Your Xbox One disc reader can fail in a few different ways. The console might ignore every disc, reject one game, stall during installation, or trap a disc inside the slot. Start with the checks that separate a bad disc from a console problem, then move into power, app, storage, reset, and repair options.
Start with the disc position
Run these quick checks first before changing console settings.
- 1.Insert the disc with the artwork facing the top of the console when the Xbox One is horizontal.
- 2.On Xbox One S or Xbox One X standing vertically, insert the disc with the artwork facing left.
- 3.Clean the disc with a soft, clean, slightly damp cloth while holding it by the edges.
- 4.Try another disc in the same console to see whether only one disc fails.
- 5.Test the problem disc on another Xbox console, then replace that disc if it fails there too.
Add the Blu-ray Player app
Use this when game discs work but DVDs or Blu-ray movies do not play. Xbox consoles use the Blu-ray Player app for DVD and Blu-ray playback, and Xbox Series X|S consoles do not support 3D Blu-ray.
Press the Xbox button to open the guide, select Home, then open Store.
Select Search, enter Blu-ray, choose Blu-ray Player, and select Install.
You can also insert a Blu-ray or DVD, select Blu-ray Player when it appears, open its details page, and select Install. After installation, the movie disc should start automatically.
Check movie region and console type
A DVD or Blu-ray from the wrong region can look like a broken disc reader even when the drive is fine. Use DVDs and Blu-ray discs sold in the same region as your console, or switch to a supported disc from your console's region.
All-digital Xbox consoles cannot play game discs, movie discs, or external USB disc drives. If you have an Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, Xbox Series S, or Xbox Series X Digital Edition, there is no disc reader repair path because the console has no usable disc drive.
If movie playback still fails after installing Blu-ray Player and using a same-region supported disc, try the power-cycle fix next.
Switch power mode and restart
Press the Xbox button on the controller to open the guide.
Go to Profile & system, then Settings, then General, then Power options.
Select Shutdown (energy saving) mode.
Hold the Xbox button on the front of the console for 10 seconds until it shuts down.
Press the Xbox button on the console again to restart it, then try the disc again.
If the disc works after this, switch back to Sleep mode whenever you want.
Free a stuck disc safely
This fixes a trapped disc, not a failed optical drive.
Press and hold the Xbox button in the center of the controller, then select Restart console and Restart.
After the restart, press the eject button next to the disc slot.
If the console still responds but the eject button does not work, press the Xbox button, select Home, highlight the inserted game, and press X to eject it.
When the Xbox is frozen, press and hold the Xbox button on the front of the console until it turns off.
Press the Xbox button again to restart, then press the eject button.
If normal eject still fails, unplug the power cord and connected cables.
Straighten a large paper clip at least 2 inches long and insert it into the manual eject hole.
Push until the disc pops out slightly, then pull it out with a lint-free cloth.
On Xbox One consoles, the manual eject hole is on the left wall around the corner from the disc slot.
On the original Xbox One, it is below the left-side grill.
On Xbox One S, it is in the left-side grill, second from the right and second from the bottom.
Clear a stalled disc install
When a disc game loads but installation stops at or near 0%, clear the local saved-game cache first.
- 1.Eject the disc.
- 2.Press the Xbox button, then go to Profile & system, Settings, System, and Storage devices.
- 3.Select Clear local saved games.
- 4.Select Yes and let the console restart.
- 5.Insert the disc again and try the installation.
Finish the disc install offline
Open the guide, then go to Profile & system, Settings, General, and Network settings.
Select Go offline.
Cancel the queued install from My games & apps, See all, Manage, and Queue.
Highlight the game, press the Menu button, and select Cancel.
Eject the disc, open the Power Center, and select Restart console, then Restart.
After the restart, insert the disc and let the game install before reconnecting.
Go back to Network settings and select Go online so the console can download updates after the disc install completes.
Keep the console online afterward so game updates can finish normally.
Reset Xbox and keep your games
A reset is for system software corruption after the simpler disc fixes fail. It does not repair a mechanically failed disc drive, but it can clear console OS problems that interfere with disc detection or playback.
Press the Xbox button to open the guide, then go to Profile & system, Settings, System, and Console info.
Select Reset console. On Reset your console?, choose Reset and keep my games & apps.
If you cannot reach Settings, use Microsoft's USB reset process from the official How to reset your Xbox console to factory defaults page with a blank NTFS USB flash drive of at least 4 GB. Use Microsoft's download page, not a third-party reset-file mirror.
If the reset does not bring the disc reader back, the next step is Microsoft service.
Book Microsoft repair
This is the supported route when the drive still does not recognize discs.
Sign in to the Device services site with your Microsoft account.
Select the Xbox console you want repaired.
Follow the onscreen steps to complete the service order request.
Watch for the service order number and confirmation email with shipping or drop-off instructions.
In the United States and United Kingdom, use Xbox Support to find a Microsoft Authorized Service Provider for Xbox console repair.
Skip Xbox One optical drive or laser swaps from older third-party guides. Microsoft does not publish current consumer Xbox One optical-drive replacement steps or Xbox One optical-drive replacement parts, so the supported route for a reader that still fails is service repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an external USB disc drive with an all-digital Xbox?
No. All-digital Xbox consoles do not support game discs, movie discs, or external USB disc drives.
Does clearing local saved games delete my saves forever?
No. The clear local saved games step does not delete cloud saves. It is used when a disc game installation stops at or near 0%.
Why do only DVDs or Blu-ray discs fail while games still work?
Install the Blu-ray Player app and make sure the movie disc is from the same region as your console. Wrong-region or unsupported movie discs can fail even when the drive reads game discs.
When is Microsoft repair the right move?
Use Microsoft service when none of the supported troubleshooting steps fix unrecognized discs. Microsoft treats that condition as a console repair issue.