How to Fix It When Xbox One Won't Read a Disc

It can be a show stopper when an Xbox console such as an Xbox One stops reading discs. This issue isn’t limited to just video games though as sometimes an Xbox console just won’t read discs with music or movies on them either.

Why Is Your Xbox One Not Reading the Disc?

Issues with detecting or reading a disc on an Xbox console can be caused by a variety of issues ranging from a damaged disc or a software error to old hardware that’s simply reached its end of life.

How to Fix Xbox Disc Errors

Here’s all of the best solutions for getting a disc to work on an Xbox console organized from simple to most advanced. If possible, work your way through this list in order as often the easiest solution is the one that will work the quickest.

1. Try another disc. The first thing you should do is see if the problem is with the disc or your Xbox console. The fastest way to do this is to simply insert another disc, if you have one, and see if you encounter the same problem.

   If the problem appears to be with your Xbox console, you don’t need to try the following tips relating to just the disc and vice versa.

2. Check the DVD or Blu-ray region. While Xbox One video game discs are region-free, the consoles are still region locked when it comes to TV series and movie DVDs and Blu-rays.

3. Check the Xbox game generation. The Xbox One console does support a large number of video games from the original (OG) Xbox and Xbox 360 generations but they don’t support all of them. Can you put Xbox 360 discs in Xbox One consoles? Yes, but they’re not guaranteed to work. You can check which games support this on the Xbox One backwards compatibility list.

4. Is the disc the actual Xbox game disc? Some special collector’s edition versions of Xbox video games can come with a bonus disc with additional content that’s meant to be consumed on a computer. Be careful not to insert this bonus disc into your Xbox One console instead of the game disc.

5. Clean the game disc. It’s very easy for dirt and grime to find their way onto an Xbox game disc, especially if you or your family frequently switch games.

6. Repair the Xbox game disc. If your Xbox disc has scratches on it, you can actually fix it.

7. Eject a disc from an Xbox One with a pin. If you can't get the disc out of your Xbox console, you can force an eject by inserting a pin or paperclip into the small hole found on the left side of the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X.

8. Update your Xbox console. Performing a system update can fix a variety of bugs associated to video game and media playback. To do this, press the Xbox button on your controller to open the Guide and go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates. You will need to be connected to the internet to do this.

   If you can't get your Xbox One console to connect to the internet, there are several solutions you may want to try.

9. Restart your Xbox console. Much like with a computer, restarting an Xbox console can fix a variety of bugs and glitches. The process should only take around 30 seconds. If that doesn't work, you could also perform a full reset mentioned in the same article. Make sure to choose Reset and keep my games & apps. This will reset all of the system files and will keep all of your data and games on the console.

   As a last resort, perform a system reset and choose the Reset and remove everything option. This will completely delete everything from your Xbox console and return it to its factory settings. Only do this when you have no other options.

10. Rotate your Xbox console. All Xbox One consoles can be positioned vertically and horizontally. Try changing the orientation of the console to see if that improves the disc reading function.

11. Check for manufacturer errors. The fastest way to check for this is to find the official Twitter account of the developer and see if they’ve posted about manufacturer errors or discs giving users errors. If the game is new, you’ll often be able to request a replacement disc.

12. Get your Xbox console repaired. Depending on your warrantee, Microsoft may repair or completely replace your Xbox One console for free. You can see if your console is eligible on the official Xbox Support website.

    Make sure that you log in with the same Xbox/Microsoft account that’s connected to your Xbox console.