Some participants of the Xbox Insiders program have discovered that their consoles suddenly stopped working after installing the latest update. While the program usually grants early access to new features, it also comes with risks—and this bug is one of the worst in recent memory.
The Xbox Series X/S, released in November 2020, has reportedly sold over 30 million units so far. With frequent system updates every year, issues are bound to occur, but this recent one is leaving many users locked out of their consoles entirely.
The Error 0x8B050033 Problem
Starting on September 2, 2025, multiple Xbox Insiders reported being hit with the dreaded 0x8B050033 error when booting up their consoles. Once triggered, users are unable to complete the update or even access the device to play games.
The problem was first spotted by the community on Reddit and later picked up by outlets like Pure Xbox. Many gamers voiced their frustrations on social media, pointing out that the issue prevents normal use of their console.
How to Fix Xbox’s Recent Update Issue
Thankfully, there’s a temporary workaround available. Players can follow these steps to restore their console:
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Sign in to the Microsoft account linked to the Xbox Insiders program.
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Launch the Xbox Insider Hub app.
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In the app, go to Settings > Manage Device.
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Remove your console from the Insiders program.
This process allows affected consoles to factory reset and reapply updates properly, letting players regain access until Microsoft provides an official fix.
A String of Xbox Issues in 2025
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only recent issue for Xbox players. Just last month, the Xbox network suffered a major outage, making it difficult for gamers to send invites, messages, and access online features.
In July, users encountered another strange glitch that prompted them to update all their installed games at once—a problem believed to be linked to license validation. Before that, Xbox Party Chat temporarily went down, causing frustration for online players.
Looking Ahead
While Xbox is generally reliable, the Insiders program shows how risky early updates can be. Microsoft is expected to roll out a fix soon, but for now, affected players will need to rely on the Insider Hub workaround to keep their consoles running.