How to hard reset the official Xbox Wireless Headset

Official Xbox Wireless Headset Review Shots
Official Xbox Wireless Headset Review Shots (Image credit: Windows Central)

The Xbox Wireless Headset is pretty great, boasting a packed feature kit into a svelte price point. Given its value, it's quite easily among the best Xbox One headsets and best Xbox Series X, Series S headsets, and has a very ergonomic design making it easy to use. For the most part, at least.

Like many wireless headsets, the Xbox Wireless Headset comes with on-board firmware that handles some of the headset's features. In rare scenarios, this firmware can crash or even get corrupted, which may cause your headset to lock up. It's possible to perform a hard reset on the hardware, which may solve many issues that pertains to the firmware. If your headset has locked up and won't turn on, it might be worth giving this a try.

How to hard reset the Xbox Wireless Headset

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Plug the bundled USB-C charging cable into your headset.
  2. Position yourself near a power source, such as a Windows 10 PC, or Xbox console. Do not plug the headset into a power source just yet.
  3. Hold down the headset's power button and mute button simultaneously on the left ear cup, and then quickly plug the USB-C cable into a Windows 10 PC, power outlet, or Xbox console.
  4. The headset should power off if the hard reset is successful.
  5. Turn the headset back on afterwards. You may need to re-pair your headset to your console or Bluetooth device afterwards.

Note: After performing the steps, you may hear a tone and see the headset's power light flicker white and orange. If you see this, you have wiped the headset's radio pairing information and incorrectly performed the hard reset. In this scenario, attempt to follow the steps again.

These steps should clear your Xbox headset and hopefully kick it back into working order. You may have to go through the Xbox Wireless Headset pairing process again after completing a hard reset.

Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden is a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter (X) and Threads, and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!