Xbox One Water Damage, Won’t Turn On: Repair Guide

Water in a game console usually runs straight down onto the power circuitry. In this video from our YouTube channel, David works on an original (“fat”) Xbox One that got water spilled in it while it was off. When the owner pressed the power button, it turned on for a second and cut right back off. They brought it in within an hour, and it was fixed without replacing any parts.

Watch on YouTube: Xbox One Water Damage, Won't Turn On: Repair

Symptoms

  • Water or another liquid was spilled on or into the console
  • The Xbox One won’t turn on, or turns on for a second and shuts off
  • Popping or sparking when the liquid got in (this usually means more damage, see below)

Likely causes

  • Water on the power rails. David explains that water usually runs straight down to the power circuitry (MOSFETs, gates and fuses) and keeps the console from powering on properly.
  • A shorted MOSFET. If the water touches those parts while there’s power, it can short them out and destroy a MOSFET. If the console was on and you heard a pop or spark, a MOSFET has most likely already failed.

What the repair involves

Here’s what the video shows:

  1. Open the console.
  2. Blow all the water out with compressed air (David uses an air compressor) and dry everything, down to the motherboard. Water trapped under the heatsink can still reach the power rails.
  3. Test the power circuitry. He checks the MOSFETs with a multimeter. All of them read fine, so nothing needed replacing.
  4. Reassemble and power on. The console stays on, outputs video, reaches the home screen and reads the owner’s game disc.

David also explains why tipping the console upside down isn’t a real fix: the water is still inside, and when you turn the console back over it runs right back onto the board.

Parts involved

  • No parts were replaced in this repair: cleaning and drying the board was enough
  • Parts that were tested: the power MOSFETs (gates and fuses sit on the same power rail)
  • If a MOSFET is damaged, it has to be replaced

When to send it in

Bring it in or ship it as soon as possible, and don’t keep trying to power it on. The console in the video was fixed easily because the owner brought it in within an hour of the spill.

Send it in right away if the console was on when the liquid got in, or if you heard a pop or spark. In that case a MOSFET is most likely damaged and needs board-level repair, not just cleaning.

FAQ

Should I turn my Xbox One upside down to drain it?

David doesn’t recommend it as a fix. The water stays inside, and when you flip the console back it lands on the board again.

Does water damage always mean replacing parts?

No. In the video, cleaning and drying the board was enough, and the MOSFETs tested fine. If the console was on during the spill and you heard a pop, a MOSFET has most likely failed.

What does a diagnosis cost?

Mail-in diagnosis is free, with a $40 fee only if the console can’t be repaired. In Lincoln there’s a $25 diagnostic fee up front, and it goes toward the repair.

How long does the repair take?

Mail-in repairs take 3–5 days, and repairs at our Lincoln store take 3–5 days.

Get your Xbox One repaired

Don’t want to open it yourself? Game Repair Shop, the repair side of Gamers, can do it for you.

  • Mail-in repair: ship it to us. Diagnosis is free, and if it can’t be repaired the only charge is a $40 fee. Turnaround is 3–5 days. See how mail-in repair works.
  • Lincoln, NE: walk-ins are welcome at the Gamers store, 2711 King Ln Ste 202, Lincoln, NE. There’s a $25 diagnostic fee up front, and it goes toward the repair. Turnaround is 3–5 days.
  • Omaha: our Omaha store is opening soon.

Questions? Call or text (402) 703-4403, 10 AM–9 PM every day.

More on this repair: Xbox repair (Series X, Series S, One and 360) · Browse all repair guides.