The Xbox 360 console power button blinks red

The light in the center of your Xbox 360 console power button is blinking red.

You might also see the following message on the screen:

A blinking red light on the power button means that your console doesn’t have enough ventilation. The red light will continue to blink until the console cools down.

To fix this issue, let your console cool down by shutting it off if it hasn’t already done so automatically. Then wait for the red light on the power button to stop blinking before turning the console back on.

When you turn on the console, you might see a message explaining why it shut down and steps you can take to prevent the problem in the future.

Turn off your console and move it to an open, well-ventilated area, away from all other electronic devices. Then turn the console back on.

Tips for positioning your Xbox 360 console

• Do not put the console in an enclosed space. Put it in an open area with lots of ventilation.
• Do not stack other electronic devices on top of, underneath, or against the sides of your console.
• Make sure the console and its power supply are on a hard surface. Do not put the console on something soft (such as a bed, sofa, or rug).
• Position the console away from heat sources, such as ventilation openings on televisions and electronic devices. Also, keep the console away from heating vents and direct sunlight.

If your console continues to shut down because there’s not enough ventilation, even though it’s in a cool, well-ventilated location, your console might need to be repaired. See Getting your Xbox console or Kinect sensor serviced.