Unlike Sony’s PlayStation, Xbox tends to freeze or crash unexpectedly sometimes. This can be frustrating, but there’s a simple solution called a hard reset or a power cycle. This is a useful fix for many common problems in Microsoft’s console. If you’re wondering how to hard reset an Xbox Series X and how to hard reset an Xbox Series S, or if you have an older generation console and want to know how to hard reset an Xbox One, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s a guide on how to hard reset an Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One.
How to Hard Reset an Xbox Series X
If your Xbox Series X has frozen or become unresponsive, a hard reset can help. Follow these steps:
- Hold the Xbox power button on the console for about 10 seconds until it shuts down completely.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- Press the Xbox button on the console or controller to turn it back on.
If you don’t see the green Xbox logo splash screen and go straight to the dashboard, you might not have held the power button long enough. Make sure to hold it for at least 10 seconds. If needed, unplug the power cable, wait another 10 seconds, and then plug it back in before turning the console on again.
How to Hard Reset an Xbox Series S
The steps to hard reset an Xbox Series S are similar to those for the Xbox Series X:
- Hold the Xbox power button on the console for about 10 seconds until it shuts down completely.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- Press the Xbox button on the console or controller to turn it back on.
As with the Xbox Series X, make sure to hold the button long enough to fully reset the system.
How to Hard Reset an Xbox One
To hard reset an Xbox One, follow these steps:
- Hold the Xbox power button on the front of the console for about 10 seconds until it turns off.
- Unplug the power cable from the back of the Xbox.
- Wait for at least 10 seconds.
- Plug the power cable back in.
- Press the Xbox button on the console to turn it back on.
This process helps clear the system cache and can resolve many common issues.
How to Restart an Xbox Series X
If your Xbox Series X is working but you want to restart it, there are two ways to do this through the menus:
Restart via Power Center
- Hold the Xbox button on the controller to open the Power Center.
- Select “Restart console.”
- Choose “Restart.”
Restart via Guide
- Press the Xbox button on the controller to open the Guide.
- Go to “Profile & system” > “Settings” > “General” > “Power mode & start-up.”
- Select “Restart now.”
Knowing how to hard reset an Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One will hopefully resolve whatever issues you’re facing. It’s a quick and easy fix for crashes and freezes. Keep in mind that none of these methods will erase your games or personal data, so you can perform them without worrying about losing anything.
