How to Use an Xbox 360

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Your Xbox 360 is a great entertainment centerpiece for your living room.

This guide will give you the basic ins and outs of using your game console.

Xbox 360

2. Play Disk Game

  1. Press the Eject button to open the disk tray.
Xbox 360 with Eject button highlighted.
  1. Place the disk in the tray.
  2. Press the Eject button again to close the tray.

Games on disk will automatically start when inserted.

3. Quit Game

  1. Press the Guide button on your Xbox controller.
Xbox 360 with Guide button highlighted.
  1. Press the Y button to select Xbox Home.
Xbox 360 controller with Y button highlighted.
  1. You will be prompted if you wish to exit your game. Select Yes.

4. Eject Disk

Hardware Button

  1. With the console on the Home screen, press the Eject button on your console.
Xbox 360 with Eject button highlighted.

Software Menu Choice

  1. Select the Home menu.
Xbox Menu with Home highlighted.
  1. Select the game tile.
Game tile highlighted.
  1. Press the Y button on your controller.
Xbox 360 controller with Y button highlighted.

Always store disks in their protective cases when not in use, to ensure they don't become scratched and unreadable by your console!

5. More Information

You can always review the full manual for your Xbox online. Visit support.xbox.com/en-US/browse/xbox-360 with your web browser.

6. Play Downloaded Game

  1. Press the Guide button to return to the Xbox menu.
Xbox 360 with Guide button highlighted.
  1. Select the Games menu.
Xbox Dashboard with Games highlighted.
  1. Select the My Games tile.
My Games tile.
  1. Select the game you wish to play.

If this was originally a disk-based game that you copied to your Xbox hard drive for faster loading times, you will be required to have the disk in the drive. 

 

7. Quit Game

  1. Press the Guide button on your Xbox controller.
Xbox 360 with Guide button highlighted.
  1. Press the Y button to select Xbox Home.
Xbox 360 controller with Y button highlighted.
  1. You will be prompted if you wish to exit your game. Select Yes.

8. Connect Controller

  1. Put batteries into your Xbox controller.
  2. Push the latch for the battery compartment.
Xbox 360 wireless controller highlighting the battery compartment release button
  1. Place the batteries into the compartment, making note of their polarity indicated by the picture on the battery holder.
Xbox 360 wireless controller battery compartment highlighting battery orientation.
  1. Clip your battery compartment back in.
  2. Press and Hold the center Xbox Guide button until the controller turns on.
Xbox 360 wireless controller, highlighting the guide button
  1. Push the Connect Button on your console.
Xbox console with the connect button highlighted
  1. Push the Connect Button on your controller.
Connect button highlighted on the Xbox controller
  1. The ring around the power button will flash, then stop when your controller is connected.
Xbox 360 S console highlighting the power button

9. Connect Bluetooth Headset

Xbox 360 console does not support Bluetooth functionality. Headsets cannot connect to the console using Bluetooth and must be connected wirelessly.

Charge your headset:

  1. Connect one end of the USB charging cable to your headset.
  2. Connect the other end to your console.
Xbox and headset showing the usb cable


  1. Turn on your console.
  2. The lights on the headset flash green while charging in Xbox mode, and flash blue while charging in Bluetooth mode. Once charging is complete, the light will stop flashing.

Connecting your headset:

  1. Turn on your console.
  2. Move the mode switch to Xbox (Green) on your wireless headset.
Xbox headset switch mode green


  1. Press the power button on the headset for two seconds. The lights will flash green.
Xbox headset on button


  1. After the headset plays the startup sound, press and hold the headset’s connect button for two seconds.
Xbox headset connect button


  1. Within 20 seconds of pressing the connect button, press and release connect button on your console.
Xbox consoles showing the connect button


  1. The lights flash green three times once your headset is connected to your console. Your headset will now automatically connect to your console whenever you turn on your headset in Xbox mode.

10. Play Media Disk

  1. Press the Eject button to open the disk tray.
Xbox 360 with Eject button highlighted.
  1. Place the disk in the tray.
  2. Press the Eject button again to close the tray.

Movies on disk will automatically start when inserted.

11. Eject Disk

Hardware Button

  1. With the console on the Home screen, press the Eject button on your console.
Xbox 360 with Eject button highlighted.

Software Menu Choice

  1. Select the Home menu.
Xbox Menu with Home highlighted.
  1. Select the game tile.
Game tile highlighted.
  1. Press the Y button on your controller.
Xbox 360 controller with Y button highlighted.

Always store disks in their protective cases when not in use, to ensure they don't become scratched and unreadable by your console!

12. Basic Setup for Your Xbox 360

We have a separate guide that will walk you through setting up your Xbox 360.

Show Me How

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