Bad thermal paste is one of the most common reasons for Xbox overheating and red ring of death. This can happen if the paste is not applied correctly during the manufacture of the console. Bad pasta can also result from exposure to heat for long periods of time. As the paste slowly breaks down, you will begin to experience an overheating problem that will gradually worsen over time. If the paste fails quickly, this will cause an almost instant two red lights error within a few seconds of turning on your Xbox.

Whether or not you should try to replace the thermal paste yourself depends on whether or not you want to make use of your warranty. If you’ve never opened your console before, then using your warranty to have Microsoft fix the problem is your best option. Just remember that once you open the console, your warranty will be void.

It always helps when you understand why you’re doing something, so a bit of theory will be discussed. Thermal paste acts as a bridge that allows heat to move through the contact area between the heatsink and the CPU or GPU. When the paste breaks down, it acts as a heat barrier rather than a bridge. This means that the heatsink will not be able to do its job of drawing heat away from the GPU.

When applying thermal paste, try the following tips:

1.) After removing the heat sink from the motherboard, always clean off the old paste. Applying new paste on top of the old does nothing because the old paste will still block proper heat transfer. Old paste can be removed by applying isopropyl alcohol with a clean cloth. The surface should be shiny when you’re done. Remember to clean both the heat sink and the CPU or GPU. It makes no sense to clean only one of the two contact surfaces. After cleaning, never touch the surfaces with your fingers as this will leave oil in the form of a fingerprint.

2.) Always apply the paste in a thin layer. The thinner it is, the better it will work. Just make sure you cover the entire surface. You’ll know when you can’t see any of the shiny metal. A good rule of thumb is to apply a bit of paste the size of a BB.

3.) By covering your fingertip with a small plastic bag, you can use your finger to apply the paste without leaving oils on the skin. This also gives you more control than trying to do this with a stick.

4.) Arctic Silver 5, a high quality thermal paste, is recommended.

5.) Before opening the console, unplug it from its power source. Keep all liquids away from the work area and never work on a carpet. Carpets can cause static electricity that will damage motherboard components.