How to Factory Reset an Xbox Series X

Wiping Your Console for Resale or Troubleshooting

The Xbox Series X is a remarkably powerful gaming console, essentially functioning as a highly specialised Windows PC. However, just like any complex computer, it can occasionally run into deeply rooted software issues. If you are experiencing constant dashboard crashes, games refusing to launch, or severe network connectivity errors that a standard reboot cannot fix, a factory reset might be your only solution.

More importantly, if you are planning to sell your Xbox Series X, trade it in at a game store, or give it to a friend, you must perform a full factory reset. Your console stores your Microsoft account details, your saved credit card information for the Xbox Store, and all your personal game captures. Failing to wipe the console before handing it over gives the next owner complete access to your digital life and your wallet.

Microsoft offers two different types of factory resets for the Xbox Series X: a “soft” reset that keeps your downloaded games installed, and a “hard” reset that wipes the hard drive completely clean.

Before You Begin: Sync Your Saves

Unlike the older Xbox 360 days, you do not need to worry about manually backing up your saved games to a USB stick. Microsoft automatically uploads all your game saves to the Xbox Cloud in the background, provided the console is connected to the internet.

Before initiating a reset, ensure your Xbox is connected to Xbox Live for at least ten minutes to give it time to sync any recent save data. Once you sign into your new console (or back into this one after the reset), your saves will automatically download the next time you launch a game.

Method 1: Reset Using the Settings Menu

If your console is functioning well enough that you can navigate the dashboard and open menus, this is the easiest way to reset the system.

1. Turn on your Xbox Series X and press the glowing Xbox button in the centre of your controller to open the Guide.
2. Press the Right Bumper (RB) repeatedly to navigate to the Profile & system tab (the one with your profile picture).
3. Scroll down and select Settings.
4. In the Settings menu, navigate to the System tab on the left.
5. Select Console info on the right.
6. Select Reset console.

You will now be presented with a critical choice between two options:

• Reset and keep my games & apps (The “Soft” Reset): Choose this option if you are trying to fix a software bug but intend to keep the console. It resets the operating system and deletes potentially corrupted files, but it does not delete your massive 100GB game installations. This saves you days of redownloading titles.
• Reset and remove everything (The “Hard” Reset): Choose this option if you are selling or giving away the console. This acts as a true factory reset, deleting all games, all accounts, all save data, and wiping the internal SSD completely clean.

Once you make your selection, the console will restart. The process takes several minutes, and you will eventually see the initial setup screen, exactly as it appeared when you first took the console out of the box.

Method 2: Reset Using the Physical Buttons (Recovery Mode)

If your Xbox is suffering from the infamous “Black Screen of Death,” or if it is caught in a boot loop and you cannot access the Settings menu, you must force a reset using the console’s physical buttons to boot into the Xbox Troubleshooter.

1. Press and hold the Xbox button on the front of the console for about 10 seconds until the console turns off completely.
2. Unplug the power cable from the back of the console and wait 30 seconds.
3. Plug the power cable back in.
4. Press and hold the Pair button (the small circular button located on the front of the console next to the USB port) AND the Eject button simultaneously.
5. While holding those two buttons, press the Xbox button on the console once to turn it on.
6. Continue holding the Pair and Eject buttons for about 10 to 15 seconds. You will hear a second “power-up” chime.
7. Once you hear the second chime, release the Pair and Eject buttons.

The console will now boot into the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter screen. Use your controller (connected via a USB cable if it won’t connect wirelessly) to navigate the menu and select Reset this Xbox. You will be given the same two choices as before: “Keep games and apps” or “Remove everything.” Make your selection to wipe the system.