What is the name of the Xbox 360 hardware failure associated with three red lights?

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The Xbox 360 hardware failure associated with three red lights is known as the Red Ring of Death.

The term describes a prominent Xbox 360 hardware fault in which three segments of the console's power-button ring illuminated red. In many cases, the system displayed an error and could not start normally.

The problem became widely discussed after the console's 2005 launch and was linked to hardware reliability issues, including solder and thermal stresses. Microsoft extended warranties for affected consoles and created a substantial repair and replacement program.

The nickname refers to the appearance of the indicator, not to an official product feature. Later Xbox 360 revisions, including redesigned models, reduced the prevalence of the problem and changed the external design of the indicator.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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