How to Safely Clean the Fan in Your Xbox Series X
A fan clogged up with dust and debris is one of the leading causes of console overheating. When your console overheats, it can cause a range of issues, such as graphical errors, performance drops, and in severe cases, crashing.
Unfortunately, the fan in your console collecting dust is a when, not an if. So if you would like to service your console yourself so your Xbox Series X can live on well into the future, here is how to get it back to tip-top condition.
How Often Should I Clean the Fan in My Xbox Series X?
Unlikecleaning your PS5 console, cleaning the fan in your Xbox Series X does involve opening the console and voiding the warranty. But on the other hand, not cleaning the fan in your Xbox Series X can also put your console at risk if it is causing it to overheat frequently. This puts you between a rock and a hard place when servicing your console yourself.
If you haven’t had any experience with this sort of thing, paying a professional to service your console might be safer. But cleaning your fan is a simple endeavor if you are confident in your abilities. However, you must be wary that you will void your console’s warranty.
Sometimes cleaning your Xbox Series X fan is necessary, but opening your console should be a last resort. There are plenty of other things you can try tofix your overheating Xbox Series X, and you should definitely make your way through that list first. But when all else fails, you need this guide to solve your overheating issues.
If you take regular care of your console and follow all the usual methods of preventing it from overheating, you should only have to open it up to clean your fan once a year, depending on how much you use your console and the conditions you keep it in.
Nevertheless, games likeC.O.D: Modern Warfare II have enough problems with crashing, so keeping your console clean is the easiest way to experience the best performance possible.
How Do I Clean My Xbox Series X Fan Without Damaging It?
If you have exhausted all the usual methods of treating your overheating console to no avail, you most likely have a clogged-up fan. When dust builds up in the rudders of the fan, it slows it down and stops it from being able to expel hot air from the inside of your system effectively. This essentially turns your console into a hotbox, and eventually, something has got to give. Unfortunately, that something is usually your Xbox.
If this is happening to you, you will need to get all that dust and dirt out of your fan, so it can start working properly again. To do so, you are going to need some supplies:
To begin, turn your console so the back faces you, and slowly peel back the small oval-shaped sticker at the bottom of the system. Underneath that sticker, you will find your first screw. Remove it with a T8 Torx Security Screwdriver. Then remove the larger sticker on the back of your console to access the second screw.
Those two screws are the only ones holding the backplate of your console down, so after they are removed, use your plastic prying tool to work the plate up. Start from the left and right bottom corners and slowly work your way up, applying even pressure to all sides until it releases to prevent damage to the casing. Once the tabs are up, slide the case down to remove it.
If there is dust on the inside of the backplate, remove it with a soft-bristled brush. The inside components of your Xbox Series X are all extremely delicate, so taking extra care to be as gentle as possible is highly recommended.
Don’t dust if there is dust on a certain part of your system. The last thing you want to do is damage your machine, so make sure you only remove dust from the parts where it is present and leave everything else untouched.
The fan is located right below the top of your console underneath the vent. Unplug it by delicately pulling on the white plug until it releases. You may want to use pliers or tweezers to grip the plug and pull it out. Never pull the plug by the wires.
Undo the three screws holding the fan in, and lift it out to assess the situation.
Taking your soft-bristled brush, dust off as much debris as you can from the fan. There is no need to use any liquid during this process, even rubbing alcohol.
Once your fan looks spick and span, gently place it back in the console, plug it back in by applying gentle downward pressure on the plug, and screwing the three screws back in with your T8 Torx Security Screwdriver. Then place the back cover back in its position, screw that back in, and put the stickers back on if you would like to. If they have lost some of their stick, use double-sided tape to put them back in place.
Give Your Xbox Series X a New Lease on Life by Keeping It Fresh and Clean
You have to service your car often, so why not your Xbox Series X? Cleaning your console’s fan is easy, but it requires a certain measure of care. Opening your console does void its warranty, so you must be careful to prevent long-lasting damage.
Make sure to use only the most gentle tools and the most delicate pressure possible, and avoid using any liquids like soapy water or rubbing alcohol. Doing so puts your system at unnecessary risk, and if any liquid was to get where it wasn’t supposed to go, your clogged fan could be the least of your worries.
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