How to perform an Xbox offline system update

💡 Need to know

• No FAT32 here: Reformat the USB drive to NTFS before starting.
• Get the right update: Download the OSU1 file from Xbox® support.
• Use the troubleshooter: Enter the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter to start the installation.

---

The update bar hasn’t moved in an hour. Or your Xbox® won’t connect to Wi-Fi at all, so the update never even starts. Either way, you’re locked out of your games until it’s fixed.

That’s where an offline system update comes in. You download the update on a computer, move it to a USB flash drive, and install it on your console without needing an internet connection. Asurion Experts help people get their consoles back up and running every day—here’s how to perform an Xbox offline system update from start to finish.

When to use an offline system update

If your Xbox One doesn't update, check your internet connection. It's always best to try the standard online process before looking at alternative solutions.

But that doesn't mean the automatic update process is completely seamless. If the update fails repeatedly, gets stuck on an error screen, or your console lacks internet, you'll want to look at an alternative option: an offline Xbox update. This lets you install an update manually, bypassing the standard process.

What you need before you start

Before attempting an Xbox One offline update, have these items on hand:

• Windows™ PC with an internet connection and a working USB port
• USB flash drive with a minimum of 6GB capacity

Most USB flash drives use a FAT32 format, which won't work for the update. If that's the format of your drive, convert it to NTFS before updating an Xbox One offline.

Reformatting erases anything you have saved on the USB, so move any important files to another location. The USB drive shouldn't contain anything else besides the update.

Put the update file on your USB drive

You can access the Xbox One offline update download file through the Xbox support website. From there, you'll download it to your USB drive. Take these steps:

1. Insert the USB drive into a USB port on your PC.
2. Download the Xbox One update offline from https://www.xbox.com/xboxone/osu1. Wait for the download to finish.
3. Click Save. This saves a zipped console update file to your PC.
4. Right-click the downloaded file and click Extract all.
5. View the folder contents and copy the $SystemUpdate file to your flash drive. Make sure to copy it to the top level of the drive and not inside another folder.

Install the update from the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter

An offline update for Xbox One is installed with the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter. To access it, take these steps:

1. Turn off your Xbox and unplug its power cord.
2. Wait 30 seconds and plug it back in.
3. Press and hold the Pair and Eject buttons, then press the Xbox button. Keep holding the Pair and Eject buttons for 10–15 seconds.
4. Wait for your console to emit two tones. Release the buttons when you hear the second tone. Your console will start and display the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter menu. If the Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, or Xbox One won't turn on, make sure it's plugged into a working outlet.
5. Insert the USB drive into your console. Use your controller to select Offline system update, and wait for the update to install.

Avoid choosing the Reset this Xbox option, since this will factory reset your Xbox One and delete your games and settings. If the Xbox One keeps restarting after the update, let it. Big updates may require your console to restart a few times.

If the update will not install

Your device should return to the Home screen after the offline update for Xbox One installs. But if you get an error message, the update failed. This could happen if:

• You saved the $SystemUpdate folder to another folder on the USB drive.
• Your drive contains other files or uses FAT32 formatting.
• Your drive lacks storage capacity.
• The network cable is plugged into your Xbox.

If you're trying to manually update an original Xbox One console, you may need to download and install the OSU2 or OSU3 updates before you can install OSU1. These are available from the Xbox support page.

---

FAQ

Can an Xbox update without internet?

Yes, but you'll need a Windows PC and a USB drive to transfer the offline system update to Xbox One. If your console has never been online, it must connect to the internet once during the setup process.

Why does my Xbox keep saying I am offline?

The Wi-Fi connection may have dropped. Other potential causes include loose network cables, an Xbox service outage, or incorrect network settings.

My Xbox offline system update isn't working. What can I do?

Make sure the $SystemUpdate folder is saved to the root of the USB drive and verify it is formatted as NTFS.