Error 80072EF3 occurs when signing in to Xbox Live

You see the following error message and code when you try to sign in to Xbox Live on your Xbox 360 console:

Can't sign on to Xbox Live

80072EF3

This may mean there's a network connection issue or corrupted data on your console’s hard drive, or you have an outstanding balance on a subscription.

Solution 1: Power cycle (turn off and on) the console

Here's how:

1. On your controller, press and hold the Xbox Guide button  for 3 seconds.
2. From the on-screen menu, select Turn Off Console, and then press the A button .
3. Repeat step 1. Your console will turn on.

Solution 2: Check for and delete corrupted content

Here's how:

1. Press the Guide button  on your controller.
2. Go to Settings and select System Settings.
3. Select Storage.
4. Choose a storage location, and then press the A button  on your controller.
5. Choose Games and Apps, and then press the A button .
6. Scroll down and check for corrupted game save files. A corrupted file will be marked with a yellow exclamation point.
7. If you find a corrupted saved game file, delete it:
   1. Select the game, and then press the A button .
   2. Select Delete, and then press the A button .
   3. When prompted "This will permanently delete the selected content from your console. Are you sure you want to delete?", select Yes.

Solution 3: Clear the system cache

Clearing the system cache of possibly corrupted data can resolve problems. Here's how:

1. Press the Guide button  on your controller.
2. Go to Settings and select System Settings.
3. Select Storage.
4. Highlight any storage device, and then press the Y button  on your controller. (It doesn't matter which storage device you select; the cache will be cleared for all storage devices.)
5. Select Clear System Cache.
6. When prompted to confirm storage device maintenance, select Yes.

Solution 4: Pay any outstanding balance on your account

If you have a payment option tied to a subscription that has an outstanding balance, you'll have to settle the balance owed before you can make a purchase on your Xbox console.

Here’s how to pay your past-due balance online:

1. Sign in to the Services & subscriptions page with your Microsoft account credentials.
2. Find your past-due subscription in the list. The amount past due will be in red.
3. Select Pay now, and then follow the instructions to pay the balance due.

Note If your subscription is past due, adding a digital code will not settle the balance you owe. You’ll need to settle the outstanding balance using the steps above before redeeming your digital code.

Solution 5: Verify your Microsoft account security information

If you recently added security information to your Microsoft account, you may need to verify it. This verification process tells us that you—not someone trying to steal your account information—made the changes. See Verify the security information for your Microsoft account.

Solution 6: Delete and re-download the profile that’s stored on your Xbox console

To delete the profile that’s stored on your Xbox console:

1. Press the Guide button  on your controller.
2. Go to Settings and select System.
3. Select Storage.
4. Select All Devices.
5. Select Gamer Profiles.
6. Select the gamertag that you want to delete.
7. Select Delete.
8. Select Delete Profile Only. (This deletes the profile but leaves saved games and achievements.)

To download your profile:

1. Press the Guide button  on your controller.
2. Select Download Profile.
   Note If you don’t see a “Download Profile” notification, this probably means you’re signed in to your profile. Press the X button  to sign out.
3. Enter the Microsoft account that’s associated with your gamertag. If you don’t know your Microsoft account email address or password, see Microsoft account FAQ.
   Note If your account is an Xbox Live child account, you have to use the parent’s Microsoft account to download the profile.
4. Select the storage device for your profile (for example, Hard Drive). Your profile will begin downloading.
5. When the download is complete, you can choose whether to require a Microsoft account password to sign in to your profile. The Remember Password option is turned off by default, which means you’ll be prompted for your password when you sign in to your Xbox Live profile.

   Leave Remember Password unchecked if you want to be prompted for your Microsoft account password whenever you sign in to your profile on this console.

Solution 7: Troubleshoot network connection

For help with connection issues, see the Xbox 360 Connection Error Solution.