Controller app.
It’s free. You download it on iOS or Android, and it turns your phone’s internal gyroscope and accelerometer into a motion tracker. You hold the phone in your right hand, follow the icons on the screen, and the app sends your movement data to the Xbox over your local Wi-Fi network. It’s surprisingly accurate, though it does feel a little precarious when you’re doing a high-energy routine to a Dua Lipa track.
One thing people get wrong constantly: you don't need a controller to navigate the menus once the app is linked. Your phone screen becomes a touchpad. It’s a bit weird at first, but it saves you from constantly picking up and putting down your Xbox controller between songs.
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Setting Up the Connection Without the Headache
Network issues are the absolute worst part of this setup. For your Xbox to "see" your phone, they have to be on the exact same SSID. If your router has a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz band with different names, and your Xbox is wired while your phone is on the 5GHz Wi-Fi, they might not talk to each other.
Make sure your phone isn't running a VPN. I spent forty minutes once trying to figure out why my console wouldn't pair, only to realize my phone’s "Always-on VPN" was masking it from the local network. Turn it off. Open the game on your Series X, open the app on your phone, and enter the pairing code displayed on your TV.
What About the Kinect? (The Hard Truth)
I see people on Reddit all the time asking if they can buy an adapter to make the Kinect work on a Series X for Just Dance.
The short answer is: No.
Even if you buy the rare and overpriced Xbox Kinect Adapter, the Xbox Series X firmware simply does not support the Kinect for motion tracking in games. The hardware might get power, and the IR lights might blink, but the game won't recognize it. If you are a Kinect purist who hates holding a phone while dancing, your only real option is to keep an old Xbox One or Xbox One X hooked up specifically for Just Dance. The older "Legacy" versions of the game (like Just Dance 2022 and earlier) still support the camera on those older machines, but the Series X has moved on.
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It’s a hardware limitation that isn't going away. Microsoft’s focus with the Series X was raw power and backwards compatibility for standard controllers, not niche peripherals.
Safety and the "Phone-Flying-Into-The-TV" Problem
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Holding a $1,000 iPhone 15 or a Samsung Galaxy while flailing your arms around is a recipe for a broken screen.
You’ve seen the Wii Remote horror stories. Just Dance is no different. Since most phones don't come with wrist straps, you have a few "pro-tip" options:
- The Sock Method: It’s exactly what it sounds like. Put your phone in a tight-fitting athletic sock and grip the fabric. It adds friction.
- PopSockets: If you have one of these on your phone, use it. Sliding your fingers around the base gives you a much more secure grip than just palming the glass edges.
- Dedicated Wrist Straps: You can actually buy phone cases with built-in lanyards. If you're planning on playing Just Dance+ for exercise every morning, this is a $15 investment that will save you a $300 repair bill.
Just Dance+ vs. Just Dance Unlimited
When you’re playing on a Series X, you’re likely playing the "all-in-one" platform version of the game. Ubisoft changed the business model. Instead of a new disc every year, it’s now more like a live-service app.
Just Dance Unlimited was the subscription service for the older games. On the Series X (for versions 2023 and newer), it’s now called Just Dance+.
It’s a subtle name change but a huge distinction. If you had a subscription to Unlimited on your Xbox One, it does not carry over to Just Dance+ on the Series X. You’ll get a free trial when you buy the game, but after that, you’re paying a monthly or yearly fee to access the massive library of 500+ songs. Without the subscription, you’re limited to the 40 or so tracks that come with your specific "edition" purchase.
Optimizing Your Series X for the Best Experience
The Series X is a beast, but Just Dance is a streaming-heavy game. Most of the song previews and many of the tracks themselves (especially in the new interface) are streamed from Ubisoft’s servers rather than being fully installed on your SSD.
If you notice stuttering or the video quality dropping to a blurry mess during a song, it’s not your console. It’s your internet.
Go into the settings menu in the game and look for the option to Download Songs. If you have enough space on that internal Seagate or Western Digital expansion card, download your favorite playlists. This eliminates buffering mid-dance. It makes the game feel much more like a premium console experience and less like a YouTube video that’s struggling to load.
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Also, check your TV’s latency. The Series X usually triggers "Game Mode" automatically via ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), but if it doesn't, you'll feel a disconnect between your movement and the scoring. In a game where timing is everything, even a 50ms delay will turn a "Perfect" into a "Good."
Multiplayer: How Many Phones Can You Connect?
The Series X can handle up to six players at once. No, you don't need six Xbox controllers. You just need six people with the app on their phones.
Each person joins the "room" by entering the code. It’s actually a great party trick. Most people are hesitant to play until they realize they don't have to learn a complex controller layout; they just have to hold their phone and mirror the person on the screen.
Dealing with the Subscription Confusion
One of the most frustrating things for Series X owners is the "Edition" system. You’ll see Just Dance 2024 and Just Dance 2025 on the Xbox Store.
Think of these as "Song Packs" rather than entirely different games. They all live within the same "Just Dance" launcher on your dashboard. If you buy the 2025 Edition, it simply unlocks those specific songs within the main app. If you then subscribe to Just Dance+, you get everything else. It’s a bit convoluted compared to the old days of just popping in a disc, but it keeps all your progress and high scores in one place regardless of which year's songs you're playing.
Actionable Next Steps for New Players
To get the most out of your session on the Series X, follow this specific workflow:
- Hardwire your Xbox: If possible, use an Ethernet cable. Since the game streams high-definition video for every dance, a stable connection prevents those annoying "Connection Lost" pop-ups that boot you back to the menu.
- Prep your phone: Charge it to at least 20%. The app uses the screen and the sensors constantly, which drains the battery faster than you’d think. Turn off "Auto-Lock" so the screen doesn't go dark mid-routine.
- Clear your floor space: The Kinect used to need a wide field of view to see your feet. The phone doesn't care about your feet—it only tracks your right hand. However, you still need about 6x6 feet of space so you don't punch a lamp or trip over a coffee table while doing the more "extreme" routines.
- Calibrate the audio: If you use a soundbar or a wireless headset, there might be audio lag. Use the "Audio Offset" tool in the game settings to sync the music beats with the visual prompts on the screen.
The Series X version of Just Dance is technically the most stable and visually impressive version of the game ever made. Once you get past the "where is the camera?" hurdle and embrace the smartphone-as-a-controller reality, it's a seamless experience. Just hold on tight to that phone. Seriously. Use a wrist strap.