Either because you are having technical problems or because for example, you want to erase all your data before selling the console, there are many reasons why you might need to reset your Xbox console to factory settings. In this article, we are going to tell you how you can easily do it regardless of the Xbox model you have (which is why the Xbox One X and S and the new Xbox Series X and S are included).
Before you start you should keep in mind that resetting your Xbox console to factory settings will delete all your accounts, saved games, settings, screenshots, and everything else. Everything that is not synchronized with your Xbox Live account will be irretrievably lost, so before proceeding with the reset we recommend you make sure that you have the account synchronized and that you make a backup copy of the data that you do not want to lose.
Return your console to factory settings
Microsoft releases new software updates for their consoles on a regular basis, so before you start make sure you've updated your console to the latest version available. This is done by navigating to Settings -> System -> Updates and following the wizard that will guide you through the automatic update process.
With the console on, press the Xbox button on the controller to access the menu. Navigate to Settings -> System -> Console Information. At this moment you will see precise information about your console, including its serial number and others.
Within this option, on the left side you will see that you have an option called "Reset console", and after clicking on it you will see three options.
The third option is Cancel, and it goes without saying that this will cancel the process of resetting the Xbox, but let's see what the other two options do:
- If you intend to sell the console then you will want to completely remove any information about yourself, so the first option (Reset and delete everything) would be the option you should choose. This will erase all data from the Xbox One X / S or Series X / S and restore the console to factory settings, leaving it as it was when you just bought it.
- If, on the other hand, you want to restore the console to factory settings because it is giving you problems but you are going to continue using it, the option in the middle (Reset but save games and applications) can be a good alternative. This resets the Xbox's operating system but leaves your installed programs and games intact so you don't have to download them again.
Depending on which option you select, your Xbox will begin to erase the data and restore all settings to factory settings. Remember that if you decide to reset your Xbox, this can take a long time, especially if you had many games and applications installed.
If your Xbox does not work, you can reset it with a pen drive
It is possible that your console is giving you problems and that you cannot even access its operating system, but if so, do not despair because you can also reset it without having to access it. You will need, yes, a pen drive of at least 4 GB capacity and a PC with an Internet connection to do so.
Prepare the pen drive
The first thing you should do is connect a minimum 4 GB USB pen drive to your PC, and format it in NTFS format (this is necessary for it to work on the Xbox since in fact most pen drives are formatted in FAT 32). To do this, connect the pen drive, go to Computer, right-click on it and select Format. In the window that opens select NTFS under the "File system" drop-down.
Once you have the pen drive formatted in NTFS, you must download the file "Restore to Factory Default" from the official Xbox website. You will download a compressed ZIP file that contains everything you need to restore your console, so what you must do is unzip the contents of the said ZIP file on your pen drive, so that the folder called $ SystemUpdate and its content remain at the root of your pen drive.
Prepare your console
There are some things that you should keep in mind, although it seems obvious, before connecting the pen drive to your Xbox. First, disconnect the network cable if you were using a wired Internet connection (if you were connecting the console via WiFi you can skip this step). Second, make sure the console is completely off (and not in sleep mode) by pressing and holding the Power button on the console for 10 seconds. Once it's off, unplug the power cord and wait about 30 seconds before plugging it back in (this ensures that the capacitors in your power supply are drained of power).
Reset your Xbox console with the pen drive
Now, after disconnecting the cable, waiting, and reconnecting it, you can connect the pen drive that we have prepared before in one of the USB ports of the console. Now, physically on the console, you must press and hold the EJECT and BIND buttons ("pairing, is the button we press to synchronize the controllers to the console") at the same time and, with both pressed, press the Xbox button on the console without releasing them. Press and hold the EJECT and BIND buttons for at least 15 more seconds.
At this point, you should hear the console power-up sound twice, a few seconds apart. When you hear them you can release the buttons, and you just have to wait for the console to start. Once it does, you should see a setup wizard appear, which means that you have successfully reset your Xbox console so you can now remove the pen drive and start configuring the console as if you just bought it (you probably have need to resynchronize the controller).
Note: If after 15 seconds of pressing the buttons you have not heard the start-up sound of the console, it means that the process has failed. Repeat the steps we have described for you again and make sure you have done it correctly.
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