How To Open An Xbox 360 Console

There are many reasons for someone to want to know how to open an Xbox 360 console. Maybe the innards have become caked in dust and have lead to overheating, or maybe you are one of those people who like to mod every piece of computer equipment you get your hands on—either way you will have to address the daunting task of opening your console. Now, it should be made common knowledge that opening up your Xbox 360 for any reason at all will void the warranty and make it impossible to mail to Microsoft for repairs. So before you do this, either make sure you don't care about the warranty agreement or that it has expired.

In order to do this, you will need very small flathead and Phillips head screwdrivers, and a Torx10 star style head screwdriver. 

1. Xbox 360:Unplugged. Disconnect all external wires from the Xbox; this includes any wired controllers.
   
2. Take out the hard drive and any memory cards or other peripherals you have attached. Grip the front faceplate in anyway you can and pull it. It should pop right off.
   
3. The grey panels on the side of the 360 can be removed using a small screwdriver to push in the grey tabs that hold them to the system.
   
4. Using the same small object or flathead screwdriver, insert the tool into the back of the console in the little notches. When you hear a pop, you know you are in the right place. These are the tabs releasing the top of the console from the bottom.
   
5. Keep doing this from left to right, and make sure to keep them separated so they don't click back into place— it can be quite frustrating. Use your fingernail or the flathead screwdriver to unhook the tabs on the front of the console. The top of the case should just slide right off.
6. Time to Get Unscrewed. Using your Torx T10 screw driver, remove the six long screws on the case. No other type of screw driver will work here—it must be a Torx 10. These screws should be obvious, but they are the four in the corners and the two directly in between them. You don't need to remove the rest unless you plan on removing the motherboard or the X-Clamps, in which case you will need a Torx T8 screwdriver.
   
7. After you unscrew them, flip the console over so that the white case you just removed the screws from is on the bottom and pull the white case straight up. It should come off easily. You are now face to face with the 360's guts.
8. Do What You Need to Do. Now, did you want to open it to mod it? To clean it? Whatever the reason make sure you do that here. Be careful, however. Scratching the motherboard or plugging components in wrong can be highly detrimental to the life of your console. Make sure you are grounded to avoid any static discharge and just be careful.
9. Do It In Reverse. You now know how to field strip and open an Xbox 360—next time try it blindfolded. Actually, don't do that. It could end badly.