Use the Xbox 360 Hard Drive Transfer Cable

If you've purchased a new Xbox 360 console, you can transfer everything – games, videos, music, saved games, gamertags and even your hard-won achievements – to your new console!

Note If you need to move only a small amount of content (16 GB or less), you can use a USB storage device to move the content to your new console. Find out more about using a USB storage device.

The Xbox 360 Transfer Cable can be purchased online from the Microsoft Store or from a local game retailer.

Important Use only the Xbox 360 Transfer Cable to move your content. Microsoft does not license, support or guarantee the functioning of cables made by other manufacturers.

To transfer content to your new console, you need the transfer cable and the latest console software. The easiest way to update your console software is to connect to Xbox LIVE. Learn how to update your console software.

Once you have the latest console software and an Xbox 360 Transfer Cable, you're ready to transfer content.

Note Starting in October 2011, the Xbox 360 Transfer Cable can be used to transfer content between any two Xbox 360 Hard Drives (Xbox 360 S Hard Drives or original Xbox 360 Hard Drives).

1. Turn off both consoles.
2. Remove the hard drive from your old Xbox 360 console. Find out how to remove a console’s hard drive.

3. Connect the transfer cable to the hard drive and plug the other end of the transfer cable into a USB port on the destination console (as shown below).

   When both ends of the cable are connected, you’re ready to transfer.

4. Turn on your new console. If you have the latest console software installed, the following message will appear:

5. Choose Yes, transfer to console.

6. Select Start to begin the content transfer.

The transfer may take several hours to complete, depending on the amount of content stored on your old hard drive. Once the transfer is complete, sign in to Xbox LIVE and enjoy your new Xbox 360 console.

After your content is transferred to the new console, some content might still be associated with your old Xbox 360 console. Don't worry – you'll still be able to play the content on your new console as long as you are signed in to Xbox LIVE using the gamertag that originally purchased the content.

However, if you want to use all of your transferred content without signing in to Xbox LIVE or with a different gamertag, you'll need to transfer the content licences to your new console. Here’s how:

1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE using the gamertag that you used to purchase the content.
2. Go to Settings and then select Account.
3. Go to Your Billing Options, and then select Licence Transfer.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to transfer the content licences.