Xbox One Turns Itself Off

Xbox One Turns Itself Off

Jeff Suovanen and 6 contributors
Last updated on

If your Xbox One shuts off by itself, either in the middle of a game or shortly after powering it on, here are the most common causes and solutions. (If your Xbox One won't turn on at all, see the Xbox One Won't Turn On page instead.)

Before undertaking elaborate repair steps, try some basic troubleshooting steps before going deeper into the repair process.

  • Power Cycle your Console: Performing a power cycle should be the first step when troubleshooting any electronic device. Please turn off your Xbox One by unplugging it from the power source and wait at least 10 seconds before plugging it back in.
  • Check your Power Connection: Ensure the power cable is securely plugged into your Xbox One and the wall outlet. Try using a different power outlet to eliminate the possibility of a faulty outlet.
  • Check for Overheating: Verify that the Xbox One is not overheating. Ensure the vents are clear and there's proper airflow around the Console. Overheating can trigger automatic shutdowns to save the hardware from damage. If this is the case, check the Xbox One Overheating Troubleshooting Page.
  • Inspect the Power Supply: Check for any damage to the power supply cable or the power brick. Check the light on the power supply; if the light is solid white or orange, then the power supply is working correctly. If no light is present, unplug the supply and let it cool down for 20 minutes, then try plugging it back in; if it does not light up, you'll need to replace the power supply.

Causes

1

If your Xbox turns off unexpectedly after a period of inactivity, you may need to adjust the settings so that it does not turn off automatically:

1. Turn the Console on and select the Settings option.

2. Select Power & startup.

3. Go to the two last options. Turn off after and select your preferred period of inactivity before the Console automatically powers down.

2

Sometimes, out-of-date system files can cause issues with how your Xbox functions. Ensuring that your Xbox has the latest system updates is essential to keeping your Xbox's software functioning correctly.

  • Navigate to Settings > "System > Updates & downloads and check for available updates.
3

Occasionally, issues could occur when your System's files become corrupted. If this is the case, you must factory reset your Console.

Following these steps will reset your console, and will remove your local saved data. Be sure to back up your saved game data to an external storage drive.

Reset Console with System Settings

  1. Turn the System on and press the Xbox button on the controller.
  2. Select Profile & SystemSettings > System > Console info.
  3. Select Reset Console.
  4. Choose the reset option you want: The first option is to Reset and remove everything. This full reset will remove all data from your Xbox or Reset and keep my games & apps. This partial reset will not delete your games or game data (Good if you cannot back up your data).

Resetting your Console via USB Flash Drive

  1. Insert your USB drive into your PC.
  2. Open File Explorer.
  3. Right-click your USB drive in the left-hand window and click Format.
  4. In the File System menu, select NTFS.
  5. Click Start. Do not remove the USB drive.

Keep your USB drive plugged in, and follow these steps to get the reset file.

  1. Download the zipped recovery file from Microsoft.
  2. The file will be compressed once it is finished downloading. Extract All the file's contents.
  3. Open the unzipped folder and copy the $SystemUpdate file to the USB Drive.
  4. Remove the USB drive from the PC and plug it into your Xbox.
  5. Disconnect the ethernet cable from your Xbox One if you're using a wired connection.
  6. Please turn off the Console and disconnect the Console from Power.
  7. Please wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
  8. Plug the flash drive into the USB port on the front of the Xbox.
  9. Press and hold the Pair and Eject buttons on the Console. Then, the Xbox button is on the Console.
  10. Hold down the Pair and Eject buttons for 10–15 seconds.
  11. Listen for two power-on sounds a few seconds apart. Once you hear them, release the Pair and Eject buttons. If you don't hear two power-on sounds after 15 seconds, the process fails, and you should restart from step 6.
  12. Once the console restarts and the digital experience setup guide appears, remove the flash drive and follow the instructions to reset your Xbox One.
4

If all else fails, then your issue might be caused by a damaged internal component.

Bad Hard Drive

If your Console still turns on and then off shortly after, the hard drive may have failed.

  • You can test this by replacing the hard drive with a known working one or a new one if needed. It should then boot to a troubleshooting screen with an error code. You will then need to reinstall the OS.

Damaged Cooling Fan

Listen to your Console to see if your device's internal cooling fan is spinning. If you are unable to hear the fan, then there is a good chance that the fan is damaged and likely needs to be replaced.

Damaged Motherboard

While inspecting your Console's internals, you will want to inspect the motherboard for any damage. Minor defects in the motherboard can cause significant issues with your Console's performance.

  • Perform a thorough visual inspection of the Console's boards for any signs of burns or damaged components. If you observe any visible damage, such as burns or components that appear to be physically damaged, the affected board likely needs to be replaced. If there is damage to the board, you will need to replace the Motherboard and Disk Drive, as the two are paired components.

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