I’m looking for advice on my Xbox Series S, which keeps overheating and shutting down unexpectedly. I cleaned it out recently—there wasn’t much dust, but I thought it might help. Initially, it seemed to work better, but the issue came back. It shuts down again the day after I put it back together. I’ve already checked Google for tips like cleaning it and ensuring proper ventilation, but my fan seems to be functioning well. I’m considering upgrading the fan but only find regular replacements online. My Xbox sits on my dresser with plenty of space around it, and I’m in a basement, so I thought airflow might be an issue, but it’s actually quite breezy down there. I’ve read that external fans can worsen airflow, and leaving the case off is bad too. Is there anything else I can try before replacing it with a Series X?
2 Answers
It sounds like you’ve done a fair bit already, including cleaning and checking the fan. Given that you’ve reapplied thermal paste, which is great, it might still be an overheating issue due to the games you’re playing. Also, if it crashes while playing demanding titles, it could be software-related. Make sure your games are updated, and check if your Xbox needs firmware updates, too. Sometimes a simple refresh can work wonders.
What games are you running when this happens? Sometimes certain titles can put extra strain on the system. I ran into this issue with Call of Duty: Cold War; it crashed my Xbox just to avoid overheating. You might also want to consider reapplying thermal paste, which can help with heat dissipation. It’s a bit of a process, but there are some helpful videos online. Just keep in mind, if your console is still under warranty, it might be better to send it in than risk voiding it by opening it up yourself.
