How to factory reset Xbox Series S or Series X

If you’ve encountered a glitch with your Xbox Series S™ or Series X™ and you’ve exhausted all other troubleshooting steps, a factory reset may be the next thing on your list to try to get your console working as it should again. The idea of completing a reset that big—that will delete all of your personal data—can be terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to help.

At uBreakiFix® by Asurion, we know tech. From fixing a console that won’t turn on to full-on device repairs, we’ve got what it takes to keep your tech connected. Here’s what you need to know about factory resetting your Xbox Series X or Series S. 

Why would I need to reset my Xbox?

While it’s not always a welcome process, a factory reset might be necessary to address various situations:

• Fixing software glitches or performance problems.
• Erasing your saved game data before handing it over to a new user.
• Start fresh by resetting the console to its original state.

How smart is your home?

Calculate your smart devices, bust common myths, and explore tips from your neighborhood tech experts.

Learn more

How to factory reset your Xbox Series S/X

We’ve gone over why you might need a factory reset. Let’s go over how to reset your Xbox.

Back up your data

Backing up ensures your game saves and settings won’t be lost and can be restored once your factory reset is complete, or restored onto a new console. Your Xbox saves your console’s data to Xbox Cloud storage so to sync successfully, your console has to have a connection to the internet. Once connected, follow these steps:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller. 
2. Select Profile & system > Settings > System > Back up & transfer > Back up my settings. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

Another option: you can also back up games and apps to an external drive.

Start the reset

After you’ve synced your games to Xbox Cloud and backed up your settings, you can get started on that factory reset for your Xbox Series S/X:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller.
2. Select Profile & system > Settings > System > Console info.
3. Select Reset console, choose Reset, and keep my games & apps, or Reset and remove everything.

Restore your data

After the reset, you can proceed to restoring your games and settings, or power off the console if you’re opting to give it away. 

When you start a game, your saved games will automatically sync from the cloud while connected to Wi-Fi. If you backed up to an external drive, connect the device to the console before you turn it on. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.