Xbox One update error locking gamers out of their consoles

Error code 0x8b050033 0x00000000 0x00000201 is proving to be a major pain for Xbox owners the world over, and no one seems to know what’s wrong with their console.

What’s causing the Xbox Insider update error?

This error started popping up just a few hours ago and appears to mostly affect users enrolled in Xbox Insider preview rings: essentially Xbox’s version of beta-testing for console software. When the problem hits, you’ll be greeted with a system update screen that won’t let you proceed, and there’s no straightforward way to bypass it.

Annoyingly, the issue blocks any progress beyond the update prompt, making your Xbox console pretty much useless until it’s resolved. While that sounds like a big deal (and it is), there’s a silver lining: Xbox is likely already working behind the scenes to deploy an official fix soon.

So … is there a fix right now?

If you’re eager to jump back into your games and aren’t keen on waiting, there’s a possible workaround that some affected users have tried, and with some success.

Here’s how to try the temporary workaround:

1. From a Windows 10 PC or a working Xbox console, sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Insider console.
2. Launch the Xbox Insider Hub app.
3. Navigate to Settings > Manage Devices.
4. Find the affected console in the list, and remove it from the Insider Program.
5. Click “Done.”

According to the Insider Hub: “This disassociates the console or device from your Microsoft account, and removes access to any playtests, previews, or betas through the Xbox Insider Program.”

Sounds easy? Here’s the catch

Before you jump in, there are a couple of caveats worth considering.

First, this workaround doesn’t work for everyone. Some users have reported that even after leaving the Insider Program and restarting, their consoles are still stuck at the update screen or encounter other weird issues.

Second, some players are being prompted to perform a full factory reset after removing their device from the Insider Program. That means you may lose installed games, saved settings, or need to reconfigure your profile from scratch. While cloud saves will help you restore progress in most cases, it’s still a major time sink and not exactly ideal.

Should you try this workaround?

If you can wait it out, that might be the safer bet. Dropping out of the Insider Program and possibly resetting your Xbox runs the risk of creating more headaches than it solves. Since this issue only just kicked off, it’s likely that the Team Xbox engineers will deploy a hotfix or patch very soon—potentially within hours.

We recommend keeping an eye on the official Xbox Support Twitter for real-time updates or checking the Insider Hub for direct notifications.

If you’re stuck, patience might pay off

Being an Xbox Insider means you signed up to test potentially unstable builds—so rough patches like this can occasionally happen. The upside is that Insider feedback helps improve the core Xbox experience for everyone.

Still, it’s never fun being locked out of your console. If you’re impacted by Error 0x8B050033 today, and choosing not to risk the workaround, double-check that your Insider Hub is current and stay plugged in for updates from the Xbox dev team.