How to safely clean your Xbox One

When you're playing Minecraft® against your friends on Xbox One®, the last thing you're thinking about is the dust and dirt on your console. But properly cleaning your Xbox One is the best way to care for it—and doing so helps ensure your system doesn't break down due to dust buildup and damage.

At Asurion, our experts help millions of customers (and counting) get the most out of their devices, whether it's resetting a console (link) or performing the proper maintenance. Because when tech breaks, we fix it. Here are our tips for how to clean your Xbox One console, controllers, and discs before it's game over.

What to use to clean your Xbox

To start the cleaning process, you'll need to gather a few materials. Here's what Asurion Experts recommend:

• A can of compressed air
• A soft-bristled brush, like a toothbrush, paintbrush, or dusting brush
• A soft microfiber cloth
• A vacuum with a handheld attachment or hose
• Rubbing alcohol or mild soap and water

What not to use to clean your Xbox

• Wire brushes
• Disinfectant wipes
• Harsh liquid cleaners like bleach (even when used carefully, the moisture can get into the console's ventilation system and cause damage)

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Can dust break an Xbox One?

If you don't clean your Xbox regularly, dust, dirt, hair, and debris can get into your console and cause it to overheat and malfunction. Internal components like your disc drive or cooling fan can also suffer damage when dust accumulation blocks the air vents.

How do I clean dust from an Xbox One without opening it?

Once you have the necessary items, it's easy to clean your gaming system and keep it looking great—and you don't even need to know how to open and clean an Xbox One to do so. Neither Microsoft® nor our experts advise taking your console apart because it does not have a removable faceplate. Here's what to do instead:

How to clean an Xbox One

1. Unplug your console from the outlet and remove its power cable.
2. Use the microfiber cloth (you can dampen it with rubbing alcohol or mild soap and water) to wipe down the entire surface and exterior of your Xbox. Do circular motions (think Karate Kid) to buff out fingerprints, smudges, and dirt.
3. Loosen the dust in and around the console's ports, vents, and openings with the soft-bristled brush. You can also use the can of compressed air to blow away dust in these areas, but be sure to do only short bursts.
4. Grab your vacuum and hold the handheld attachment or hose near the console to remove any remaining dust in the console's vents and ports.
5. Use the microfiber cloth to go over the Xbox's surface one more time in case any dust has settled on top of it.

How do I clean the fan in my Xbox One?

If you notice your console's fan getting loud, it may be because of dust buildup, which makes it harder for the fan to rotate and do its job. The best thing to do to keep your fan working properly is to keep the air vents cleaned out. 

To help keep your Xbox One fan clean:

• Use a can of compressed air to blast dust and dirt out of the air vents. 
• Once you've cleaned the vents, be sure to position your Xbox somewhere with good airflow to assist with cooling.
• Clean your Xbox One console every three to six months to make sure it works like it should. 
• Give your Xbox the high ground—place it somewhere off the floor and in the open rather than on a rug or inside a cabinet—to prevent heavy dust buildup. And keep it away from pets and small children that can cause messes or damage.

If cleaning out the vents doesn't do the trick, we recommend calling in professional help to clean your Xbox One fan as it will require opening your console, which could easily lead to damage.

How to clean Xbox One controllers

The hard work is done, and now all that's left to clean are your gaming accessories. Unlike your console, you can use disinfectant wipes on Xbox wireless or adaptive controllers (just not on the Elite edition). You can also use rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth. It's simple:

1. Disconnect and turn off your controller by pressing the Xbox button for 5–10 seconds.
2. Use a disinfectant wipe or apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a microfiber cloth and wipe both analog sticks, especially at the base. Be sure to move each stick around as you clean.
3. Wait for the alcohol to completely dry on your controller before using it.

How to clean Xbox One discs

The last thing to do is make sure your Xbox One discs and disc drive are properly clean. If they're dirty, it can cause your console to have trouble reading discs or recognizing games. Follow these steps to clear out any dirt and grime:

How to clean an Xbox One disc drive

Use the microfiber cloth to wipe down the area around the disc drive and get rid of any dirt, hair, or debris. Then use the soft-bristled brush to gently clean around the opening (or disc drive tray) or the can of compressed air to blow out any hard-to-reach particles.

How to clean residue off an Xbox disc

Use the microfiber cloth to wipe down both sides of the disc, especially the underside. You can add a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the cloth to buff out sticky spots, but be sure to let the disc completely dry before re-inserting it into your Xbox.

Clean the power brick

Don’t forget to show some love to the power brick. If you’re using an Xbox One with an external power brick, dust can build up and block airflow, leading to overheating. Give it a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth and use compressed air to clean out the vents—it’s an easy way to keep your console running smoothly.

That's it! Once you've cleaned your Xbox One console, controllers, and discs, you can get back to enjoying the games you love.