What do the Xbox 360 Red Lights Mean? by Seth Taylor

When the Xbox 360 was designed, Microsoft created it with its own error reporting system. This system is very helpful in that if something goes wrong with your console you can easily diagnose the problem.

It is very similar to the reporting system in a car. You have the gas light that tells you that you should have filled up about 10 miles ago. You have a check engine light that tells you that you may want to hold off on Christmas shopping for the moment. You also have brake lights, oil lights etc.

The Xbox 360 also has its own set of warning signals to let you know that something is going on with your console. Some signals are minor while others mean that the end is near. Here is a list of the different flashing light signals and what each of them mean.

1 Flashing Light

Your Xbox 360 indicates this error when only the bottom right part of the ring is flashing. It is usually associated with an error code you see on the screen. Searching for this error code online or in the Microsoft support site will give you the description and solution.

Usually the problem lies on the DVD drive whether it is the wrong firmware or lacks a chip. It may also be a hard drive error which can be resolved by taking it out and putting it back in or it can be a voltage error which usually occurs if you have added accessories to it. It is best to research the error code so you know exactly what to do.

2 Flashing Lights

One of the most common is when two red lights are flashing. No need to panic if you see only two because its sole meaning is that the console is too hot and needs to cool down. Power down the system and try again in a few minutes or if possible after an hour or two.

After giving the system some rest and playing in a much cooler environment, you should be back to your gaming in better performance. If the problem persists however, you may need to have it serviced to have the cooling issue fixed.

3 Flashing Lights

If you see three flashing lights, you are experiencing the infamous 3 red lights error problem that many other gamers are frustrated with. You may also know it as the Red Ring of Death. At one point 1 out of every 3 Xbox 360 owners experienced this problem. This is the one error that you do not want to get. This highlights that there is a serious Xbox 360 hardware problem.

Your options are to send your console back to Microsoft for repair or to fix it yourself. Be prepared to spend a nice amount of money ($140 or so) if you are sending your system to Microsoft for an out of warranty repair. If you want to try to fix the problem yourself then you can see reviews of guides that I recommend at http://www.xbox360redlightcure.com to show you step by step how to perform the repair.

4 Flashing Lights

If you have to get any flashing lights on your Xbox 360, pray that this is the one. If the entire ring flashes, it is a minor problem that indicates that the AV cable isn't connected properly or in rare instances, the cable is damaged. Make sure everything is properly connected and replace it if It still doesn't work.

About the Author

Seth Taylor is the publisher of an informative website that provides reviews of guides that give instructions on how to fix the Xbox 360 3 red lights error.