Ready to give up on your Xbox Series S because it keeps displaying overheating warnings and automatically shutting down during final boss fights? Well, don’t get ready to say goodbye just yet — there are solutions to this frustrating problem.
You can keep your Xbox Series S cool by placing it on an open, uncluttered table, or by mounting it to a wall. Make sure all ventilation openings are clear and avoid placing the console on a soft surface or near a heat source. Shutting down your Xbox overnight can help prevent overheating as well.
Let’s look at why your Xbox keeps overheating, how hot it can actually get, how to keep the console cool, and whether you can leave it on overnight. With all of this useful information, you’ll be all set to enjoy nothing less than the best gaming experience.
Why Does Your Xbox Series S Keep Overheating?
As is the case with most computers, gaming consoles like the Xbox Series S (on Amazon) use a fan to maintain an optimal, safe temperature. Still, it’s important to note that the temperature of your console will rise or fall according to the application or game that you’re playing.
Your Xbox Series S is most likely to overheat because of dust and poor ventilation. Dust enters your console through the cooling fan and clogs the components located inside.
It’s essential to clean your Xbox regularly, as too much dust can lead to overheating and irrevocable damage to the GPU and processor.
Along with dust and poor ventilation, there are a few other potential reasons behind an overheating Xbox Series S, including:
- High environmental temperature
- Dried up thermal paste
- Dust buildup around exhaust grills
- Lack of routine maintenance
- Damaged or faulty cooling fan
- Blocked airflow
- Console is covered by a heavy fabric
- Exposure to direct sunlight
- Blocked ventilation fan
How Hot Does an Xbox Series S Get?
The temperature of an Xbox One S depends a lot on its setup, so let’s take a look at a few different situations. To provide you with an accurate temperature reading, all tests were conducted with a Fluke 62 Max+ IR Thermometer and while playing the graphically-demanding Watch Dogs 2.
On the Table/a Flat Surface (Ideal Situation)
Placing the console on an uncluttered table resulted in a starting temperature of 80.8˚F. After half an hour, the temperature rose to approximately 101.4˚F, and after an hour it reached a temperature of around 102˚F.
This test gave us a good idea about how hot an Xbox One S would get under ideal circumstances.
Wall-Mounted
Mounting the Xbox One S on a wall achieved a starting temperature of around 83˚F. After half an hour, the temperature rose to 102˚F, after which it remained steady. In fact, the temperature remained the same, even at the one-hour mark.
This test indicates that the temperatures of a wall-mounted Xbox and of one placed on an open table are approximately the same, so you can choose the location that’s more convenient for you.
Behind the TV
The starting temperature of the console was around 81˚F, but it rose to 106.4˚F after 30 minutes. The temperature stabilized at the one-hour mark and maintained a temperature of 106˚F.
Inside the Media Cabinet
The console achieved a starting temperature of 79˚F, which is lower than the starting point of all other tests. After half an hour, the temperature rose to 102.8˚F. The Xbox heated up further at the one-hour mark, reaching a temperature of 106.4˚F.
It’s important to note that the temperature did not stabilize in this test. In fact, it’s highly likely that the temperature would have continued to increase if we had continued playing.
How Do You Stop Your Xbox Series S From Overheating?
If your Xbox overheats and automatically shuts down, you might need to change its placement or remove any items that might be blocking its vents.
There are a few things that can help stop your Xbox Series S from overheating. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Place your Xbox on a flat, stable surface.
- Place your console in a cool, well-ventilated place that doesn’t receive any direct heat.
- Do not place your Xbox on subwoofers or speakers.
- Keep your console in a clean, uncluttered space. Avoid putting any objects under, on, or right next to your Xbox. It’s also advisable to avoid putting objects on the top right of the console, as this may block its vents and lead to overheating.
- Don’t place the power supply or Xbox on a sofa, bed, or any other soft, unstable surface that may block ventilation.
- Keep all ventilation openings of the console clear. Even something small and insignificant, such as a disc case, might obstruct the airflow.
- Don’t place the power supply or Xbox near a heat source, like a heat register, amplifier, radiator, or amplifier. Placing the console near extremely hot items can result in irreparable damage.
- Avoid dusty environments, as they can reduce thermal performance.
If your console keeps overheating and shutting down, even after you free all the clutter and ensure no vents are blocked, you might need to send your Xbox in for service. Another option is to look into an aftermarket cooling device like the YUANHOT Dual Purpose Cooling Fan (on Amazon) which will help things, but is more of a bandaid to keep the console working well a bit longer.
If the Xbox is already dusty and overheating, then the cooling fan will delay having to do something about it, but not solve the problem entirely.
Can You Leave Your Xbox Series S on Overnight?
You shouldn’t leave your Xbox Series S on overnight, as it can shorten its lifespan and damage it irrevocably. Your Xbox generates heat when it’s turned on and cools down once you turn it off. By leaving the console on overnight after using it throughout the day, you increase the risk of overheating significantly.
Overheating damages the components located inside your console. Leaving the console on overnight overworks its processor as well, which can lead to a reduced lifespan for your Xbox.
However, if you do decide to leave your Xbox on overnight, make sure you keep it on a cooling pad or in a well-ventilated area. It’s also advisable to use the “Instant On” setting when you want to upgrade its software or download a new game overnight.
Turning off your console can help conserve energy as well. It’s also important to note that leaving your Xbox on overnight will negatively affect your gaming experience the next day.
An overheating Xbox will shut down automatically after a couple of minutes. It may also display alerts and warnings of decreased performance on the screen, enter a low-power state, or turn off completely.
If you’re asleep and miss these alerts, you may wake up to a damaged console. Repairing the Xbox Series S is not an easy task, and costs a lot of time and money. In fact, overheating can sometimes damage your console to a point where you’ll have to buy a completely new console to continue your gaming journey.