You recognise a broken Xbox power supply by a console that does nothing at all, that turns on briefly and drops out with a click, or that gives off a smell of burnt plastic. The power supply converts mains power into the voltages the console needs. If it fails, nothing works. At Blue Apple in Amsterdam customers sometimes ask whether it is the battery or the power supply. An Xbox has no battery; it is the power supply. This article explains how to recognise it and what you can do.
Blue Apple repairs Xbox consoles in Amsterdam. If you smell something burning, unplug it now and do not switch the console on again.
Which power supply does your Xbox have?
- Series X and Series S: the power supply is inside the console. You only have a power cable.
- Xbox One S and One X: also a built-in power supply.
- Original Xbox One: a separate power brick on the cable, with a light on it.
The original Xbox One power brick
- Light white or orange and steady: the brick works.
- Light off: no power to the brick, or the brick is broken. Try another socket and another wall cable.
- Light flashing orange: the brick is probably broken.
When testing, unplug the brick from the wall for a few minutes; it has a protection that resets.
Testing a built-in power supply
- Hold the Xbox button for ten seconds, unplug the cable from the console and the wall and wait a minute.
- Plug the cable back in firmly, straight into a wall socket.
- Try another socket and another cable of the same type.
- Press the button on the console itself.
If nothing happens, even with another cable, the built-in power supply is a likely cause. More steps in Xbox will not turn on.
Signs of a broken power supply
- No response at all, no light and no sound.
- A click inside and straight off again.
- The console switches off in heavy games while it is not hot.
- A buzzing or ticking sound from the power supply.
- A burning smell, or the console went off during a thunderstorm or power cut.
Causes
- A surge from a thunderstorm or a fault in the mains.
- Heat from dust or a poor spot. See Xbox overheating.
- Liquid, for example a knocked-over glass.
- Wear of components after years of use.
What not to do
- Do not open the power supply. It contains capacitors that can still hold a charge, even unplugged.
- Do not use a cheap separate power supply from an unknown source; the wrong voltage can damage the motherboard.
- Do not keep switching it on after a click or smell.
Protect your console
A power strip with surge protection helps with spikes in the mains. Unplug during heavy thunderstorms. Let the console stand free so the power supply does not get too hot.
After a power cut
If the power failed while the Xbox was on or in sleep mode and it does nothing afterwards, unplug it from the wall for a few minutes first. Sometimes the power supply protection needs to reset. If it still does not work after that, the power supply may have been damaged by the spike in the mains.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We measure the power supply, check whether the voltages are right and whether the motherboard is damaged. If only the power supply is broken, we replace it. If there is more damage, you hear that beforehand and you decide. See Xbox Series X power supply, Xbox One power supply or Xbox repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Xbox have a battery?
No, an Xbox runs on mains power only. Only the controller can have a rechargeable pack.
Are my games gone with a broken power supply?
No, the storage stays intact.
Can I use a power supply from another Xbox?
Only from exactly the same model. We always test it first.
