The towel fix requires that you wrap some towels around the console and then run your Xbox like this for several minutes. This causes the internal soldering to heat up making it soft so that broken connections get repaired. At any rate, that’s the theory behind it. It’s certainly an easy thing to do but will it actually work?

Even though there’s an explosion of YouTube videos about this, most of these were put together by amateurs. They aren’t terribly concerned about how long their fix lasts or whether it does any damage. More desirable ways can be found for fixing the red ring of death.

People using this technique often end up with a severely damaged Xbox while the lucky ones get a temporary fix. Continual usage of this fix causes additional damage to the electronics. When the cumulative damage becomes too severe, the towel trick doesn’t work anymore.

This technique is flawed because you don’t get a fix that deals with the root of the problem. The method makes your machine even more prone to overheating.

The explanation behind this is that microchips are damaged by exposure to heat. This is why cooling systems are always used in these devices. If blasting the console with heat is how you’re supposed to fix the overheating problem, then this should be a tip off that something is wrong with the technique.

The towel fix is simply not a solution. A lot of people who have used it haven’t had any success.

Don’t do this to your Xbox 360. Instead, send it back to Microsoft if your warranty is still intact. If not, do the repair yourself or send it to a repair shop.

If you opt to do your own repair, you should get a decent guide. Remember that you’ll be opening up the console. It is possible that you may cause even more damage. However, if you can work with your hands and can follow the directions in the guide, you’ll be alright.

Having problems with your Xbox 360? Get more Xbox troubleshooting advice about repairing the Red Ring of Death.