Xbox One Heat Sink Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Upper Case
14 steps
Upper Metal Case
5 steps
Hard Drive Assembly
2 steps
Optical Drive Assembly
2 steps
Front Panel Board
3 steps
Motherboard
9 steps
Heat Sink
2 steps

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Introduction

Note that separating the heat sink from the CPU compromises the original thermal compound. You’ll need to clean off and replace the thermal paste with a new application. See this guide for directions on how to do this.

What you need

Step 1

              Upper Case

To open your Xbox, you’re going to have to cut or peel up this tamper-evident tape. But don’t worry—Microsoft can’t legally void your warranty, as long as you don’t damage anything. Have fun!

To open your Xbox, you’re going to have to cut or peel up this tamper-evident tape. But don’t worry—Microsoft can’t legally void your warranty, as long as you don’t damage anything. Have fun!

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Step 2

Use a plastic opening tool to pry up and remove the plastic vent that surrounds the side USB port.
The vent is fairly flexible, and held in place with weak plastic clips—start prying from the back and peel it out.

Use a plastic opening tool to pry up and remove the plastic vent that surrounds the side USB port.

The vent is fairly flexible, and held in place with weak plastic clips—start prying from the back and peel it out.

Step 3

There is a small plastic tab that reinforces the front corner of the Xbox.
Slide the tab straight back and remove it.

There is a small plastic tab that reinforces the front corner of the Xbox.

Slide the tab straight back and remove it.

Step 4

Insert the flat end of a spudger between the upper and lower case where they meet at the rear of the side vent opening.
There is a strong plastic clip connecting the two case halves (the first of many), so you’ll need to use quite a bit of force.
Leave the spudger in place until you open the case completely. The clips are very springy and may cause the case to snap shut while you’re working.

Insert the flat end of a spudger between the upper and lower case where they meet at the rear of the side vent opening.

There is a strong plastic clip connecting the two case halves (the first of many), so you’ll need to use quite a bit of force.

Leave the spudger in place until you open the case completely. The clips are very springy and may cause the case to snap shut while you’re working.

Step 5

The interface between the upper and lower cases is secured by several clips along the rear and remaining side of the Xbox.
Insert a plastic opening tool between the upper and lower case to separate the clip over the rear vent.

The interface between the upper and lower cases is secured by several clips along the rear and remaining side of the Xbox.

Insert a plastic opening tool between the upper and lower case to separate the clip over the rear vent.

Step 6

Keep moving along the rear of the Xbox, prying up clips.
Make sure the spudger stays in its blocking position—even if the case opens up enough for the spudger to fall out, the remaining clips are springy and may pull the case completely shut. Keep the spudger in the gap to protect your progress.

Keep moving along the rear of the Xbox, prying up clips.

Make sure the spudger stays in its blocking position—even if the case opens up enough for the spudger to fall out, the remaining clips are springy and may pull the case completely shut. Keep the spudger in the gap to protect your progress.

Step 7

Keep popping clips. It may help to slide the plastic opening tool across the clips.
By the time you get to the far edge of the rear case, the top case should be ready to come off. If not, run your plastic opening tool around the corner and pop the clips along the side without the USB port.

Keep popping clips. It may help to slide the plastic opening tool across the clips.

By the time you get to the far edge of the rear case, the top case should be ready to come off. If not, run your plastic opening tool around the corner and pop the clips along the side without the USB port.

Step 8

Starting with the spudger you left in the crack, pry the upper case up to free the last few clips.
Use a plastic opening tool to pop any straggler clips that weren’t freed.
Do not try to remove the upper case yet, as it is still connected by the front panel button cable.
Lift the upper case slightly and shift it to give access to the front panel board.

Starting with the spudger you left in the crack, pry the upper case up to free the last few clips.

Use a plastic opening tool to pop any straggler clips that weren’t freed.

Do not try to remove the upper case yet, as it is still connected by the front panel button cable.

Lift the upper case slightly and shift it to give access to the front panel board.

Step 9

The front button cable has a unique ZIF connector—pay attention to the next few steps to safely disconnect it.
Use tweezers to lift the blue plastic retaining loop over the white connector on the board.
Use the tip of a spudger to push the connector’s locking tab toward the cable to unlatch it.

The front button cable has a unique ZIF connector—pay attention to the next few steps to safely disconnect it.

Use tweezers to lift the blue plastic retaining loop over the white connector on the board.

Use the tip of a spudger to push the connector’s locking tab toward the cable to unlatch it.

Step 10

Use tweezers to pull the cable straight out of the connector on the board.
Remove the upper case.

Use tweezers to pull the cable straight out of the connector on the board.

Remove the upper case.

Step 11

              Reassembly Instructions

The next 4 steps are directions for reassembly. Skip them to continue with disassembly.
Use the flat end of a spudger to free the clips securing the front panel to the upper case.
Remove the front panel from the rest of the upper case.

The next 4 steps are directions for reassembly. Skip them to continue with disassembly.

Use the flat end of a spudger to free the clips securing the front panel to the upper case.

Remove the front panel from the rest of the upper case.

Step 12

Replace the top part of the upper case.
Line up the clips and press firmly to re-seat them around the perimeter.

Replace the top part of the upper case.

Line up the clips and press firmly to re-seat them around the perimeter.

Step 13

Support the front panel near the front of the Xbox.
Use tweezers to replace the front button cable in its ZIF socket.
Use the flat end of a spudger to push the ZIF lock to the left to secure the cable.

Support the front panel near the front of the Xbox.

Use tweezers to replace the front button cable in its ZIF socket.

Use the flat end of a spudger to push the ZIF lock to the left to secure the cable.

Step 14

The lower edge of the front panel has plastic hooks that interlock with plastic hooks on the front edge of the lower case.
With the front panel at a 45 degree angle, interlock its plastic hooks with those in the lower case.
Push the top of the front panel into the Xbox, like closing a mailbox. Press firmly so that the clips securing the front panel to the upper case lock securely.

The lower edge of the front panel has plastic hooks that interlock with plastic hooks on the front edge of the lower case.

With the front panel at a 45 degree angle, interlock its plastic hooks with those in the lower case.

Push the top of the front panel into the Xbox, like closing a mailbox. Press firmly so that the clips securing the front panel to the upper case lock securely.

Step 15

              Upper Metal Case

Gently pull up on the speaker cable connector to disconnect it from the front panel board.
Be careful to pull up on the cable’s connector and not the connector on the board. It’s pretty flimsy and you might accidentally pull it off the board entirely.
Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the antenna cable from the front panel board.

Gently pull up on the speaker cable connector to disconnect it from the front panel board.

Be careful to pull up on the cable’s connector and not the connector on the board. It’s pretty flimsy and you might accidentally pull it off the board entirely.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the antenna cable from the front panel board.

Step 16

Remove the two 9.5 mm T8 Torx screws from the WI-Fi board.
Lift the Wi-Fi board straight up from its socket in the upper metal case.
Leaving the Wi-Fi board antenna cable in place, move the Wi-Fi board aside, exposing the screw labeled “C3” that was beneath it.

Remove the two 9.5 mm T8 Torx screws from the WI-Fi board.

Lift the Wi-Fi board straight up from its socket in the upper metal case.

Leaving the Wi-Fi board antenna cable in place, move the Wi-Fi board aside, exposing the screw labeled “C3” that was beneath it.

Step 17

Remove the eight 65 mm Torx T10 screws from the top of the upper metal case.

Remove the eight 65 mm Torx T10 screws from the top of the upper metal case.

Step 18

Lift—but do not remove—the upper metal case.
The Wi-Fi board interconnect cable connects the upper metal case to the motherboard.

Lift—but do not remove—the upper metal case.

The Wi-Fi board interconnect cable connects the upper metal case to the motherboard.

Step 19

Disconnect the Wi-FI board interconnect cable from the motherboard.
Remove the upper metal case.

Disconnect the Wi-FI board interconnect cable from the motherboard.

Remove the upper metal case.

Step 20

              Hard Drive Assembly

Disconnect the hard drive SATA power and data cables from the motherboard.

Disconnect the hard drive SATA power and data cables from the motherboard.

Step 21

Lift and remove the hard drive tray from the Xbox.

Lift and remove the hard drive tray from the Xbox.

Step 22

              Optical Drive Assembly

Disconnect the optical drive power and SATA data cables from the motherboard.

Disconnect the optical drive power and SATA data cables from the motherboard.

Step 23

Remove the optical drive assembly from the Xbox.

Remove the optical drive assembly from the Xbox.

Step 24

              Front Panel Board

Lift the motherboard assembly out of the lower case.

Lift the motherboard assembly out of the lower case.

Step 25

Remove the three 9.5 mm T9 Torx screws securing the front panel board.

Remove the three 9.5 mm T9 Torx screws securing the front panel board.

Step 26

Disconnect the front panel board from its socket in the front of the motherboard.

Disconnect the front panel board from its socket in the front of the motherboard.

Step 27

              Motherboard

Two black plastic screw posts posts are attached to the frame with springy plastic barbs.
Pinch the arms together and pull the barbs out through the frame to remove the posts.

Two black plastic screw posts posts are attached to the frame with springy plastic barbs.

Pinch the arms together and pull the barbs out through the frame to remove the posts.

Step 28

Remove the 8.3 mm T9 Torx screw securing the white plastic screw post to the lower metal frame.
Remove the white plastic screw post from the frame.

Remove the 8.3 mm T9 Torx screw securing the white plastic screw post to the lower metal frame.

Remove the white plastic screw post from the frame.

Step 29

Flip the lower metal frame and motherboard assembly over, to rest on the fan.
Remove the following screws from the bottom of the lower frame:
Four 11.2 mm T10 Torx screws
Four 9.5 mm T9 Torx screws

Flip the lower metal frame and motherboard assembly over, to rest on the fan.

Remove the following screws from the bottom of the lower frame:

Four 11.2 mm T10 Torx screws

Four 9.5 mm T9 Torx screws

Step 30

Two small plastic plugs protrude through the rear metal case—one beneath the side USB port, and another beneath the AC in port. These plugs get caught on the lower metal case and make it hard to remove the motherboard.
Push the two plugs through the lower metal case.

Two small plastic plugs protrude through the rear metal case—one beneath the side USB port, and another beneath the AC in port. These plugs get caught on the lower metal case and make it hard to remove the motherboard.

Push the two plugs through the lower metal case.

Step 31

Lift the motherboard and heat sink/fan assembly out of the lower metal case.

Lift the motherboard and heat sink/fan assembly out of the lower metal case.

Step 32

Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard.

Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard.

Step 33

Insert the tip of a small flathead screwdriver between the post and the outer edge of one arm of the X-clamp.
Gently rotate the screwdriver, lifting the arm of the X-clamp up and off of the post.

Insert the tip of a small flathead screwdriver between the post and the outer edge of one arm of the X-clamp.

Gently rotate the screwdriver, lifting the arm of the X-clamp up and off of the post.

Step 34

Use the same rotating technique to free one more arm of the X-clamp from its post.
Remove the X-clamp.

Use the same rotating technique to free one more arm of the X-clamp from its post.

Remove the X-clamp.

Step 35

Lift the motherboard off of the fan/heat sink assembly.
When you’re reassembling your Xbox, follow our Applying Thermal Paste guide at this point to apply a new layer of thermal paste to the CPU.

Lift the motherboard off of the fan/heat sink assembly.

When you’re reassembling your Xbox, follow our Applying Thermal Paste guide at this point to apply a new layer of thermal paste to the CPU.

Step 36

              Heat Sink

The fan is held onto the heat sink with four sturdy plastic clips.
Use a plastic opening tool to pry the two clips on one side out of the channel in the side of the heat sink.

The fan is held onto the heat sink with four sturdy plastic clips.

Use a plastic opening tool to pry the two clips on one side out of the channel in the side of the heat sink.

Step 37

Separate the heat sink from the fan.

Separate the heat sink from the fan.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. Don’t forget to apply a new layer of thermal paste to your CPU. Follow this guide to learn how.

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                                                                                      35 other people completed this guide.

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                    Andrew Optimus Goldheart

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marshalljosh - Oct 6, 2015

Can you by chance get the measurements for the heatsink such as the mounting points and height of the heatsink?

Kiril Angelov - Nov 1, 2015

Hi.I’ve just wondering can i put a liquid metal thermal paste i think the radiator has to be copper and that’s all , pluses of the procedure that liquid metal thermal paste doesn’t age, and the xbox will need only fan cleaning

Tim Rauls - Mar 11, 2019

Do you have any tips on getting the heatsinks back bracket back on?

etho gamer - Nov 12, 2020

Pry on the sides in a x formation, and when you get it on the post, just push down till you see it click in to the groove on the heatsink post

Szczepan Ciołkosz - Mar 21, 2021

Disassembled removed dust with a brush, replaced the thermal paste and reassembled in 50 minutes. Feeling like a pro lmao.

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

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