How to Fix an Xbox 360 Slim Disc Tray

If your Xbox 360 Slim disc tray is jammed shut and refuses to open, there are a few methods you can try in hopes that one of them will help get it functioning again.

First, switch off and disconnect any cables running to your console. Secondly, move it to an upright position while looking in through its vents on its left side.

1. Remove the faceplate

Problems with an Xbox 360 slim disc tray can be extremely infuriating. A hardware failure can cost hundreds of dollars to repair; however, there are ways you can address the issue without breaking the bank.

Before opening the disc tray, clean off any dirt or debris from it using either a small brush or cotton ball to gently wipe away. Doing this will ensure optimal performance of the laser system.

As soon as your console is unplugged from power, the first task should be removing its faceplate from it. Do not attempt to force anything when doing this step if there is any resistance; wait and try later instead.

If the faceplate remains stuck to your console, you might need to pull it off from behind with a Phillips screwdriver or flat-edged screwdriver.

Once the faceplate has been taken off, you can begin disassembling your Xbox 360. Be mindful that disassembly voids your warranty; make sure that you understand exactly what’s happening before proceeding.

To remove the front panel of an Xbox, six screws need to be unfastened from its bottom case in the corners. Use a T9 or T10 Torx screwdriver for this step.

Once the six screws have been taken out, you can begin opening up your console. Before beginning any dismantling procedures, ensure all cables have been disconnected and that it is grounded before disassembling it.

Unscrew the Wi-Fi card from the Xbox One casing and place it aside.

Remove the DVD drive from your Xbox One’s case by gently pulling its four wires. They should easily detach by pulling backwards through their positions in the Xbox One’s case with your hand.

2. Remove the power cord

If you are having problems with the Xbox 360 slim disc tray, there is an effective solution that may help. Simply disconnecting its power cable will allow any remaining energy stored up in system components to escape and free up space within.

Once the power cord has been disconnected, take steps to access and take out the disc tray in order to see its laser system which reads disks within it.

Reddit and social media users have reported success with opening the console as a solution for disc tray error resolution. Whether this will work for you depends on your situation and hardware inside of Xbox.

In many instances, it could be that dust particles were clogging the laser and leading to disc tray errors. If this were indeed the case, simply cleaning it may solve the problem.

Alternatively, if this does not resolve your problem, it could be that the laser itself has failed and needs replacing. If this is the case for you, contact Microsoft for support on how best to address the issue.

Prior to beginning any electrical work, be sure to ground yourself as static electricity can cause serious damage to the circuitry in your console.

As part of your Xbox One console’s initial power cord unplugging procedure, make sure that all wires associated with it are disconnected as well. This will avoid accidentally shorting out any internal circuitry and potentially shorting it out completely.

Once all wires have been disconnected, the top casing should pull away without resistance. Once this step has been accomplished, place it somewhere safe and dry until future use.

Unscrew the Wi-Fi card by using a Torx T8 screwdriver; this can be found in the lower-left corner of its casing if facing front.

Once the Wi-Fi card has been uncoiled, you should be able to easily release its bottom vent from its casing using your spudger to lift its front edge slightly before pushing outward on clips securing its attachment from console.

3. Remove the disc tray

Getting the “open tray error” while trying to play games? To rectify it, a few steps can help restore disc tray operation on an Xbox 360 slim console. Remove and clean laser to ensure it doesn’t become clogged with debris.

If this doesn’t help, another effective way of rectifying the problem would be opening your console and clearing out any dust build-up inside. Doing this should allow it to recognize all discs properly within its system.

To open your Xbox, all that’s required to access it is a flat-edged screwdriver and a bath towel. Place it horizontally on the towel with its power button facing you.

Insert the tip of a flat-edged screwdriver into the hole on the right side of the disc tray, pushing until some resistance is felt. This should cause it to pop out slightly so you can open it further with your hands.

Once your tray has been taken out, find and unclip its anchor clips from the console front faceplate if applicable; otherwise use a paperclip as an alternative solution.

Before opening a console, it’s essential that you ground yourself. Doing so will prevent any static electricity that may harm its circuitry – this is particularly pertinent if using metal screwdrivers that could easily pick up static charge.

Next, remove the four clips securing the front of the console to the disc drive. Two on the left hold the tray cover in place while three more secure it to the front of the console.

Once all clips have been unclipped, it is possible to lift up on the case to expose a plastic insert housing the DVD drive – this final piece must be removed for unlocking your console; T9 and T10 Torx screwdrivers may be needed in order to do this effectively.

4. Clean the laser

If your Xbox 360 slim disc tray is misreading game disks incorrectly, a dirty laser beam could be to blame. Recalibrating this laser may remedy the situation and get your game console working again as intended.

There are multiple methods you can use to clean the laser on your Xbox. One approach involves spraying pressurised air directly onto it. Another is soaking your laser lens in cleaning solution before wiping it down with cloth or paper towel.

Your Xbox 360 laser may become dirty over time and should be regularly cleaned to avoid potential problems it causes, including longer loading times, blurrier graphics, and noise issues. A dirty laser could result in loading times taking longer, blurry graphics appearing out-of-focus or noise production issues.

Cleaning the laser on an Xbox 360 is simple without disassembling it or nullifying your warranty. Simply dip a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol to clean its lens.

Once your Xbox 360’s laser has been cleaned, make sure that it dries thoroughly afterward in order to prevent additional dust accumulation. Also avoid any harsh cleaners that could potentially harm the lens of the console.

Some have discovered that applying toothpaste directly to their laser lens can make it read discs better, as its abrasive properties help remove scratches that prevent it from reading discs properly.

Note that this technique only works if your disc has no scratches or smudges on it; otherwise, try another method for cleaning the laser instead.

Use a sanding cloth on your laser to get rid of scratches and smudges that impede Xbox’s reading ability of discs.

Your Xbox 360 laser can also be cleaned using isopropyl alcohol or acetone as powerful cleaners; though excessive amounts of the latter could potentially damage its lens.