Three lights flash red on your Xbox 360 console

Three lights around the power button flash red.

Three flashing red lights means there is a hardware problem with your Xbox 360 console or its power supply.

To find out if the problem is with your console or the power supply, do the following:

Check your power supply light

1. Turn on your Xbox 360 console.
2. Take a look at the light on the power supply.
   
   The power supply light is located on the end of the rectangular box in the middle of your power cord.

If your power supply light is green

If the power supply light is green, try the following two solutions.

Solution 1: Check your power supply cables

Unplug and reconnect your power supply. Here’s how:

1. Disconnect the power cord from the back of your console. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and from the power supply unit.
   
   
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2. Reconnect the power cord to the console. Then plug the power cord back into the wall outlet and the power supply unit.
   
   
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3. Make sure that all three power supply connections are firmly secured.
4. Turn on your console.

If you still have three flashing red lights on your console, try the next solution.

Solution 2: Submit a console repair request

Your console needs to be repaired at our service center. Start the repair process online. (http://service.xbox.com)

For answers to console repair questions, such as cost and how to ship your console, please go to support.xbox.com (http://support.xbox.com) and search for "repair."

If your power supply light is red, orange or not lit

If the power supply is red or is not lit, try the following solutions.

Solution 1: Check your power supply cables

Unplug and reconnect your power supply. Here’s how:

1. Disconnect the power cord from the back of your console. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and from the power supply unit.
   
   
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2. Reconnect the power cord to the console. Then plug the power cord back into the wall outlet and the power supply unit.
   
   
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3. Make sure that all three power supply connections are firmly secured.
4. Turn on your console and check the light on your power supply.

If the power supply light is green, check the front of the console to see if it still has three flashing red lights. If the console now has four flashing red lights, attach an Xbox 360 A/V cable to the A/V port on back of your console.

If the power supply light is still red or not lit, please try the next solution.

Solution 2: Try an outlet in a different room

1. Turn off your console.
2. Disconnect the power supply from the console and unplug the power supply from the wall outlet.
3. Take your console and power supply to another room.
4. Plug the power supply directly into an electrical outlet. Do not use a surge protector.
5. Reconnect the power supply to the console.
6. Make sure that all three power supply connections are firmly secured.
   
   
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7. Turn on the console and check the power supply light.
   
   
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   If the power supply light is green, the problem might be with the electrical outlet that you were using or with your surge proctor (if you were using one). Before you plug your console back into its original location, have the outlet inspected or use a different surge protector.
   
   Note If your console displays four flashing lights after trying this step, attach an Xbox 360 A/V cable to the A/V port on back of your console.
   
   
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   If the light on the power supply is not lit, this indicates a problem with the Xbox 360 power supply unit. Contact Xbox Support for assistance in replacing the power supply.
   
   
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   If the light on your power supply is still red, please try the next solution.

Solution 3: Cool the power supply

1. Turn off the console.
2. Disconnect the power supply from the console and from the wall outlet.
3. Plug the power cord back into the console, reconnect the cord to the power supply, and then plug the power cord into a different wall outlet. Make sure the power supply is positioned so that it gets good ventilation.
4. Turn on the console and check the power supply light.

If the light on your power supply is still red, try the next solution.

Solution 4: Request a replacement power supply

If your power supply light is red, the problem is with your power supply. Contact Xbox Support to obtain a replacement power supply.