How to factory reset your Xbox One

If you're looking to sell your Xbox One® or are having a serious issue with it, resetting your console to its factory settings may be your best (and only) option. But there is more than one way to do so, and you don't want to risk losing important data.

At Asurion, our experts help millions of customers get the most out of their tech and resolve their game console repair problems. Here's their guide on how to factory reset your Xbox One, as well as some other ways to reboot it.

What does it mean to factory reset your Xbox One?

A factory reset will restore your console to its original settings. You may be wondering, “If I reset my Xbox One, will I lose everything?” Well, Microsoft® offers two ways to factory reset your device, so the answer depends on which one you select.

1. A partial factory reset

A partial factory reset will change your settings back to the default ones, reset the operating system, and delete files that might be causing issues. Microsoft recommends trying this option first because it won't affect the games and data saved on your console.

2. A full factory reset

A full factory reset will delete all your accounts, saved games, local game data, and settings changes, among other things. You should primarily use this option if you're selling or giving away your system.

If you're experiencing an issue with your system, there are a couple options you can try before attempting a factory reset: a soft reset or a hard reset. Both are simple and won't compromise any information saved on your console.

How to soft reset your Xbox One

1. Press the Xbox (power) button on your console to turn it off.
2. Wait a few seconds.
3. Press the Xbox button on your console to turn it back on.

How to hard reset your Xbox One

1. Press and hold the Xbox (power) button on your console for 10 seconds until it turns off.
2. Unplug the system and wait at least 10 seconds.
3. Plug it back in and press the Xbox button on your console to turn it on.

If neither of these Xbox reset methods or troubleshooting steps helped to solve your console problems, a factory reset will be your next step. 

How to factory reset your Xbox One console

You can factory reset your Xbox One two ways. The easiest one is right from the console. But if your Xbox isn't displaying a picture or you can't get to the Settings menu, you can also complete a factory reset using a USB flash drive. This method requires a PC with Windows® and a blank flash drive formatted as New Technology File System, or NTFS, with at least 4 GB of storage.

Before trying to complete any resets, connect to the Xbox network. That way you'll be able to back up your information to the cloud. As a reminder, a factory reset on your Xbox One will delete all your accounts, saved games, local game data, and settings changes, among other things.

Reset your Xbox One from the console

1. Turn the system on and press the Xbox button on the controller.
2. Select Profile & system > Settings > System > Console info.
3. Select Reset Console.
4. Choose the reset option you want: a) Reset and remove everything. This is a full reset and will remove all data from your Xbox or b) Reset and keep my games & apps. This is a partial reset that will not delete your games or game data.

Reset your Xbox One using a USB flash drive

Here's how to format your flash drive as NTFS. 

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. Follow this link to download the zipped reset file from Microsoft.
2. It should download automatically. If not, click Save on the popup window.
3. The file will be compressed. To unzip it, right-click the file and select Extract All.
4. Open the unzipped folder and copy the $SystemUpdate file.
5. In File Explorer, open the flash drive directory and paste the $SystemUpdate file into the root (main) directory. There shouldn't be any other files on the flash drive.
6. Remove the USB drive from the PC.

Now, you can transfer the reset file to your Xbox.

1. Disconnect the ethernet cable from your Xbox One if you're using a wired connection.
2. Turn off the console and unplug it from power.
3. Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
4. Plug the flash drive into the USB port on the front of the Xbox.
5. Press and hold both the Pair button and the Eject button on the console. Then press the Xbox button on the console. Note: On the All-Digital edition of the Xbox One, just hold the Pair button (it does not have an Eject button) before pressing the Xbox button.
6. Continue holding down the Pair and Eject buttons for 10–15 seconds.
7. Listen for two “power-on” sounds a few seconds apart. Once you hear them, release the Pair and Eject buttons. Note: If you don't hear two “power-on” sounds after 15 seconds, the process failed and you should restart from step 2.
8. Once the console restarts and the digital experience setup guide appears, remove the flash drive and follow the instructions to reset your Xbox One.