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Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement

What you need

Video Overview

  1. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the sticker: step 1, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the sticker: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Use blunt tweezers to peel off the sticker covering the right-side screw on the back of the console.

    • Before starting this guide: Turn off the device. Then, unplug any cables from the console.

  2. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the external screws: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T10 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 12.6 mm–long screws located on the back of the console.

  3. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Slide the upper case horizontally: step 3, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Slide the upper case horizontally: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • Rotate the console 90 degrees.

    • Pull the front of the upper plastic case horizontally toward the front of the console until it comes to a stop. This slides the clips out of the slots on the upper plastic case.

  4. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Lift the upper case off the lower case: step 4, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Lift the upper case off the lower case: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Rotate the console 90 degrees so that the back is facing you.

    • Lift up the left side of the upper plastic case (as viewed from the back of the console), stopping when it won’t lift any further.

  5. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • While continuing to hold the left side of the upper plastic case, push up on the right side to move the right-side screw boss out of the way.

    • If pushing up on the case doesn't work, try moving it in different directions until it can swing open.

    • Swing the upper plastic case open to 75 degrees.

  6. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Push the upper plastic case down and away from the console to remove it completely.

  7. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Disconnect the ribbon cable: step 7, image 1 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Disconnect the ribbon cable: step 7, image 2 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Disconnect the ribbon cable: step 7, image 3 of 3
    • Use the pointed end of a spudger, an opening tool, or your fingernail to flip down the small, hinged locking flap on the ribbon cable ZIF connector on the front circuit board.

  8. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Disconnect the ribbon cable: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Use blunt tweezers to pull the ribbon cable down out of the connector.

  9. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the front circuit board screws: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T8 Torx screwdriver to remove the three 13.3 mm screws securing the front circuit board to the upper metal case.

  10. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the front circuit board: step 10, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the front circuit board: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Pull the front circuit board straight out away from the upper metal case and set it aside.

    • Grip the board on either side of where it is plugged in to avoid bending and damaging it.

  11. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the upper metal case screws: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T10 Torx screwdriver to remove the six 47.7 mm screws securing the upper metal case to the lower plastic case.

    • Use a T8 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 7.5 mm screws securing the press connector to the upper metal case.

  12. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Detach the press connector: step 12, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Detach the press connector: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the press connector on the side opposite of the ribbon cable.

    • Use the spudger to lift the press connector up and away from the upper metal case.

    • Don't push the spudger all the way to the socket. Prying up the socket may damage it.

    • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

  13. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the lower plastic case: step 13, image 1 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the lower plastic case: step 13, image 2 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the lower plastic case: step 13, image 3 of 3
    • Flip the console over.

    • Hold on to the lower plastic case because it is no longer attached to the metal case.

    • Lift the lower plastic case up from the metal case and set it aside.

  14. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the lower metal case screws: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two T10 Torx screws securing the lower metal case:

    • One 7.7 mm screw

    • One 11.4 mm screw

  15. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the lower metal case: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the lower metal case up off the upper metal case and internal components.

    • The disc drive may lift up with the lower metal case. Hold it down during this step.

    • Set the lower metal case aside.

  16. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the screws holding the hard drive to the case: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Flip the console over.

    • The disc drive is only attached to the motherboard by two cable connectors. Hold the disc drive when flipping the console over to avoid damaging it.

    • Use a T10 Torx screwdriver to remove the four 11.4 mm screws securing the hard drive to the upper metal case.

  17. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Move the disc drive: step 17, image 1 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Move the disc drive: step 17, image 2 of 3 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Move the disc drive: step 17, image 3 of 3
    • Flip the console back over, keeping in mind the disc drive is loose.

    • Lift the disc drive up so that its metal tab is unhooked from the power supply.

    • Flip the disc drive over and place it on the power supply. The disc drive should end up facing the opposite direction it started in.

    • The disc drive is plugged into the motherboard. Avoid pulling and bending the cables more than necessary to prevent damage.

  18. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Unplug the bundled cable connector: step 18, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Unplug the bundled cable connector: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • Unplug the bundled cable connector connecting the hard drive to the motherboard by pulling directly upward.

  19. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Unplug the SATA cable: step 19, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Unplug the SATA cable: step 19, image 2 of 2
    • Unplug the SATA cable connecting the hard drive to the motherboard by pulling directly upward.

  20. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the hard drive: step 20, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the hard drive: step 20, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the hard drive assembly up out of the upper metal case.

    • When moving the hard drive, hold it by the sides to prevent damage.

  21. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Remove the mounting bracket: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • Flip the hard drive over so that the plastic mounting bracket is facing upward.

    • Use a T10 Torx screwdriver to remove the four 8.6 mm screws attaching the hard drive to the mounting bracket.

  22. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the mounting bracket off the hard drive.

  23. Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Unplug the hard drive connector: step 23, image 1 of 2 Xbox One X Hard Drive Replacement, Unplug the hard drive connector: step 23, image 2 of 2
    • Unplug the hard drive connector from the hard drive by pulling parallel to the length of the drive.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Xbox One X Answers community for help.

99 other people completed this guide.

Kyle Smith

Member since: 02/01/21

40,630 Reputation

123 Guides authored

20 Comments

If I buy a new hard drive off of amazon, how do I install the Xbox OS back on? The offline usb?

SilentWorkForce - Reply

The only way I found was to clone the disc sector-by-sector. I read online that you can expand it by making the “user content” partition larger.

Bryan Remely -

Do an offline update for xbox one x. I posted a link in another comment.

mike forrest -

Check out this video. It has a great step by step for putting the console into troubleshooting mode and downloading the correct software.

XBox One X SSD Upgrade - LFC#268 - YouTube

metric -

I read a post somewhere saying that if Microsoft detect non-standard hardware in your system you could be banned. Has anyone had any experience with this?

David Marques - Reply

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