Reset Xbox One: How to reset your console

If your console is no longer working properly, you can reset the Xbox One. Even if you sell the console, you should perform the reset to delete all personal data.

Reset Xbox One – Load factory settings

When you reset your Xbox One, all data will be deleted. However, if required, you can specify during the process that apps and games are not deleted. This option is especially worthwhile if you want to reset the console for technical reasons.

• Turn on the Xbox One and press the Xbox button on the controller on the home screen.
• Select “Settings” under “Profile & System”.
• Now navigate to the category “System” and then “Console Info”.
• Decide on the “Reset console” option and choose between “Reset and remove everything” and “Reset and keep my games & apps”.
• Finally, the Xbox One will reset itself to factory settings.
• The process may take a few minutes. Do not disconnect the console from the power supply during this time.

Xbox One reset via USB stick

If you can no longer operate the console as usual and therefore can no longer access the settings, you can also reset the Xbox via USB stick.

• The first thing you need is an empty USB stick with at least 4 GB of storage space. You must format this USB stick in the NTFS file system. Usually USB sticks use the FAT32 file system, but the Xbox only recognises NTFS.

• Download the following reset file from Microsoft. The download of the ZIP file will start automatically.

• Now copy the folder “$SystemUpdate” from the ZIP file to the empty USB stick.

• Disconnect the Xbox One from the power and also remove the network cable, if present.

• Wait 30 seconds, insert the USB flash drive into the console and reconnect the power.

• Now press and hold the pairing button on the left side of the Xbox One and the eject button on the front, then press the Xbox button.

• Hold down the pairing and eject button for another 10 to 15 seconds.

• Do not release the two buttons until you have heard the two switch-on tones. If you do not hear the tones, start again at step 4.

• Wait a moment for the console to start up, this can sometimes take several minutes.
• Once you are in the setup menu, you can remove the USB stick and follow the further steps to reset the Xbox One to the factory settings.