You can install the new system software through a USB stick using the EOU procedure

Nov 21, 2013 12:06 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has officially detailed the Emergency Offline Update procedure for the Xbox One next-gen console, teaching owners of the new device just how they can force the device to update its system software offline via a USB drive.

Update: Microsoft has taken the EOU page and the system software download links down as apparently it doesn't want Xbox One owners to brick their consoles by mistake.

The Xbox One, like the Xbox 360, can receive firmware updates both online via the Xbox Live, but also offline, via a USB drive, in which case players must follow the special Emergency Offline Update procedure.

According to the complicated 23-step process, players must first figure out the version of the console's operating system, download the appropriate files, save them onto a USB drive with at least 2GB of free space, and undertake a special procedure that forces the Xbox One to scan for a firmware file.

Check out the full list of steps below, via Microsoft's official page.

Step 1: To find your Xbox One console’s OS version: 1.Press the Xbox button to return to Home. 2.Press the Menu button and select Settings (or select Settings on the Home screen). 3.Select System. 4.Select Console info. 5.Your OS version is the third row down. Note: If you’re in the middle of a system update and need to find your OS version, pull both triggers and both bumpers on your controller. The OS version is listed as Build and is the second line down.

Step 2: On your computer

1.Plug your USB flash drive into a USB port on your computer. 2.Format the USB as NTFS (USB must have at least 2 GB of space). 3.You’ll need to select the correct OS version to be able to install properly. 4.Click Save to save the console update .zip file to your computer. 5.Unzip the file. If you’re using Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, double-click the .zip file to unzip it. 6.Copy the contents of the .zip file to the root directory of your flash drive. 7.Unplug the USB flash drive from your computer.

Step 3: On your Xbox One console

1.Unplug the network cable if you’re using a wired network connection. 2.Power off your console, and then unplug the power cord to ensure that the console is completely powered off. 3.Wait 30 seconds. 4.Plug the power cord back in. 5.Plug the flash drive into a USB port on your Xbox One console. 6.Press and hold the BIND and EJECT buttons, and then press Power On. 7.Continue holding the BIND and EJECT buttons for 10-15 seconds. 8.Listen for two “power-up” tones a couple of seconds apart. Note If you don’t hear two power-up tones after 10 seconds, it means this failed. Likewise, if you hear any “power-down” chirps, that also means this failed. 9.You can release the BIND and EJECT buttons after the second power-up tone. 10.When the console restarts, remove the USB drive. 11.Once the console restarts, the update is complete and you should be returned to your experience. Note The console restart may take several minutes.

This process should be followed only in case of emergencies, according to Microsoft, as it's much safer to just install new firmware via the Xbox Live online service.