xbox 360 disc tray not opening

If the Xbox 360 disc tray not opening there is certainly something wrong!

When you press the front Eject button, the disc tray should come out instantly. 

When it doesn’t then something is preventing the disc tray from rolling out or the action is not recognized.

To fix an Xbox 360 disc tray that does not open, users need to manually pull it out and clean the rubber belt within the DVD drive. In addition, while the disc tray is opened, the sides have to be cleaned as well and any obstructions removed.

Xbox 360 Console Disc Tray Will Not Open. Why?

There are quite a few reasons why the Xbox 360 disc tray won’t open.

Let’s take a look at the most frequently reported causes to understand the problem better.

  • Power issue
  • Obstructions
  • Dirty rubber belt
  • Dispositioned mechanism
  • Faulty DVD drive
  • The Eject button is not working

For now, we’ll simply exclude the possibility of a non-working DVD drive and proceed with what we can do at home.

There are quite a few solutions to attempt so let’s jump right in.

How To Fix When Xbox 360 Disc Tray Not Opening?

fix xbox 360 disc tray not opening

In order to solve the problem, first, we need to learn how to open the disc tray manually and then how to resolve the problem.

The solutions are listed in order to help you understand how to work with the DVD drive of your Xbox 360 so we strongly recommend following the order.

Let’s first see whether a simple power cycle can help:

Solution #1 Hard Reset The Console

Before attempting to manually eject the DVD drive, users should start by simply restarting the device to check whether a power cycle would help.

hard reset console

The procedure is simple!

  1. Disconnect the power cord of the Xbox from the outlet.
  2. Unplug the adapter from the power entity of the console as well.
  3. Wait for a few minutes until the device completely discharges.
  4. Plug back the power supply.
  5. Turn ON the console.
  6. Press the Eject button.

In case the disc tray comes out so easily, then the problem was something significant.

It would mean that the rolling mechanism is intact and it was simply a software bug.

However, in case the DVD drive won’t open even when you press the eject button several times, proceed further!

Solution #2 Manually Eject The Disc Tray

Sometimes the disc tray only needs a push to get out. In case some object has obstructed the rollers, by helping the DVD drive manually, you’ll be able to solve the problem for good.

Follow the steps below to manually eject the disc tray:

  1. Disconnect ALL cables connected to the console!
  2. Take a sharp object such as an uncoiled paper clip.
  3. Place the Xbox horizontally.
  4. On the left side of the console, locate the yellow sticker.
  5. There is an eject hole in the center of the sticker.
  6. Insert your sharp object into the eject hole.

The eject hole is located in the middle of the yellow sticker and when you reach inside and push, the disc tray should slightly pop out.

The last step is to grab the ejected part of the disc tray with your hand and manually pull the rest out.

Note: Turn ON the Xbox and test whether the disc tray will open and close as normal.

Solution #3 Use A Card To Open The Tray

The Xbox 360 disc tray can easily be opened by any sort of plastic card such as credit/debit cards or even a fitness card.

The operation is fairly simple and can be performed each time the disc tray is stuck inside and won’t open when you press the eject button.

open tray

Here’s how to open the Xbox 360 disc tray by using a plastic card:

  1. Turn ON the Xbox 360.
  2. Position the console standing up.
  3. Grab your plastic card.
  4. Plug the card halfway in from the right side of the disc tray (your point of view).
  5. Bend the card backward to start pulling the disc tray out.
  6. Simultaneously press the Eject button and open the disc tray using the card.

Again, this method does not damage the console in any way as long as the pressure you’re applying with the card is not too much.

Make sure to attempt the opening several times to understand how it works and how to perform it without much thought.

Note: You can perform this method using other objects to help you pull out the disc tray.

Solution #4 Clean The Rubber Belt

The main reason why the disc tray of the Xbox 360 is not opening is that the rubber belt in the mechanism of the DVD drive is dirty.

The belt can be cleaned with or without opening the Xbox console but reaching from the outside is extremely hard and sometimes not effective.

Clean The Belt Without Opening:

  1. Acquire an ear stick and some alcohol.
  2. Manually eject the disc tray using solution #2 or #3.
  3. Use a flashlight to locate the rubber belt within the DVD drive.
  4. Dip the ear stick into the alcohol and reach inside to touch the belt.
  5. Using your hand move the DVD drive back and forth for the rubber belt to rotate.
  6. Be gentle not to leave fibers from the ear stick on the gear belt.

Open The Console & Clean Belt:

  1. Remove the faceplate by unscrewing and detaching the holders.
  2. Unscrew the RF shield.
  3. Disconnect the SATA and power cable from the DVD drive.
  4. Open the DVD drive by undoing the screws.
  5. Take the rubber belt out and use warm water and soap to clean it.
  6. When you’re ready, put everything back together.
  7. Press the Eject button to test if the disc tray will come out.

In case the rubber belt is stretched, you’ll need to microwave it for about 60 seconds!

Once you’re ready, test whether the disc tray will be able to open and close as normal.

Note: Opening the console voids the warranty!

Solution #5 Remove Obstructions

remove obstruction

In some cases where the disc tray won’t come out, the reason could be an object that’s preventing the mechanism from rolling, therefore the disc tray stays in.

There is an easy way to take a good look at what’s preventing the DVD drive from opening so let’s learn how:

  1. Turn ON your Xbox 360.
  2. Grab the front panel.
  3. Using slight force detach the panel from the sides and from the top.
  4. You can now grab the tip of the disc tray with your fingers.
  5. Press the Eject button and gently pull out the disc tray.
  6. Remove any obstructions while the disc tray is out.

Make sure to remove the disc from the tray as well since a disposition might be preventing the tray from coming out. Make sure that there are no objects stuck on the sides of the disc tray.

Tip: Test opening and closing the tray using the Eject button without a disc.

Solution #6 Always Leave A Disc Inside

Some users report that their DVD drive jams all of the time when there is no disc in the tray, which might sound a bit counterintuitive but actually works.

leave disc inside

This can be explained since the weight of the disc, in most cases, makes the mechanism functional.

Test if the disc tray will open by pressing the Eject button while there is a disc.

In case the disc tray works well when there is a disc inserted, you can call it a day.

There wouldn’t be the need for more troubleshooting especially when this method works.

However, the circumstances show that the mechanism of your Xbox 360 DVD drive is worn out and you would need servicing for the device to continue functioning well, even without a disc.

Quick Recap:

Hence, to solve the problem when the Xbox 360 disc tray won’t come out, users need to clean the rubber belt with or without opening the console. Further solutions include, manually opening the disc tray and removing obstructions, and leaving a disc inside to increase the weight.

Read Next: How to Fix a Xbox 360 Disc That is Unreadable?

Final Thoughts:

Now that we know why the Xbox 360 disc tray not opening and the possible causes, we can solve the problem at home without giving it much thought.

However, in case the problem is persistent, regardless of what you’ve tried, your Xbox 360 DVD drive might require servicing.

For more relevant posts, make sure to check our online tech blog!