How to clean your Xbox Series X

Knowing how to clean your Xbox Series X on the outside, inside, and on the fan will help to keep it in good condition and running smoothly. It's important to remember that, no matter how clean and dust free we keep our homes, dust build-up on your tech is inevitable. That means your Xbox Series X will accumulate plenty of dust in its lifetime, which can cause problems down the line. It's therefore very important that you store your console well but also keep it clean and as dust-free as possible.

If the console is getting louder than usual, that might be sign that dust is causing heat dissipation issues and the fan is working harder to keep things relatively cool. Given the great upcoming Xbox Series X games on the horizon, you'll want your Xbox Series X working as efficiently as the day you bought it. However you end up cleaning your console, always start by disconnecting it from the power and placing it on a hard stable surface. If you're wondering what to do next, here's how to clean your Xbox Series X, inside and out.

Basic Xbox Series X upkeep

Quick steps:

• Before cleaning your Xbox Series X, make sure you have disconnected it from mains power.
• Place your Xbox Series X on a hard, stable surface. 
• Gently clean externally with soft lint-free cloth or with disinfectant wipes.
• To disinfect your Xbox Series X use isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution at 70% or less.
• Clean every 3 to 6 months

External Xbox Series X clean guide

The official guidance from Microsoft is that for general upkeep, only external cleaning should be performed, and that either a soft lint-free cloth dampened with a small amount of mild soap and water, or pre-moistened disinfectant wipes. Repeating this every 3-6 months is also recommended. 

If you're looking to disinfect your console as well as cleaning it, Microsoft advises using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution at 70% or less concentration. 

Again, remember to disconnect your console from the mains completely before going near it with any cleaning materials.

How to remove dust from your Xbox Series X

If your Xbox Series X making more noise than normal, that might be down to a build up of dust in the vents and around the fan. Removing this build-up can help with reducing this noise and making sure the console stays clean. After making sure the console is switched off and disconnected from the mains, use a low-power vacuum cleaner or compressed air to gently remove the dust buildup. 

Once you have a nice dust free console, it's worth taking a moment to think about where your Xbox lives – make sure it has plenty of space around the console. In the official recommendations, Microsoft advises not placing the Xbox Series X in a confined space, to avoid heat, and soft surfaces. Your Xbox Series X needs the space to breathe, basically. 

How to clean your Xbox Series X

Quick steps:

• Before cleaning your Xbox Series X make sure you have disconnected from power.
• Place your Xbox Series X on a hard, stable surface. 
• Peel back the large sticker and small cover from the rear of the console. 
• Use a T8 screwdriver to remove screws and take off the back plate.
• Compressed air and microfibre cloth to remove dust and dirt.
• Replace back plate and screws. 

Internal Xbox Series X clean guide:

In its official guidance, Microsoft recommends that you only give your Xbox Series X an external clean. However, if you really want to get in there and make sure everything is in tip-top shape you may want to consider an Xbox Series X internal clean. Now, it's worth mentioning that (so long as you don't break anything and are careful) this shouldn't void your warranty. Although if you're unsure about what you're doing, an external clean will usually get the job done. 

Thankfully, getting inside of your Xbox Series X isn't too tough. Before you start, you'll need a T8 screwdriver – this is a special electronics screwdriver with a 6 pointed star tip, so not something you'll find in a basic tool box.

Ensure your console is turned off and disconnected from the power before you start, and make sure the console is placed on a clean hard surface as well before attempting an internal clean. 

Peel back the large sticker from the back of the console to reveal one of the screws, and the small black oval sticker by the HDMI port to reveal the other. 

Use your T8 screwdriver to remove these screws, and remember to put them in a safe place. Once these are off, you can lift away the back plate of the console. 

Now you can carefully use compressed air to remove dust/dirt buildup, the fan is right at the top of the console near the array of green holes. You can also use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any stubborn bits that the compressed air doesn't shift. 

Once you're all cleaned up, reattach the back plate until you hear it click, get those two screws back in with your T8 screwdriver, and plug your console back into the mains. You'll be ready to jump back into Halo Infinite or Forza Horizon 5 again in no time. 

Official Xbox Device Service

If your Xbox Series X is overheating and shuts down even though it looks clean and has plenty of ventilation space, you can request a Device Service directly from Xbox. 

If you're not confident in taking apart your console yourself to fully clean, and who can blame you, this might be the option for you.