How to Update Xbox One Offline

José ZapataBy
xbox one offline update

Software updates generally come via automatic online updates. But if you don’t have a good internet connection, sometimes the console forces you to use offline methods.

The Xbox Offline System Update (OSU) allows you to get the console up to date with a flash drive.

Here’s what you need:

  • A USB flash drive with 6GB of space, as well as NTFS format
  • A Windows PC with an internet connection and USB ports

The process is the same for the Xbox One S, the Xbox One X, Xbox Series X, or Xbox Series S.

However, the original Xbox One console may need an extra update, depending on its operating system. There’s a detailed guide below.

Format the USB Drive

The first step is formatting your USB flash drive. Here’s how:

  1. Plug your USB flash drive into your Windows PC
  2. Open the File Explorer
  3. Go to This PC
  4. Right-click your USB drive
  5. Select Format
    click-on-format
  6. Select NTFS format under File System
    choose-ntfs-file-system
  7. Leave everything else as-is, but rename the drive if you want
  8. Select Start
    start-format

Download the Update File

  1. Plug the USB drive on your Windows PC
  2. Download this file (OSU1). Click “Save as” and save it to your Downloads folder. It’s a 6GB file, so the download may take a while if you have a slow internet speed. 
    save-the-file
  3. After it downloads, right-click the file and select Extract all
  4. Copy the “$SystemUpdate” on the .zip file to the flash drive
  5. Unplug the drive from your PC

Update the Xbox Offline

Now, it’s time for the update. It works through the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter:

  1. Turn off your console
  2. Unplug the power cord for one minute to power cycle the Xbox
  3. Plug back the cable
  4. Press and hold the Pair and Eject buttons on the console. Press the Xbox power button after hearing the first beep, but keep holding the others.
    pair-and-eject-button
  5. The Xbox Series S and the Xbox One S All-Digital have to Eject buttons, so you’d have to press the Pair button for 10-15 seconds. Again, after you hear the first beep, press the Xbox button on the console, but keep holding the Pair button.
    pair-button
  6. Hold the two buttons for 10-15 seconds until you hear the second power-up tone. Release the buttons when you listen to it
  7. The console will boot into the Startup Troubleshooter
  8. Plug the USB drive on the Xbox
  9. Select Offline system update offline system update

The process will take several minutes. The console may restart various times to finish the update.

Also, you will need to connect to the internet during the setup process. Simply follow the instructions until you’re back on your Xbox’s home screen. 

However, if it doesn’t work, you may:

  1. Turn off the Xbox
  2. Unplug all of its cables for 5 minutes
  3. Plug back all of its cables
  4. Try the update again, or choose to Reset this console

How to Update the Original Xbox One Offline

As the oldest console, the Xbox One original may require you to do some extra steps.

But you can quickly verify if you need these steps or not. See, older system versions don’t have the Xbox Startup troubleshooter. So, if your Xbox has one, you can update it with the steps you saw above.

Otherwise, you will have to install two or three offline updates in a row.

Check if the Xbox One Has the Troubleshooter

Here’s how to check if your older Xbox has the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter:

  1. Turn off the console
  2. Unplug the network and power cable
  3. Wait one minute
  4. Plug the power card back
  5. Press and hold the Pair and the Eject button simultaneously for 10-15 seconds
  6. Press the Xbox power button after you hear the first beep, but keep holding the other buttons
  7. After you hear the second beep, release the buttons.

When the console powers up, it will take you to the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter. If it could reach there, you can perform the Xbox offline update with the same steps as above.

Otherwise, continue with the following steps. 

Check the OS Version

There’re three offline Xbox system updates (OSU1, OSU2, and OSU3). To find out the ones you need, you must check the OS version on your console: 

  1. Turn on the console
  2. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide
  3. Go to Profile & system
  4. Go to Settings profile and system settings
  5. Go to System
  6. Go to Console info console info
  7. Check your OS version and compare it with our lists below os version
  8. Newer OS versions only need OSU1. These are:
    • 6.2.11791.0 (xb_rel_1411.141114-2300) fre
    • 6.2.12521.0 (xb_rel_1503.150305-1449) fre
    • 6.2.12998.0 (xb_rel_1506.150601-2200) fre
    • 6.2.13326.0 (xb_rel_1508.150810-2029) fre
    • 6.2.13332.0 (xb_rel_1508.150903-2141) fre
    • 10.0.10586.1006 (th2_xbox_rel_1510.151107-2322) fre
    • 10.0.10586.1016 (th2_xbox_rel_1510.151118-2147) fre
    • 10.0.10586.1024 (th2_xbox_rel_1510.151203-1909) fre
    • 10.0.10586.1026 (th2_xbox_rel_1510.151217-1035) fre
    • 10.0.10586.1100 (th2_xbox_rel_1602.160210-2122) fre
    • 10.0.10586.1194 (th2_xbox_rel_1603.160317-1900) fre
  9. If your build is not above, it may be the following:
    •  6.2.9781.0

The build above is the older version, and it needs an OSU3 update. All other system versions (the ones you don’t see on these lists) need OSU2. 

Update Each Version Separately

You must update each version separately, one after the other. It works like so:

  • If you update with OSU3, you then need to update with OSU2, and finally OSU1
  • If you update with OSU2, you then need to update to OSU1

Each update needs a separate process, as I explained above. For example, if you need the OSU3 update, here’s what you’d do:

  1. Download OSU3
  2. Unzip and copy its file on your empty and NTFS flash drive
  3. Initiate the Troubleshooter
  4. Plug the drive on the Xbox
  5. Select Offline system update
  6. Let the process finish

Then, turn off the Xbox, and go on with the follow-up update.

  1. Download OSU2
  2. Plug the drive on your Windows PC and delete everything within
  3. Unzip OSU2 and copy its file on your empty and NTFS flash drive
  4. Initiate the Troubleshooter
  5. Plug the drive on the Xbox
  6. Select Offline system update
  7. Let the process finish

Then, finish up with OSU1:

  1. Download OSU1
  2. Plug the drive on your Windows PC and delete its contents
  3. Unzip OSU1 and copy its file on the drive
  4. Initiate the Xbox troubleshooter
  5. Plug the drive on the console
  6. Select Offline system update
  7. Let the process finish

Jose Zapata has been writing about video games at TNT for nearly 4 years. He specializes in video-game troubleshooting, gaming lists, guides, and similar content. In 2021, he created an entertainment commentary/gaming YouTube channel, and he began editing gameplay videos for semi-professional eSports players (Warzone, Rocket League, AoE, and others). However, he prefers the RPG genre, ranging from classic and turn-based like Baldur’s Gate, to modern and open-world action-RPG titles like Elden Ring. He also has a competitive side for RTS games like Age of Empires II and Age of Empires IV…not the pro skills, though! Jose has worked as a content writer for nearly a decade for various tech-related digital magazines. He also has a background as a musician, so he used to work at BegginnerGuitarHQ, where he wrote musical tutorials. Lastly, he’s proficient with video editing and image processing tools such as Premiere, After Effects, and Photoshop, and he has several diplomas in audiovisual production. You can contact him at jouseup@technewstoday.com

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