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Two red lights on an original Xbox 360 console

Solutions

Two lights flash red if the original Xbox 360 console is overheating. Try the following solutions:

Solution 1: Move your console

  1. Turn off your Xbox 360 console.
  2. To prevent Xbox 360 overheating, move your console to an open, well-ventilated area, away from other electronic devices.
Good ventilation Poor ventilation
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Tips for positioning your Xbox 360 console
  • Don't put your console in an enclosed space. Put your console in an open area with lots of ventilation.
  • Don't stack other electronic devices on top of or underneath your console.
  • Make sure your console and its power supply are on a hard surface. Don't put your console on something soft (like a bed, sofa, or rug).
  • Keep your console away from heat sources, such as ventilation openings on televisions and electronic devices. Also, keep your console away from heating vents and direct sunlight.
  1. Turn on your console.

If your Xbox 360 console still has two red lights around the power button flash, try the next solution.

Solution 2: Let the console cool down

  1. Turn off your console.
  2. Wait one hour for the console to cool down.
  3. Turn on your console.

Note After turning on the console, you might see a message on the screen confirming that the console was shut down due to overheating. The message will say:

"Your Xbox 360 console is designed to automatically shut down to protect it from insufficient ventilation"

The message will also contain information about ventilation and console placement.

Press A on your controller to close this message.

If two lights around the power button of your console still flash red, try the next solution.

Solution 3: Request a repair

If moving your console to a cool, well-ventilated location did not solve the problem; your original Xbox 360 console needs to be repaired at our service center. Start the repair process online.

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