How to Force Your Xbox One to Update Offline

Having trouble updating your Xbox One? Sometimes, the usual online update process can hiccup, leaving you with a console that’s not quite ready for action. The good news is, you can force an offline update using a USB flash drive. This process is a lifesaver when your console is struggling with its network connection or when the online update system is acting up. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get your Xbox One updated offline:

Step-by-Step Guide to Offline Xbox One Updates

1. Prepare a USB Flash Drive: You’ll need a USB flash drive with at least 6 GB of storage. Make sure it’s formatted to NTFS. If your drive isn’t formatted to NTFS, you’ll need to reformat it. To do this on Windows, right-click the drive in File Explorer, select “Format,” and choose NTFS from the File System dropdown. Remember that formatting will erase all data on the drive, so back up anything important before you proceed.

2. Download the Offline System Update (OSU) File: Head over to the official Xbox website on a computer with internet access. Locate and download the Offline System Update (OSU) file. This file is specific to Xbox One, so ensure you’ve selected the correct one. The file name is often OSU1. Make sure to download it directly to your PC or laptop.

3. Copy the OSU File to the USB Flash Drive: Once downloaded, extract the OSU file’s contents to the root directory of your USB flash drive. This means the files should not be inside any folder; they should be directly accessible on the drive. You will see a folder labelled “$SystemUpdate” on the drive when this step is correctly completed.

4. Power Off Your Xbox One: Completely power off your Xbox One console. Press and hold the Xbox button on the front of the console for about 10 seconds until it shuts down completely.

5. Unplug the Power Cord: Once powered down, unplug the power cord from the back of the Xbox One. Wait for 30 seconds to ensure all power is drained.

6. Plug in the Power Cord: Plug the power cord back into your Xbox One.

7. Insert the USB Drive: Insert the USB flash drive into one of the USB ports on your Xbox One console.

8. Initiate the Offline Update: Now, you’ll need to use a combination of buttons to enter the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter screen. Here’s how:

   • Press and hold the Bind button (located on the left side of the console for original Xbox One and below the power button on Xbox One S) and the Eject button (next to the disc drive on the front of the console) simultaneously.
   • While holding these buttons, press the Xbox button (the power button).
   • Continue holding the Bind and Eject buttons for between 10 and 15 seconds, or until you hear the system power-up sound twice in a row. If the console begins its normal startup process, you may need to repeat this step.
   • This should take you directly to the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter screen.

9. Select Offline System Update: On the Troubleshooter screen, you should see an option called Offline System Update. Select it using your controller.

10. Follow On-Screen Prompts: The Xbox will now begin the update process using the files on your USB drive. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the update. Do not interrupt the process, or you might corrupt the console’s system files.

11. Remove the USB Drive and Restart: Once the update is complete, your console will restart. You can then remove the USB flash drive.

12. Verify the Update: After your Xbox restarts, it should be up to date. You can verify this by going to Settings > System > Updates & downloads in the Xbox menu.

That’s it! You’ve successfully forced an offline update on your Xbox One.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you force an update on Xbox One if it’s online?

Yes, you can force an update on an online Xbox One by going to Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates & downloads. Here, you’ll find an option to manually check for and apply any available updates.

2. What do I do if my Xbox One won’t update?

If your Xbox One won’t update, try the following:
* Restart your console.
* Power cycle the console (unplug, wait 30 seconds, plug back in).
* Reset your Xbox One (try a “keep my games and apps” reset first).
* Check your network connection if updating online.
* Try an offline update.
* Free up space on your hard drive.
* As a last resort, do a factory reset.

3. How do I fix an Xbox One update stuck?

If your Xbox One update gets stuck, you can try the troubleshooting steps mentioned in the previous answer, focusing on power cycling, restarting and trying the offline update process.

4. How can I use my Xbox without updating?

You can play most of your Xbox One games without installing updates, but you won’t be able to connect to Xbox Live. This means no multiplayer, online features, or cloud saves. To play offline, simply choose to “Play Offline” when prompted.

5. Does Xbox One work without internet?

Yes, Xbox One can work without internet for single-player games, but you need an internet connection for the initial setup and to download games. After setup and downloading, you can go offline.

6. Can I play a game without updating?

Yes, you can play some games without updating, but you may miss out on new features, bug fixes, and multiplayer access. Some games may require updates to even launch.

7. How do I hard reset an Xbox One?

To perform a hard reset on an Xbox One, press and hold the power button on the console for about 10 seconds until it completely shuts off. Then, unplug the power cord, wait a few minutes, and plug it back in. This should clear the cache and resolve some minor issues.

8. What is the Bind button on Xbox One?

The Bind button is located on the left side of the console for the original Xbox One and below the power button on Xbox One S. It’s used to pair controllers and also to access the offline update menu when used with the Eject and power buttons.

9. Why does my installation keep stopping on Xbox One?

If your game installation keeps stopping, the issue may be due to the console trying to download an update at the same time or because of corrupted game files. Try pausing or canceling the update while the game installs or reinstall the game.

10. Can Xbox One update in sleep mode?

Yes, if your Xbox One is in sleep mode, it supports automatic updates for the console, games, and apps. This is needed for remote wake and fast boot.

11. Is Xbox One still supported?

While Microsoft is no longer making new games for Xbox One, it still provides support for ongoing games like Minecraft. The console will continue to function as it did before, but no new games will be released.

12. What does the Xbox button on the controller do?

The Xbox button on the controller has multiple functions. When the controller is off, it turns on the controller and the console (if the console is off). When the console is on, it opens the guide menu.

13. How do I manually factory reset an Xbox One?

To manually factory reset an Xbox One, go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Console Info and select Reset console. You can choose to keep or delete your games and apps during the reset.

14. Do games update faster when the console is off?

Anecdotally, games update faster when the console is in rest/sleep mode than when it is fully on, though this experience can vary.

15. What do I do if I can’t update a game?

If you are having trouble updating a game, you can try clearing the cache, restarting the console, or deleting the game and reinstalling it. If the problem continues, you may need to check your storage, network or contact support.

By following the steps outlined in this article and referring to these FAQs, you should be able to force an offline update, troubleshoot your update issues, and get back to gaming on your Xbox One!