Does your Xbox One keep freezing whenever you try playing a game? Other Xbox One users have also experienced console freezing from time to time. In some cases, this issue arrises frequently enough that you can’t enjoy your game. So how do you fix it?
There are several quick ways to fix an Xbox One that keeps freezing: First try force quitting the game and restarting the console. Next, consider clearing the cashe and freeing up storage space if you need to. As a last resort, a factory reset of the Xbox may be in order.
Let’s look at the various reaons why your Xbox One console keeps freezing and examine more quick fixes to help you solve this problem and get back in the game. This can be a really frustrating issue, but with some focus, you can figure it out in 10-15 minutes.
Why Is Your Xbox One Frozen?
If your Xbox One console keeps freezing and you’re not sure why. Here are four possible reasons.
Game Bugs
Some games cause your console to crash because of glitchy programming. These bugs can show up after a new game update, or when the console/game have had a lot of “uptime” or otherwise been on and running for awhile.
And if your Xbox only freezes when playing a particular game, it could indicate you have a game-related problem.
Xbox System Bugs
Your Xbox One console could experience minor bugs from time to time. These bugs can go away after some time, but restart the console if these minor bugs don’t correct themselves. Furthermore, apart from minor bugs, your Xbox One console may experience more serious software bugs that a simple reboot won’t resolve.
Most of the time, system updates are the cause of these glitches. You can fix major software bugs by installing new system updates and/or restarting the console. Lastly, all you have to do is connect to the internet and download the latest updates online.
Overheating
Your Xbox One can also freeze because of overheating. When your console freezes, the culprit could be overheating. Furthermore, ensuring that your Xbox One console and power unit has adequate ventilation is essential to avoid overheating.
Tools like this Cooling Fan for Xbox One (on Amazon) can add more cooling to your console, and these an be especially helpful if you’re forced to put your console on the carpet, or in an enclosed space like a cabinet. You can also use a wall mount (also on Amazon) to get your console up off the floor or out of the cabinet, if you’re trying to manage space issues in your setup.
Hardware Issues
In rare cases, faulty hardware is the direct cause of the Xbox One freezing. Hardware problems may arise if the Xbox has been exposed to excessive moisture, heat, or physical damage. Moreover, ensure you properly secure your console to reduce the likelihood of these hardware issues.
How Do You Fix Xbox One from Freezing?
If your Xbox One is constantly freezing, you’ll need to take a few steps to resolve the problem. Find out what you can do below.
Force Quit the Game
If your Xbox One console only freezes when playing a particular game, try to force quit the game and see if your console continues working normally. To force quit the game:
- First, click on the Xbox button on the controller to return to open the guide.
- Navigate to the icon of the buggy game, click on the Menu button on the controller, and tap on Quit.
Restart the Console
Restarting your Xbox One console is usually a quick fix for this issue. Here’s how to reboot your console:
- Press and hold the Xbox button on your controller to open the Power Center.
- Click on Restart console and select Restart.
If restarting your console doesn’t solve the issue, you need to power cycle the console. Here’s how to do so:
- Press and hold the Xbox button for ten seconds to turn off the console.
- Unplug the power cord and wait for two minutes.
- Lastly, plug the power cord back in and press the Xbox button on the controller or console to turn on the Xbox.
Clear the Local Saved Games
If the local save of a game is corrupt, it leads to issues like your console freezing. You need to delete the local save and re-sync the saved game to the cloud to solve this issue.
To delete the local saved games:
- First, click on the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Second, click My games & apps, select See all, and click Games.
- Choose the game title and click the Menu button on the Xbox controller.
- Click Manage game and navigate to Saved data.
- Select Delete all to remove the local save of the game.
Restart the Xbox One console once you’ve deleted the local save game. To restart the controller:
- Tap on the Xbox button to open the Power Center.
- Finally, click Restart console and restart the console.
Note that the Xbox One console will re-sync the saved games on the cloud after the Restart. Finally, play the game to check if the freezing issue persists.
Delete and Re-install the Game
If deleting the local saved game doesn’t fix this problem, you may need to delete and re-install the game. A buggy game can also be the reason your console keeps freezing. Hence, if you notice your console freezes whenever you load a game, you may need to uninstall and re-install the buggy game.
To uninstall your game:
- First, verify there isn’t a disc inside your console.
- Click on the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Navigate to My Games & Apps and select the game you wish to uninstall.
- Click on the Menu button and click Uninstall. Make sure to remove any saved data from the buggy game.
To re-install the game:
- Navigate to My Games & Apps.
- Go to the Ready to Install section and re-download the game you just uninstalled.
Once the download is complete, begin the game and verify if the freezing persists.
Delete and Re-install Your Xbox Profile
A corrupted Xbox profile may also be why your Xbox One keeps freezing or crashing issue.
To remove your Xbox profile:
- From the home screen, go to Settings and select All Settings.
- Click Remove accounts.
- Select the Xbox profile you want to remove and click Remove.
- Lastly, restart the Xbox One console.
To re-download your Xbox profile:
- Press the Xbox button to access the Xbox guide.
- Scroll down and click Add & manage.
- Lastly, click on Add new, enter your Microsoft account login details, and Sign in.
Check the Network Connection
A poor internet connection can also cause your Xbox to freeze, especially if you play online. Check your Xbox Live Connection to see if that’s why your Xbox One freezes.
To check your Xbox Live Connection:
- First, tap the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Navigate to System and select Settings.
- From the settings menu, click on General and select Network settings.
- Lastly, click on Test network connection.
Your Xbox console will connect to Xbox Live if the network test is successful.
Clean and Reposition the Console
Overheating may also cause your console to freeze. Properly inspect the console to see if dust and dirt block the vents. Use a can of compressed air to clear out dust and dirt from the console’s vents. Also, ensure you place your controller correctly with proper ventilation.
Furthermore, allow the console to cool down for about an hour. Turn off the Xbox and unplug it from the power source. However, if this issue persists, it could be due to hardware problems, and you may need to visit a repairer.
Conclusion
Try out these fixes to stop your Xbox One from freezing or crashing. To get the best results, carefully follow the steps discussed and ensure you don’t skip any.
However, if these fixes don’t work, the Xbox One console most likely has a hardware problem. We recommend contacting Microsoft support to set up an appointment with a repairer.