If your Xbox Series X|S is running hot or loud, a clean and fresh thermal paste is usually the fix, and it's one of the cheaper console repairs. But prices vary, and so does what's actually done for the money. Here's what to expect in the UK.
What independent repairers charge
For an Xbox Series X|S deep clean and thermal paste replacement, most independent UK repairers charge somewhere between about £45 and £80. Some offer a "liquid metal upgrade" at a higher price.
My price is £59 all-in for the Series X or Series S. That includes a full strip-down, cleaning the fan and heatsink, fresh thermal paste, replacing dried thermal putty where needed, an hour's test running a demanding game, and tracked return postage. The work is covered by a 12-month warranty. You pay to post the console to me.
What's included matters
- A strip-down, or just the vents. A proper overheating repair means taking the fan off and cleaning the heatsink. Blowing air through the vents isn't the same job.
- Thermal paste and putty. Ask whether the thermal paste is replaced, and whether the putty on the other components is checked.
- Testing. A console that ran hot needs testing under a real load for long enough to show the problem has gone.
- Postage and warranty. Check both.
- What happens if it isn't heat. With me, if the shutdowns turn out to be something else, I tell you and quote. If you'd rather not go ahead, it's no fix, no fee.
Does an Xbox need liquid metal?
The Series X|S was designed with thermal paste, not liquid metal. Good-quality paste, applied properly, is what the console was built around. Some repairers offer liquid metal as an upgrade. It conducts heat better, but it also conducts electricity, so it has to be applied and contained very carefully. I use quality thermal paste, to match how Microsoft built the console.
What can add to the cost
A worn fan. Most loud fans only need cleaning. If the bearing is worn, the fan needs replacing, and that's an extra part. I quote first. If you'd rather not, I still do the service.
A fault that isn't heat. A console that cuts out suddenly, or won't start, may have a power fault. That's a different repair. See Xbox won't turn on.
Is it worth it?
Almost always, if the console is otherwise working. It's a small fraction of the price of a new console, and a clean console usually runs noticeably quieter.
Before you pay for anything
Work through Xbox overheating: what to check and how to clean an Xbox Series X|S. Placement and the vents fix a real share of Xbox heat problems for free.
Common questions
How often does an Xbox need a clean inside?
There's no fixed schedule. It depends on the room, pets, and how many hours the console runs. Many consoles go years without needing one. The signs are a fan that's louder than it used to be, overheating warnings, or shutdowns during games.
Will a clean make my Xbox faster?
Not directly. The console doesn't slow down in the same way a PC can. But a console that's been running hot may have been shutting down or running its fan flat out, and a clean sorts both.
Can I do it myself?
You can clean the vents yourself, as described in how to clean an Xbox Series X|S. Replacing the thermal paste means taking the console fully apart, and it's easy to damage a cable or clip along the way.
My recommendation
Expect to pay around £45 to £80 for an Xbox overheating repair, and check it's a full strip-down with fresh thermal paste, tested properly. My Xbox Series X|S overheating repair is £59 all-in, with a 12-month warranty. When you're ready, how to pack an Xbox for posting will help it arrive safely.
The Repair Works is an independent UK repair service, run by me, Paul — 25 years of hands-on repair experience, working by post for customers across the whole country. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.
