Xbox Series X Optical Drive Replacement

Written By: Carsten Frauenheim

Comments: 12

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a faulty optical drive in an Xbox Series X.

Before you begin, completely power down and unplug all cables from your console. Remember to follow general electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety procedures while repairing the console.

The board inside the optical drive is software-linked to the console’s motherboard. This board will need to be transferred into the replacement optical drive to restore full functionality. This will require you to de-solder and solder two wires. Follow general soldering safety guidelines such as wearing eye protection, working in a well-ventilated area, and washing your hands after with soap and water after soldering.

Tools

Parts

Xbox Series X Dual Motherboards and Paired Optical Drive

Step 1

Before you begin, completely power down and unplug all cables from your console.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the sticker hiding the first screw on the back panel, near the base.

Step 2

For cleaner removal, use an iOpener or hair dryer to heat the sticker.
Use a pair of blunt tweezers to peel back the large sticker on the back panel to reveal the second screw.
You only need to peel this sticker to where you can access the hidden screw. You don't need to pull it completely off.
Technically, these are tamper-evident stickers, but don't worry—Microsoft can't legally void your warranty, as long as you don't damage anything. Have fun!

Recommend using a hair dryer to soften the label adhesive.

Crash -

Microsoft can void your warranty. They can use whatever excuse if it is sent in because you opened it and you cannot prove you didn’t damage it.

DirtyD -

Step 3

Use a T8 Torx driver to remove the two 7.4 mm‑long screws securing the back panel.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your console.

Step 4

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the gap between the back panel and the shell, near the left side of the base.
Pry up the back panel to release it from the locking clips.

Step 5

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the gap between the back panel and the shell, near the right side of the base.
Pry up the back panel to release it from the locking clips.

Step 6

Grip the back panel at the opening you just created and pull it up and away from the shell to unclip the long edges.
During reassembly, press along the edges of the back panel to snap it into place.

Step 7

The back panel slots into a gap at the top of the shell.
Tilt the back panel up and pull it away from the top edge of the shell to release it from the gap.
Remove the back panel.

Step 8

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift up on the locking tab holding the base to the shell.

Step 9

Grip the base and rotate it counterclockwise to unlock it from the shell.
You may need to hold the locking tab open while you get the base started.
Remove the base.
During reassembly, drop the base tabs into their holes on the shell and twist clockwise until the base snaps into the interior locking tab.
When locked in place, the "Hello from Seattle" line will be parallel with the device's sides.

had trouble getting the base off, what worked for me is setting the console on the table sitting on the base and turning the whole console while pushing down.

techy Waterville -

Step 10

Use a T8 Torx driver to remove the two 8.8 mm screws securing the optical drive's vibration isolator to the shell: one on the base and one on the top of the isolator.

Step 11

Lift up the optical drive's vibration isolator to remove it.
The vibration isolator grips the sides of the optical drive with silicone pads, so you may need to "walk" the isolator off of the drive to slip it off each side.
During reassembly, ensure the vibration isolator is pushed down and around both edges of the optical drive, so it sits flush with the rest of the center chassis.

Step 12

Use a pair of blunt tweezers to grip the edges of the optical drive power connector and pull up to disconnect it from the optical drive.
Always pull cables by their connectors and not the wires themselves.
Use your fingers to pull up and disconnect the data cable from the optical drive.

Once again, DO NOT use tweezers to pull these connectors out. That’s a great way to slip and damage something.

Leif DeWolf -

Step 13

Grip the top edge of the optical drive and pull it out of its slot in the shell to remove it.
During reassembly, align the pegs on the bottom edge of the optical drive with the guide holes on the bottom of the shell.
If the drive is misaligned, the top vibration isolator will not be able to be installed correctly, and the disc reader will be misaligned with the front of the console.

Step 14

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3.6 mm screws securing the optical drive cover.

Step 15

Lift the optical drive cover straight up to remove it.

Step 16

Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip up the hinged locking tab on the large ribbon cable's ZIF connector.

Step 17

Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip up the hinged locking tab on the small ribbon cable's ZIF connector.

Step 18

Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip up the hinged locking tab on the small ribbon cable's ZIF connector, near the corner of the optical drive.

Step 19

Use a pair of blunt tweezers to remove each of the three ribbon cables from their connectors.
Always pull ribbon cables straight out of their connectors, in the direction of the cable.

Step 20

Use a soldering iron to desolder the red wire in the corner of the optical drive board.
Then, desolder the adjacent black wire. Use a pair of blunt tweezers to hold and pull away the wires from the board.
Follow general soldering safety guidelines such as wearing eye protection, working in a well-ventilated area, and washing your hands with soap and water after soldering.
Excessive heat may damage electrical components. Don't apply the soldering iron to the board for long periods of time.
When you install the original board into the replacement optical drive, solder the red wire to the solder pad labeled R. Solder the black wire to the solder pad labeled B.

Step 21

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three 3.3 mm‑long screws securing the optical drive board.

Step 22

Lift the edge of the board near the plastic gears and slide the board towards the edge so it comes out from under the clip near the barcode.
During reassembly, slide the board under its clip, and use the alignment pegs next to the screws to properly orient the board.

Step 23

Remove the optical drive board.
Use the same process (starting at this step) to remove the optical drive board from your replacement drive.
You'll need to transfer your original optical drive board into the new drive.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Xbox Series X Answers community for help.

Author

Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 10/03/20

130781 Reputation

8 comments

Where can I get a replacement disk drive for my Series X? Figures the warranty just ran out last month and now the disk drive wants to start acting stupid. Doing the same exact thing my One X did where it'll read some discs no problem but won't read others. Just got Guardians of the Galaxy brand new, first time ever taking it out of it's case and inserted directly into the console and it won't read.

NISMOJukeRich -

After zooming into the drive cover, we find the model number is DG-6M5S-03B Which can then be googled, to find that its the exact same replacement drive from previous xbox models. The only difference being the drives motherboard, which you will be swapping to your current one anyway.

Veronica Lowe -

Where can I get replacement drive?

anthonyt204 -

After zooming into the drive cover, we find the model number is DG-6M5S-03B Which can then be googled, to find that its the exact same replacement drive from previous xbox models. The only difference being the drive's motherboard, which you will be swapping to your current one anyway.

Veronica Lowe -

I bought a replacement drive for my One X and never installed it, but am now having issues with my Series X drive. The spare I have is P/N DG-6M5S-02B. Is this a compatible replacement?

Chris Gourley -

Today I successfully completed the disc drive replacement of my Series X, following this amazing guide. Thank you so much for sharing all the guidelines, and kudos to ifixit.com once more! While I am not an expert in soldering, the whole daugher board swapping from one drive to the other went very well, only requiring minimal tinning and handling the cables with precision forceps. Happy to report that the disc drive is now reading all kinds of formats (bluray discs, ultra hd discs, xbox 360, xbox one and xbox series x discs).

For more information, I ordered a replacement disc drive on ebay for the repair. When I opened my console (day one purchase), I wrote down the details of the faulty disc drive: DG-6M5S-03B, manufactured in Apr 2020. The disc drive I received from ebay was a DG-6M5S-04B, manufactured May 2022.

Shinkyo20 -

Have you seen any noticeable differences between the two model numbers? I'm guessing no but I too have issues with my optical drive and have a buddy that can solder. Looking to get it swapped out since it appears fairly easy.

Michael Majcher -

I do not remember seeing any differences between 03B and 04B. The daughter board of my old drive was visibly identical to the one of the other drive, so I was confident to swap the drives despite the model difference.

The drive still works as intended months after the repair, by the way. 👏🏻

Shinkyo20 -