How To Restore Xbox 360 Elite To Factory Settings

If yous want to sell your Xbox 360, there are some things y'all should do before putting upward the advert. First, you should manufacturing plant reset your console to wipe it clean and render to factory settings. Optionally, yous might want to clear the device enshroud or support some or all of the data yous accept stored on the console's hard drive. Here's how to prepare your Xbox 360 for resale.

How to Factory Reset and Wipe an Xbox 360 before Selling

Back up Your Xbox 360 Data

If there's any data you'd similar to go along earlier selling your Xbox 360 or refreshing information technology, perform a backup. To support your data, follow these steps.

Plug a USB flash or hard drive into your console'south USB port. It should appear in the list of your storage devices.
On the Home screen, press the "Guide" button on your controller.
Next, option the "Settings" tab.
In the "Settings" menu, cull the "System Settings" tab.
Enter the "Storage" section.
Highlight your console's hard drive and press the "Y" button on your controller.
Pick the "Transfer Content" option from the drop-down menu and select your USB drive.
Afterwards that, select the files you desire to back up and click "Get-go." If y'all're backing upward a big amount of data, the transfer might take some time.

Factory Resetting Your Xbox 360

It is highly recommended that you perform a factory reset and wipe your Xbox 360 if you intend to sell it. The process is relatively simple, though information technology may accept some time for the console to format the hard drive. If you want to keep some data, you lot should back it up—more than on that later. For now, it'southward time to jump into the manufactory reset option.

While in Xbox 360's Home screen, press the "Guide" push on the controller.
The Main Menu opens. Select "Settings" from the navigational carte at the height.
Next, you'll see the main categories of the "Settings" menu on the screen. Select "System" in the upper-left corner of the grid.
Side by side, enter the "System Settings" tab.
Choose the "Storage" tab.
You will meet the list of all devices and drives continued to your system. Highlight the "Hard Drive" and press the "Y" button on the controller. This will bring upward device options.
Pick the "Format" option and printing "A" on the controller.
Select "Yep" to confirm your selection.
In the "Format Hard Drive" screen, select "Enter Serial Number."
Enter your console's serial in the prompt, then press the "Starting time" button on your controller.
Y'all'll encounter a "Formatting in progress" bulletin with a progress bar. After the process is complete, you'll be returned to the Abode screen.

Afterward completing the above steps, your Xbox 360 hard drive is reset and ready to become, only there are two more things you lot need to do: clear the location and clear the cache in the console.

How to Delete the Location on Your Xbox 360

From hither, y'all should delete your user location. Remember that you're logged off of Xbox Live now, and your games got deleted from the format process.

Go to "Settings."
Open up the "System" section of the menu.
Select the "Storage" tab.
Select the "Location of your user."
Delete it.

How to Clear the Enshroud on Your Xbox 360

If you intend to sell your Xbox 360, it is besides a good idea to articulate the console's enshroud. Another reason to remove it is if the games are performing poorly or the device is slowing down. Clearing the cache won't delete your games and account, just information technology will delete game updates. Follow these steps to remove your Xbox 360's cache.

In the Home screen, printing the "Guide" push on your controller—the one with the Xbox logo on information technology.
Next, cull the "Settings" tab in the Primary Menu.
Open up the "System" tab.
In the "Organization" section, select the "Storage" tab.
Next, highlight the device you desire to clear and press the "Y" button on your controller.
The "Device Options" screen will appear. Select the "Clear System Cache" option from the menu.
Confirm your choice.

The Final Step for You or The New Possessor

If you lot sell the console, the new owner performs the initial setup, but you tin can do it too if you proceed the console and start fresh. Hither's how it'due south done.

Access the "Main Menu."
Go to the "Settings" section.
Cull the "System" tab.
Select the "Initial Setup" pick.
When prompted, confirm your choice.
Follow the on-screen instructions to fix up your Xbox 360 panel.

Preparing your Xbox 360 for selling might seem like a daunting task, but it's not, and it is essential. This strategy removes personal data like credit cards, images, game saves, and game downloads so that the adjacent person can't access your account or paid items. Of course, the aforementioned applies for you if you are simply resetting everything and starting fresh!