A loud whooshing noise from your Xbox One fan can get very distracting and annoying as it restrains you from getting immersed in the game entirely. You may also be a little worried about fan noise: that can’t be good news, right?
A loud Xbox One fan noise could be caused by the console overheating due to a broken fan, blocked fan vents, or the Xbox struggling to support a demanding software. You can fix this issue by cleaning your console, replacing the fan (if it’s broken), or adding an aftermarket cooler.
Now that we know that this problem is routine and there are many ways to resolve it, let’s get into details about fixing the loud Xbox One fan and keeping it running quietly. Ultimately, you’ll want to know how to approach this, especially on an older console, to keep it up and running even longer!
Why Is Your Xbox One So Loud?
There are many reasons your Xbox One (on Amazon) gets so loud, but overheating is the most likely source.
The console is designed to monitor and regulate its temperature levels from getting too high and damaging its delicate interior parts.
When the Xbox One starts getting too hot, the fan runs quicker to cool it off, and in doing so, it makes a loud noise. Here is what causes your console to overheat and make the loud fan noise:
Poor Ventilation
Putting your Xbox One on a poorly ventilated shelf or cabinet could make it start heating up. The cabinet traps the hot air blown out by your console while also blocking the entry of cool air to refresh the Xbox.
Consequently, your console’s temperature will rise, and the fan will have to compensate by spinning quicker, and it will be really loud.
Software Problems
The Xbox One fan can get loud if you’re playing a very demanding game. Some of the newer games require powerful processors and graphic cards to run properly, and they could make your console heat up while struggling to meet those game requirements.
This triggers the fan to work harder and get louder.
Hardware Issues
The Xbox One can also make a loud fan noise due to hardware issues. If it came right off the box with this issue, it could be an error from the manufacturer, or it might have been dropped by the courier during shipping and damaged some internal parts.
Poor Maintenance
Poor maintenance is another cause of the loud Xbox One fan noise. After an extended period of not cleaning your console, dust and dirt build-up clogs the fan vent. The fan will have to labor even harder to get in cool air through the blocked vent.
How Do You Make Xbox One Quieter?
If you’re having issues with your Xbox One making loud fan noise, try out these solutions to make it quieter:
Make Sure the Fan is the Source of the Noise
You first need to confirm that the fan is the source of the noise before you start tampering with the interior components of the Xbox. A faulty power supply unit can also make the console noisy.
The simplest way to pinpoint where the loud sound comes from is by leaning closer to your Xbox and listening keenly. The fan could be the problem if you hear a whirring or whooshing noise. On the other hand, a buzzing noise can be due to a defective power supply unit.
Once you’ve verified that the fan is the culprit, you can try out the quick fixes below to get rid of the noise.
Move Your Xbox One To a Cooler Place
If your Xbox One regularly heats up, moving it to a cooler place can help prevent overheating. Take it to an open room with enough air circulation. You can place it on a table, stand, or a suitable shelf specially made for the Xbox console to avoid heat getting trapped and overworking the fans.
If you’re struggling to find the right spot for your console, be sure to consider a wall mount like this one (on Amazon) which can get your console off the floor or out of the cabinet without taking up any more valuable shelf space!
Clean Your Xbox One
The best way to fix a noisy Xbox One is by cleaning it frequently. By cleaning your console, you can stop dust and dirt build-up from clogging your fan vent. Once the console is spotless, the fan will work smoothly without getting loud and annoying.
Keep the following important tips in mind as you prepare to clean your console thoroughly:
- Don’t clean your Xbox One while it’s plugged in.
- Don’t open the console while cleaning it.
- Don’t use water to clean it.
Before kicking off the cleaning process, you’ll need to get the following supplies to make this job effortless:
- Can of compressed air
- Microfiber cloth
- Long pin
Now that you have all the supplies ready, let’s go over the steps for cleaning the Xbox One:
- Unplug your console from the power source to avoid getting electrocuted while cleaning it.
- Using the microfiber cloth, carefully wipe off dust, smudges, and dirt from your console’s surface.
- Use the can of compressed air (on Amazon) to blow short bursts into the fan vent and HDMI ports to easily eliminate dust and dirt that might have cluttered the console’s internal parts.
- While blowing into the fan vent, use the long pin to hold the fan in position. The fan won’t be spinning around, and you’ll be able to clean it easily.
- You can also use compressed air to blow out dust from the USB ports and disc tray.
- Use the microfiber cloth again to clean any dust that might have settled on the surface.
After cleaning your Xbox One, plug it into the power source and confirm if the fan is still loud.
Use the Xbox Thermal Paste (Advanced)
Thermal paste (on Amazon) is a silvery-gray paste that cools down the ECU of your Xbox One when you apply it. It coats the parts of the console that get used excessively and utilizes its cooling ability to prevent them from overheating.
The paste is relatively affordable, and you can easily apply it by following this tutorial video.
The thermal paste’s major downside is that it will eventually dry out and become ineffective, resulting in the Xbox overheating again, and the noise could get louder than before.
But be forewarned this is a rather involved fix that isn’t for the faint of heart. You’ll need to disassemble the console, and will void the warranty, but if you’re console is older and you’ve got nothing to lose that means you may want to try this out!
Replace the Noisy Fan
If the fan is still loud even after trying out all those solutions, replacing it can fix the issue successfully. You can manually replace your Xbox One fan by following these steps:
- Open your Xbox by cutting or peeling off the tamper-evident tape.
- Using a plastic tool, remove the plastic vent, then slide back and detach the small plastic tab reinforcing the front corner of the Xbox.
- There is a rigid plastic connecting both halves of the case. Insert the flat end of a spudger between them with a bit of force and let it stay still until you open the case entirely.
- Lodge a plastic opening tool between the cases to disconnect the clip over the rear vent.
- Keep moving the plastic opening tool along the posterior part of the Xbox One to detach the clips. Make sure the spudger is still in place and won’t fall off since the remaining clips can shut the case.
- Raise the upper case a bit to get into the front panel board, where you’ll notice a loop over the connector holding the plastic. Using tweezers, pull the cable out of the connector.
- Gently pull the speaker cable connector to detach it from the panel board, then disconnect the antenna cable afterward.
- Remove the two screws from the Wi-Fi board and lift it from the upper metal case.
- Now remove the eight screws from the upper metal case and lift the case, but don’t remove it.
- Disconnect the Wi-Fi cable interconnecting the upper metal case to the motherboard and remove the case. Detach the hard drive and data cables too from the motherboard.
- Pull out the hard drive tray, then disconnect the optical drive power and data cables from the motherboard.
- Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard, then use a plastic opening instrument to gently pry up the clip on the right, and repeat for the left clip.
- When there is a huge gap between the sink and the fan, lodge in the spudger and remove the fan.
You can also watch this tutorial video to get the hang of it.
Contact Xbox Customer Support
If the loud fan noise persists after trying out all of the suggested solutions, the issue could be more complicated.
Contact the Xbox support team for a repair or replacement of your console. If you have a warranty card, it could still be valid as long as you didn’t damage anything when you opened up your Xbox.
How to Keep Your Xbox Running Quietly?
The best way to keep your Xbox One running quietly is by giving it adequate air circulation and properly maintaining it to prevent dust build-up. Here is how to do it:
Keep It In a Spacious and Well Ventilated Location
If you want to place your console on a shelf or cabinet, make sure it is spacious and open to allow for proper circulation of cool air to refresh the interior parts of the console.
Use a Dustproof Cover
You can purchase a dustproof cover (on Amazon) for your Xbox One to keep it safe from dust and dirt that could clog up the fan vent and HDMI ports. When gaming, remove the cover to prevent your console from overheating.
What To Avoid Doing To a Noisy Xbox One?
You’ve probably come across many solutions for eliminating the loud Xbox One fan noise, and while most of them are helpful, some are very misleading and could land you with far worse complications. Here’s what not to do to your loud Xbox One:
Don’t Enclose Your Xbox in a Soundproof Box
The loud fan noise can get irritating, and you could be tempted to put the console in a soundproof box to clear out the noise.
Enclosing it in the soundproof box will get rid of the noise. However, the Xbox will overheat and go into overdrive since the fan will only be redirecting hot air back to the console.
Don’t Get an External Cooling Device
Most people think that adding an external cooling device will help refresh the overheating Xbox One, but this is further away from the truth.
To be blunt, most of these cooling devices are ineffective. Additionally, the external fans contribute to the overall noise in the room, which you were trying to avoid initially.