I've had my Xbox One Series S since 2019, and it was working perfectly until 2023 when I started facing issues. By 2024, it became completely unresponsive; hitting the power button had no effect, my controller wouldn't connect, and it wouldn't respond to HDMI input. Even when I tried to power it off, it would make the shutdown chirp but stay on. I managed to get it working again briefly, but now it's lagging badly. I tried to power it off, but it wouldn't shut down, so I had to unplug it. Now, it won't connect to HDMI at all, and I'm stuck. If the solution is to get a new console, please don't suggest that!
2 Answers
It sounds like you might be dealing with a power issue or possibly a failing chip inside the console. I recommend you try draining the power completely: unplug the power cord, hold down the power button for 30 seconds, and leave it unplugged for about 10 minutes. Make sure to plug it back in directly to a wall outlet, not a power strip.
It might also be a sign that the thermal paste inside is worn out, which is a common issue with these consoles. While I haven't worked with the One S specifically, I've taken apart the One X, and it’s relatively straightforward if you’re careful. Just be cautious around the power button ribbon; being too forceful can damage it.
When it does turn on, I get a screen that tells me to remove everything and suggests an offline update via USB, but it always stops midway and I end up back at that same screen.
I forgot to mention that the power button on mine is broken too. My dad tried to clean it and messed it up, so now I have to use the controller to turn it on. So I wonder if that makes it harder to reset.