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How to Fix Update Issues on a Xbox 360

Authored by:
Support.com Tech Pro Team
This Guided Path® was written and reviewed by Support.com’s Tech Pro team. With decades of experience, our Tech Pros are passionate about making technology work for you. We love feedback! Let us know what you think about this Guided Path® by rating it at the end.

Introduction

Keeping your Xbox 360 up-to-date is important, it allows you to play your games and keep your console safe when online. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting problems you may have with updates.

Xbox 360

1 Verify Server Status

  1. On your computer, smartphone, or tablet, visit https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-live-status.
    Xbox Live Status web page.
  2. Under Services, make sure Xbox Live Core Services and Purchase and Content Usage show as Normal.
    Xbox Live Status web page highlighting the current Service status.
  3. If you are having problem with a particular game or app, look under the Games and Apps section of the page, to be sure those parts of Xbox Live are not having problems.
    Xbox Live Status web page highlighting the Games and Apps service statuses.

? Are the services you want to use showing normal?

  1. Yes
  2. No

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Keeping your Xbox 360 up-to-date is important, it allows you to play your games and keep your console safe when online. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting problems you may have with updates.

Xbox 360
  1. On your computer, smartphone, or tablet, visit https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-live-status.
    Xbox Live Status web page.
  2. Under Services, make sure Xbox Live Core Services and Purchase and Content Usage show as Normal.
    Xbox Live Status web page highlighting the current Service status.
  3. If you are having problem with a particular game or app, look under the Games and Apps section of the page, to be sure those parts of Xbox Live are not having problems.
    Xbox Live Status web page highlighting the Games and Apps service statuses.
  1. On your computer, smartphone, or tablet, visit https://enforcement.xbox.com/Enforcement/ShowEnforcements.
  2. Sign in with the same username (usually your e-mail address) and password you used on your Xbox.
    Xbox Live web site prompting for Sign-in.
  3. Make sure no warnings or other messages appear.
    Xbox Live enforcements website.

Reboot with the controller

  1. Press the Xbox Guide button on your controller.
    Xbox 360 controller with the Xbox guide button highlighted.
  2. Select Settings > Turn Off.
    Xbox 360 settings menu with turn off highlighted.
  3. Select Yes to confirm.
  4. Wait 30 seconds.
  5. Push the Power Button on the front of your console to turn it back on.

If this doesn't work, then continue with the next method.

Reboot with the console

  1. Push and hold the Power Button on the front of your console for about 10 seconds.
    Front of the Xbox 360 S console highlighting the power button.
  2. The console will turn off.
  3. Wait 30 seconds.
  4. Push the Power Button on the front of your console to turn it back on.

If this doesn't work, then continue with the next method.

System forced hard boot

  1. Push the Eject button next to the drive tray, and wait for the tray to open fully.
    Front of Xbox 360 S console highlighting the eject button.
  2. Remove any discs from the Xbox.
  3. Leave the drive tray open.
  4. With the drive tray still open, unplug the power cable from the wall.
  5. Gently, push the drive tray half-way back in.
  6. Wait 30 seconds.
  7. Plug the power cable back in.
  8. Push the Power Button on the front of your console to turn it back on.
  1. Go to Settings and select System.
    Settings menu with System selected. Screenshot.
  2. Select Network Settings.
    System Settings with Network Settings selected. Screenshot.
  3. Select your network from the list, it has a check mark in the corner.
    Network Settings with example network selected. Screenshot.
  4. Select Test Xbox LIVE Connection.
    Network Settings with Test Xbox LIVE Connection selected. Screenshot.

By testing your Xbox Live connection, your Xbox will automatically check for any system updates. If prompted, choose Yes to perform the update.

  1. Go to Settings and select System.
    Xbox 360 Settings menu highlighting the System icon.
  2. Select Storage.
    Xbox 360 System Settings menu highlighting the Storage option.
  3. This will show you what storage is currently available.
    Xbox 360 Storage Devices menu displaying all attached storage mediums your Xbox has available.
  1. From the Xbox dashboard screen, choose Settings > System.
    Xbox 360 Settings menu highlighting the System icon.
  2. Choose Storage.
    Xbox 360 System Settings screen highlighting the storage option.
  3. Highlight your Hard Drive or Memory Unit, then choose Device Options by pushing Y on your controller.
    Xbox 360 Storage Devices screen displaying the available storage mediums on your Xbox.
  4. Select Clear System Cache.
    Xbox 360 Device Options screen highlighting the Clear System Cache option.
  5. Select Yes to perform maintenance.

Some Xbox 360 consoles do not have a hard drive installed.

To check your Xbox for an installed hard drive:

  1. From the Xbox dashboard screen, select Settings > System.
    Xbox 360 Settings menu highlighting the System icon.
  2. Select Storage.
    Xbox 360 System Settings screen highlighting the Storage option.
  3. Look for an item called "Hard Drive".
    Xbox 360 Storage Devices screen, highlighting the Hard Drive option.

This step involves opening up parts of your Xbox 360. While safe, it is understandable if you are not comfortable with this. If you are not comfortable with opening up your console, you can safely skip this step.

There are 2 main versions of the Xbox 360; the original white version, and the newer black versions. Make sure you follow the instructions below for the version of the console you have.

Original Xbox 360 (white)
Xbox 360 console.

  1. Make sure your console is turned off.
  2. Push the release button at front of the 'hump' at the top of your console.
    Xbox 360 console, highlighting the hard drive eject button.
  3. Lift from the front, then pull up.
  4. Line the back of the drive up with the back of the drive bay.
    Removing the Xbox 360 hard drive. Illustration.
  5. Push down the front end of the hard drive till it clicks into place.
    Re-seating the Xbox 360 hard drive. Illustration.

Xbox 360 S or E Models

Xbox 360 S console. Xbox 360 E console.
  1. Make sure your console is turned off.
  2. Lay your console flat horizontally.
  3. Slide the release on the hard drive door toward the front of the console, then pull forward.
    Removing the hard drive access panel. Illustration.
  4. Pull the tab to unseat the hard drive.
    Removing the hard drive from the console. Illustration.
  5. Push the drive back in.
  6. Close the hard drive door.
  1. Go to Settings and select System.
    Settings menu with System selected. Screenshot.
  2. Select Network Settings.
    System Settings with Network Settings selected. Screenshot.
  3. Select your network from the list, it has a check mark in the corner.
    Network Settings with example network selected. Screenshot.
  4. Select Test Xbox LIVE Connection.
    Network Settings with Test Xbox LIVE Connection selected. Screenshot.

By testing your Xbox Live connection, your Xbox will automatically check for any system updates. If prompted, choose Yes to perform the update.

The next step requires that you use a computer to prepare a USB drive to download the update manually to apply it to your Xbox 360.
  1. On your computer, visit http://www.xbox.com/system-update-usb.
    Web browser navigating to the Xbox website. Screenshot.
  2. Save the file to your computer.
    Saving the update file to a computer. Screenshot.
  3. Open the file.
    Opening the downloaded file on the computer. Screenshot.
  4. Copy the $SystemUpdate folder to your USB drive.
    Copying the downloaded files to a flash drive. Screenshot.
  5. Safely eject the USB drive from your computer.
  6. Turn off your Xbox 360 console.
  7. Plug the USB drive into one of the USB ports on the front or back of your Xbox 360.
  8. Turn on your Xbox 360 console.
  9. The update will start automatically.

To uninstall apps or games:

  1. Open the Settings menu then select System.
    Xbox 360 Settings menu highlighting the System icon.
  2. Open Storage.
    Xbox 360 System Settings screen highlighting the Storage option.
  3. Select the hard drive that the app or game is installed on.
    Xbox 360 Storage Devices screen displaying the available storage devices on your Xbox.
  4. Select Games and Apps.
    Xbox 360 Hard Drive screen highlighting the Games and Apps option.
  5. Scroll up and down to choose. Select the app or game that you wish to remove.
  6. App data or game files will be shown. Scroll down until you see the item that has an "Installed Xbox 360 App/Game" description.
  7. Press A to open the operational commands, select Delete, then confirm.
    Xbox 360 game properties menu highlighting the Delete option.
  8. The App or Game is now deleted.
Show Me How

Clicking this button will open a new guide that will provide you with steps to resolve your issue.

Try again later when the services are back up.
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