How to Perform a System Update on the Xbox 360

Introduction

The Xbox 360 console may need to be updated periodically to enable new features, fix known issues and bugs and for you to access the Xbox Live service. Here are some of the known issues that the latest update can fix:

• Dashboard themes not appearing


• Missing avatars


• Kinect Sensor not working. (The green or red sensor light is flashing)

The update is free. You’re not required to do an update but you need to perform it if you want to use Xbox Live features and go online. Some games will also require you to do an update before you can play them. Updates are permanent and you can’t go back to the older version.

How to Update

Through Xbox Live

This method will require you to have a working internet connection. To connect your console to the internet, please consult this article.



1. Press the Guide Button on your controller, go to Settings

2. Select System Settings then Network Settings



3. Select Wired Network if your console is connected to the router via LAN cable or select the name of your Wireless Network.



4. Select Test Xbox Live Connection.



5. Once the tests complete successfully, choose Yes when prompted to update the console software.

If you’re getting connection-related errors, please refer to this article.

If your update did not install successfully, go here.

Install from Game Disc

If you haven’t connected to Xbox Live in a while and you put in a new game disc, you’ll be prompted to update using the update data that’s included in the game you purchased. Take note that this update data may or may not be latest, depending on your console’s last software update and what’s currently in the Microsoft servers.



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Install from a USB Drive

If your console can’t connect to the internet, you can download the update data using your computer, copy it to a USB flash drive and install the update using it.

Reminder: The USB flash drive must be using a FAT32 file system. You can change its file system by formatting it.

1. Download the update file.
2. Save the file to your computer.
3. Find the zip file and unzip it.
4. Plug your USB flash drive. Copy the contents of the zip file to your drive’s root directory
5. Safely remove the flash drive from your PC
6. Plug the flash drive to your console and restart it.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions. Your system may restart again automatically to complete the update.

Reminder: It is recommended to use a spare USB flash drive since you’ll be copying the update files in the root directory of the drive. Update files are considerably small so even a small capacity USB flash drive should be enough to accommodate the files.

Install from a CD or DVD

If your console can’t connect to the internet or you don’t have a USB flash drive, you can download the update data using your computer, burn it to a blank CD or DVD disc and install the update using it.
1. Download the update file.
2. Save the file to your computer.
3. Find the zip file and unzip it.
4. Insert a blank CD or DVD to your PC. You can use the default Windows application to burn the disc or use third-party disc-burning software.
5. Copy the update files to the disc and burn it.
6. After the burning process is complete, eject the disc from the PC and put it in your console
7. Start the console and wait for the disc to be read. Your system may restart again automatically to complete the update.

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