How to Fix a Blinking Xbox Controller

By J. Anthony Cooley

Updated September 22, 2017

Fixing the flashing light on your Xbox 360 wireless controller is a simple matter of replacing its batteries.
i Video game controller image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com

A flashing light on your wireless Xbox 360 controller will eventually prevent you from playing games on the console and performing any other functions on your Xbox 360. Luckily, this problem can be remedied by learning how to change the batteries on your Xbox 360 controller. The flashing light means that your batteries are losing juice, and changing the batteries in your Xbox controller is something you will have to learn to stay in the game.

Turn your wireless Xbox 360 controller over so that the buttons are facing down and the battery pack is facing up toward you.

Locate the battery holster on the back of the Xbox 360 wireless controller. There is a sticker, on the back of the battery holster, that shows a diagram for changing the batteries. Use this as a reference.. If the sticker has been removed, you can identify the battery holster as the rectangular pack on the back of the Xbox 360 wireless controller.

Separate the battery case from the holster. Grip the sides of the battery holster with your thumb and middle finger, push down the button located on top of the battery holster with your index finger, then pull outward.

Pull the batteries out of the casing and replace them with new ones. Check the diagram on the inside of the casing for directions on how to insert the new batteries.

Reconnect the battery casing to the holster. Grab the battery casing with your thumb and middle fingers so that the outside of the casing is facing your palm and the button on the casing is facing up. Bring the casing to the holster leading with the bottom of the casing at a diagonal angle. Push and hold down the button on top of the casing with your index finger and slide the top of the casing into the holster. Release the button when the casing is comfortably in the holster.

Flip the Xbox 360 controller over, then press and hold the circular button with the "X" in the middle until the controller turns on. You will notice that the light on the controller no longer flashes.

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