How Do I Factory Reset My Xbox?
Whether you are going to trade or sell your Xbox console, you need to make sure you don't leave any personal information stored on your console. You can complete a factory reset on your Xbox through the console, or you can use a USB drive and complete the process using your PC and Xbox console.
Xbox is a leading name in gaming platforms with approximately 100 million gamers using the system monthly worldwide. As gamers upgrade their systems, they may wish to trade in or sell their old consoles, and they want to make sure they don't leave any personally identifying information on their console. If you are thinking of selling or trading your Xbox, you may need to wipe the console memory by doing a factory reset. How do you factory reset your Xbox? You can get assistance by contacting Xbox customer support here, and below are steps to resetting your Xbox.
Factory Reset Your Xbox Console
You can reset your Xbox on the console or by using a USB drive/computer to restore your device to factory settings.
Resetting from the Console
To reset your Xbox from the console, follow these steps:
- Turn on your Xbox.
- Open the guide by pressing the Xbox button.
- Select "Profile & system."
- Go into settings and open system.
- Select "Console info."
- Select "Reset Mode" to reset your console. You will be given three options. Choose the one that best meets your needs:
- Reset and Remove Everything: this option will factory reset your console.
- Reset and Keep Games and Apps: This is mainly used when troubleshooting issues with the console.
- Cancel: This backs you out of the reset process without changing anything on your console.
- Once you make your reset selection, the Xbox will go through the reset process.
Resetting Using PC and Console Together
If you are resetting the Xbox console using a USB, follow these steps:
Initial Step (On Computer)
To use the USB on the computer to reset your Xbox, complete the steps below. You will need a Windows based PC with a USB drive and internet connection and a USB drive with 4 GB of available space or more, and the space must be formatted as NTFS.
- Insert the USB drive into the port on your PC.
- From your Xbox account on your PC, select the reset file and download it to your USB drive labeled "Restore Factory Defaults."
- Select "Save" to download a zip file to your USB drive.
- To unzip the files, click on "Extract All" from the menu that appears.
- Choose the reset file from the options: "$SystemUpdate."
- Remove the USB from your computer.
Next Steps (On Console)
- Unplug your Xbox from the network if it is connected through a wired network setup.
- Power down your Xbox and unplug the power source and wait 30 seconds.
- Plug the power source back into your Xbox.
- Insert the USB into the USB port on your console.
- Press and hold the "Pair" and "Eject" buttons on the front of the console, and then hit the Xbox button.
- Hold the "Pair" and "Eject" buttons approximately 15 additional seconds.
- You should hear two power up sounds.
- After the second power up sound, you can release the "Pair" and "Eject" buttons.
- After the Xbox restarts, remove the USB drive.
- You will then see the digital setup experience. This will guide you through the reset process.
Resetting your Xbox can help you sell or trade it with confidence that your information has been protected. For more information or assistance, contact Xbox customer support here.
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