How to clean an Xbox Series X: top vent, bottom intake and controller

Step by step: how to clean an xbox series x

Safety first. Shut the console down fully (hold the Xbox button on the front for about 10 seconds, or use the shut down option) and unplug the power cable before cleaning. Never spray liquid onto or into it. Opening it is at your own risk; keep track of every screw and discharge static first.

1. 1

   Shut it down fully and unplug it

   Turn the console off completely rather than leaving it in sleep or standby, then unplug the power cable and every other cable. Let it cool for 10 minutes if you were just playing. Sleep mode keeps parts powered and the fan can still spin.

2. 2

   Lift it onto a table

   Move the console to a table with good light, standing upright. The Series X pulls air in through the bottom and blows it out through the big vent on top, so you need to reach both ends. Pick it up by the body, not the top grille.

3. 3

   Wipe the outside

   Wipe the matte case with a dry microfiber cloth. For fingerprints or grime, use a cloth barely dampened with water, then dry it right away. Skip household cleaners; they can leave shiny patches on the matte finish.

4. 4

   Clear the top vent

   Brush dust off the top grille with a soft, dry brush, holding a vacuum nozzle on low suction nearby to catch it. You will often see a ring of gray dust on the fan blades under the grille. Do not push the brush or nozzle down into the fan.

5. 5

   Clean the bottom intake and the stand

   Tip the console onto its side on a soft cloth and brush and vacuum the intake holes on the base and around the round stand. This is where pet hair and carpet fluff collect. Wipe the shelf it sits on before you set it back.

6. 6

   Blow out the side and rear vents and ports

   Use a dust blower or canned air in short bursts, can held upright, to clear the rear vents and ports. Blow dust out of the console rather than into it. Brush the USB, HDMI and power ports with a dry soft brush.

7. 7

   Clean the controller

   Remove the batteries or turn the controller off. Wipe it with a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol, use a cotton swab around the buttons, bumpers and sticks, and dry it. Never drip liquid into the buttons or the charging port.

8. 8

   Set it back up with open space

   Stand it back up on a hard surface with clear space above the top vent and room around the sides, plug it in and start a game. If the fan still sounds loud after a few minutes, dust is inside the console and the next section covers that.

How the Xbox Series X cools, and why placement matters

The Series X is built around one large fan on top that pulls cool air up through the console and pushes hot air out the top. Microsoft calls this design Parallel Cooling Architecture and says in its Xbox Series X|S technology glossary that the goal of cooling the console quietly and efficiently is what led to its vertical shape.

iFixit describes the same path: when upright, the top fan pulls air in from the bottom, through the heatsink, and out the top vent. That tells you where dust ends up and how to place it:

• Never put anything on top of the console; it blocks the exhaust.
• Keep it off the floor and off carpet, where it pulls in dust, dirt and hair from below.
• If it lives in a TV cabinet, open the door while you play or move it into open air.
• Lying it on its side is fine, but keep the side intake and top vent clear.

How much space is enough? Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S FAQ, as reported by Pure Xbox, says to leave at least 1.5 inches (about 4 cm) of clearance above the top of the console on an open media stand, whether it stands vertical or lies horizontal. It also says warm air coming out of the exhaust is normal and means the cooling is working.

Should you open an Xbox Series X to clean the fan?

Only if outside cleaning did not quiet it and you are comfortable with small screws. iFixit’s guide to opening and cleaning an Xbox Series X estimates 20 to 40 minutes. A sticker on the back hides one of the screws, the back panel comes off after removing two T8 Torx screws and unclipping it with a spudger, and the fan comes out after three more screws and its cable.

• Pick hair and dust clumps off the fan blades with tweezers and hold the blades still while you blow them clean.
• Blow dust out of both sides of the large heatsink fins with a dust blower.
• Wipe the inside of the back panel and the vent holes with a microfiber cloth.
• Keep each screw with its location; they are different lengths.

The sticker over the screw is a tamper-evident seal. If your console is still under warranty, contact Xbox Support before opening it, or let a repair shop do the inside cleaning.

What not to use on an Xbox

Avoid liquid in the vents and anything abrasive on the matte case. Gentle and dry is the rule for consoles.

• No sprays onto the console, and no dripping wipes.
• No strong solvents or household cleaners on the case or controller.
• No full-power shop vac pressed against the vents.
• No long blasts of canned air into the top fan, which can overspin it.

Cleaning a PlayStation too? See how to clean a PS5 and how to clean a PS4.

Mistakes to avoid

• Cleaning it in sleep mode instead of fully shut down and unplugged.
• Setting games, a headset or a decoration on the top vent.
• Keeping the console on carpet, where the bottom intake pulls in fluff.
• Pushing a vacuum nozzle or brush into the top fan.
• Spraying cleaner directly on the controller.