What to do when your Xbox Series X|S keeps freezing

Your Xbox Series X™ or Series S™ keeps freezing—maybe during a game, on the home screen, or while launching an app. It’s frustrating, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing it.

At Asurion, we know gaming because many of us are gamers ourselves. Our experts help customers with issues like this every day, and we’ve got some easy tips to try. If you need help along the way, stop by your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion for a free device diagnostic.

Restart your console

If your console suddenly freezes, try a reboot.

1. Press and hold the Xbox button on your controller
2. Choose Restart console
3. If the system is completely frozen, press and hold the Power button on the console for 10 seconds to force a shutdown
4. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on

Check for system and game updates

Outdated software can lead to freezing.

1. Press the Xbox button > go to Settings
2. Select System > Updates
3. If an update is available, follow the steps to install it
4. Check your games for updates under My games & apps

Free up storage space

If your console is close to full, it may slow down or freeze.

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage devices
2. See how much space is left
3. Delete unused games or move them to an external drive

Clear the console cache

A full cache can cause slowdowns and glitches.

1. Turn off your console
2. Unplug the power cable
3. Wait 60 seconds
4. Plug it back in and turn on the console

Try a different game or app

If freezing happens only with one title, the issue might be with that game. Try launching another game or app. If others work fine, uninstall and reinstall the problematic game

Perform a soft reset

This keeps your data but resets corrupted system files.

1. Go to Settings > System > Console info
2. Select Reset console
3. Choose Reset and keep my games & apps

Consider a hardware issue

If your Xbox Series X|S keeps freezing even after trying everything else, it may have a hardware problem. Visit your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for a free device diagnostic. Our experts can check for deeper issues and help with a fix.

FAQ

Why is my Xbox Series X|S freezing?

It could be caused by outdated software, low storage, corrupted files, or overheating. Start with a system reboot and check for updates.

How do I clear my Xbox Series X|S cache?

Turn off the console completely, unplug the power cord, wait a minute, then plug it back in and power it on.

Can too many games cause my Xbox to freeze?

If your internal storage is nearly full, yes. Try deleting unused games or saving them to an external drive.

What if one game keeps freezing?

Uninstall and reinstall that game. If others run fine, the issue is likely limited to that title.