How to Disassemble All Xbox 360 Models

As your Xbox 360 console ages, you may need to open it to clean the dust out of it or to apply thermal paste. This will keep your console in good working condition. Keep in mind that Microsoft does not recommend you open your console yourself. There is a risk that you can permanently damage your console and void any warranty you might have. This wikiHow article teaches you how to open your Xbox 360, 360 Slim, and 360 Elite.

TSYK: Disassembling an Xbox 360

The steps to taking apart an Xbox 360 vary depending on what model you have. You’ll need a plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver, as well as Torx T8, T10, and T12 screwdrivers. Be careful not to damage the plastic or the components. Don’t take apart more than you need.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Before You Begin

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1
Gather the equipment you'll need. You will need the following items to open your Xbox 360:^{[1]
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- Plastic spudger.
- Flathead screwdriver
- T12 Torx screwdriver
- T10 Torx screwdriver
- T8 Torx screwdriver
- Xbox 360 opening tool (optional)
2
Disconnect your Xbox 360 from all input and output sources. Your console should be completely free of any wires or attachments, including external storage, HDMI/audio cables, and the charging cable.
- If there is a disk in the console, eject it and place it somewhere safe before disconnecting your console.
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Ground yourself before taking apart your Xbox 360. Static electricity can permanently damage circuitry, so make sure you practice proper grounding techniques, like touching a metal surface before working.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Opening an Xbox 360

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There is a button on the left side of the console that you can press to release the hard drive. Press the button and pull up to remove the hard drive.
2
Pry off the front faceplate. Insert your finger into the USB port section, which is to the right of the power button, and pull the faceplate toward you. Then pull up along the edges to remove the front faceplate.
- If you are having a hard time getting the face plate to detach, you can use a plastic spudger or a tongue depressor to go along the edges and pry loose the faceplate. You can also use a flathead screwdriver, but be careful not to break anything.
3
Release and remove the end grilles. These are the grey lattices on the left and right ends of the Xbox 360 case. Use the following steps to release and remove the end grilles.
- Poke a large, bent paperclip through each of the holes in the top row of ventilation spaces on the Xbox 360's casing, prying up each time. This will unhook the clips holding the grille.
- Insert a plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver into the holes on the left and right side below the elevated part of the grille. Place it behind the clip and push inward to release it. Be careful not to break the clip.
- Once all the clips are released, put the grill up to remove it.
4
Unclip the top panel. There are four clips on the front of your Xbox 360 that hold the top half and the bottom half of the case together. Pull the top of a clip toward you while holding the bottom of the clip to release it. These clips are in the following locations:
- One on either side of the disk tray at the top.
- One to the right of the power button.
- One on the far-right side of the front of the Xbox 360.
5
Unclip the bottom panel. Turn your Xbox 360 over so that the back is facing you. You’ll see 7 small holes where the back is clipped on. Two above the power port, and 5 above all the other ports. Insert an Xbox 360 opening tool into the holes and press down to release them while pulling up on the case.
- If you don’t have an Xbox 360 opening tool, you can place a small plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver in each of the holes and press down to release them one by one while pulling up on the case.
- Be extra careful during this part. Do not pry with a screwdriver or spudger. You can easily break the plastic.
Flip the Xbox 360 so that its top is face down, then pull the bottom of the case up and away from the Xbox 360. You should now be looking at the metal part of the Xbox 360's case.
7
Take out the screws holding the top of the case in place. Use your Torx T10 screwdriver for this; if you see a screw that won't fit your screwdriver, don't try to unscrew it—it isn't necessary for disassembly. There are six total screws in the metal part of the case that you'll need to remove:
- Two on the right side
- Two on the left side
- One in each of the indented circles in the middle
- Make sure you place the screws in a plastic bag or a similarly safe place.
The metal side should be face down, and the front of the console (e.g., the power button side) should be facing you.
You’ll need to flip the console over on the other side. You’ll find the eject button on the left side of the console's front. Gently ease your plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver under the green ribbon on the left side of the console's front face and pry. The eject button should pop right off.
The case should pull right off, and you should now be looking at your Xbox 360's internal components.
If you want to clean the fans, you’ll need to remove the fan shroud. That’s the plastic piece over the top of the fans. There’s a clip on the top of the shroud. Insert a plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver into the slot on the top and pry it loose to release it. To release the fans, disconnect the power cable from the side. Then you can just lift the metal plate holding the fans in place and pull the fans out.
12
Remove the optical drive (optional). There is a silver seal holding the optical drive in place on the front. You can peel it off. After that, you can disconnect the data and power cable from the back of the optical drive. Then lift the optical drive straight up.^{[2]
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- Be careful not to pull on the cables to release them. Just pinch the cable connectors and wiggle them loose. Then you can pull them out.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Opening an Xbox 360 S

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The hard drive cover is on the right side grille. The grille is split into two pieces. The hard drive cover has a latch that you can slide to release it. Push the latch and then pull the cover up.
If you want to remove the hard drive, it has a cloth tab sticking out. Just pull the tab to pull the hard drive out.
There is a grill on both the right and left sides. To remove them, go along the edges with a plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver and release the clips holding the grille in place. Then pull the grilles up to remove them.
The inner cover is welded to the outer plastic rim. Removing this will be a little difficult. Be careful not to cause more damage than needed. Stick a flathead screwdriver underneath the inner cover to detach the welding spots. You can also stick a screwdriver in the holes along the edge and pry them loose.
5
Remove the outer rim holders. After you remove the inner cover, there is another plastic piece along the rims that holds the covers in place. You can use a plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver to release the clips from the metal shell and remove the outer rim holders.
- Be careful not to break the plastic pieces.
The network card is on the left side, opposite the hard drive. It will need to come out in order to remove the top panel. It is held in place by a single screw. Use a T10 screwdriver to remove the screw and then pull it out. It is plugged in by a USB port under the card.
There are three tabs holding the top panel in place. You can access the first two via the open sides of the console along the back. Use a spudger or flathead screwdriver to pry them loose. Then use a plastic spudger to release the tab along the seam in between the power input and all the other inputs on the back of the console. Once the tabs are released, you can lift the bottom panel to remove it.
8
Remove the black screws. The black screws are long screws that hold the bottom panel in place. Use a T10 screwdriver to remove the black screws. You can ignore all the other screws. There are five black screws in total. With the front facing away from you, the screws are in the following locations:
- One in the upper-right corner.
- One along the right edge in the middle.
- One in the center next to the “X” icon.
- One in towards the front in the middle.
- One in the bottom left corner of the metal plate.
9
Remove the top panel. Now that the screws are removed, you should be able to turn the console over and lift the top panel, and pull it away. Once the top panel is removed, the front panel should also fall away.
- The front panel is connected via a ribbon cable. It’s recommended that you leave it connected unless you need to work on something on the front panel.
The optical drive is connected via a power cable and a SATA cable in the back. Disconnect the cables from the cable connectors (do not pull on the cables). Then you can lift the optical drive right out. Now you can access most of the inside of your Xbox 360 S.
If you need to reapply thermal paste, you’ll need to remove the fan. To do so, turn the console over and remove the four screws around the “X” icon. Then lift the fan out. You’ll also need to unscrew the fan from the heatsink via the screws on the top of the fan.^{[3]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Opening an Xbox 360 E

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The hard drive cover is on the right side grille. The grille is split into two pieces. The hard drive cover has a latch that you can slide to release it. Push the latch and then pull the cover up.
If you want to remove the hard drive, it has a cloth tab sticking out. Just pull the tab to pull the hard drive out.
There is a grill on both the right and left sides. To remove them, go along the outer edges with a plastic spudger or flathead screwdriver and release the clips holding the grilles in place. Then pull the grilles up to remove them.
The network card is on the left side, opposite the hard drive. It will need to come out in order to remove the top panel. It is held in place by a single screw. Use a T10 screwdriver to remove the screw and then pull it out. It is plugged into a USB port under the card.
There are three tabs holding the top panel in place. You can access the first two via the opened sides of the console along the back. Use a spudger or flathead screwdriver to pry them loose. The one next to the hard drive is harder to access, but you can pry it loose with a spudger or flathead screwdriver. The third clip is between the power input and all the other inputs. Press on the top of the clip while pulling the bottom panel to detach it. Then pull the bottom panel away.
6
Remove the front panel. To remove the front panel, you first need to eject the optical drive tray. There is a yellow pinhole on the side of the optical drive. Use a paperclip to push the pinhole button and eject the disk drive tray. Pull it out just a little. Now you can wiggle the front faceplate loose and pull it over the disk drive tray.
- The front faceplate is connected via a ribbon cable. It is recommended that you don’t disconnect the ribbon cable unless you need to work on the front faceplate.
7
Remove the black screws. The black screws are long screws that hold the bottom panel in place. Use a T10 screwdriver to remove the black screws. You can ignore all the other screws. There are five black screws in total. With the front facing away from you, the screws are in the following locations:
- One in the upper-right corner.
- One along the right edge in the middle.
- One in the center next to the “X” icon.
- One in towards the front in the middle.
- One in the bottom left corner of the metal plate.
Now that the screws are removed, you should be able to turn the console over and lift the top panel, and pull it away.
You should be able to just pull the fan cover away.
The RF module is attached to the front. It is held in place by two screws. Use a T8 screwdriver to remove the screws.
The optical drive is connected via a power cable and a SATA cable in the back. Disconnect the cables from the cable connectors (do not pull on the cables). Then you can lift the optical drive right out. Now you can access most of the inside of your Xbox 360 E.^{[4]
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The drive bay is held in place by a single screw on the back. Use a T10 screwdriver to remove the screw. Then you can wiggle the drive bay loose. You will need to detach the cables from the motherboard.
If you need to reapply thermal paste, you’ll need to remove the fan. To do so, turn the console over and remove the four screws around the “X” icon. Then lift the fan out. You’ll also need to unscrew the fan from the heatsink via the screws on the top of the fan.

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Is their an easier way to open it?

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The only safe way is to follow these instructions.

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How do I remove the back?

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You can't.

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If you're opening your Xbox 360 in hopes of fixing the red ring of death, consider taking the console in to a certified repair shop instead.

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Warnings

According to US federal law, opening your console won’t, in itself, void your warranty. However, any damage you cause to your Xbox will not be covered by the warranty. Proceed at your own risk.

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