Most SteelSeries headset users will agree that these headsets are a mixture of great performance and incomprehensible design flaws. On top of that, some of their headsets are quite unreliable when it comes to connection stability. SteelSeries Arctis 9X is a perfect example.
When it works, this thing is fantastic. I love it. Unfortunately, I’ve had so many problems with it. First, after less than a year of use, I noticed cracks on the hinges, so I had to reinforce them to prevent damage. Then, I had to replace the battery since it stopped holding charge.
A week ago, a new problem occurred. My SteelSeries Arctis 9X refused to turn on. I tried all the usual troubleshooting steps, but the headset wouldn’t turn on. I thought it was the battery again, but it wasn’t. The new battery I installed a few months ago was perfectly fine.
However, one of the wires inside the right earcup was stuck between the earcup and its plastic cover, and it got damaged. I must’ve made a mistake while putting the earcup back together after replacing the battery.
In this post, I will try to list all the potential culprits causing the powering issue with your SteelSeries Arctis 9X. Furthermore, I will list all the fixes I can think of to bring your Arctis 9X back to life, including those that require you to open the headset and fix or replace internal components.
Key Takeaways
- To turn SteelSeries Arctis 9X on, press and hold the power button for 3 seconds. Press and hold again to turn it off.
- Power issues with your Arctis 9X can be caused by firmware bugs, battery and charging issues, and hardware failures.
- Always start the troubleshooting process with simple fixes that don’t require you to open the headset.
- Press the button multiple times, then press and hold. If this actually helps, it means that your power button is dying and will break eventually.
- Resetting and updating the headset will fix the problem if it’s caused by firmware bugs. The reset button is found inside a pinhole on the right cup, under the earpad. Remove the earpad and use a paperclip to press the reset button. Press and hold for 3 seconds to reset Arctis 9X.
- Check if your headset has enough battery. Charge it if the battery is empty. If the headset is not charging when you connect the charging cable, inspect the charging port for dirt and damage. Clean the charging port if necessary. Furthermore, check your charging equipment. Try using a different charging cable and a different charging source.
- If basic troubleshooting measures don’t help, you have to open the headset and inspect the components inside.
- If the power button or the charging port is damaged, you should be able to notice this during the initial visual inspection.
- Hardware failures that could result in your Arctis 9X not turning on include:
- Broken power button
- Damaged charging port
- Dead battery
- Damaged wiring
- Dead/fried PCB
Recommended Reading :
How to Turn SteelSeries Arctis 9X ON and OFF?
Short-pressing the power button on your Arctis 9X will do nothing. You need to press and hold for about 3 seconds to turn the headset on. To turn it off, press and hold again until the LED turns off.
Press and hold for 3 seconds to turn Arctis 9X ON or OFF.
When the headset turns on, you will see the LED slowly flashing green, yellow, or red, depending on the battery status. Then, the LED will turn to flashing white (connected to Xbox) or flashing blue (connected via Bluetooth).
The LED between the power and Bluetooth buttons will illuminate to indicate the headset is turned on.
Why Is Your SteelSeries Arctis 9X Not Turning On – Possible Causes
Most commonly, Arctis 9X will refuse to turn on due to some kind of hardware failure, usually a broken power button or a dead battery. But don’t jump to conclusions!
Firmware bugs and glitches can cause Arctis 9X powering issues. The good thing about firmware issues is that they can be all fixed by resetting or updating the headset.
Discharged battery will also result in Arctis 9X not turning on. This one is also easy to fix – just charge the battery.
If the battery is not charging and it doesn’t have any charge left, the headset will also refuse to turn on. Things that could cause this issue include incompatible charging equipment, damaged charging equipment, and a dirty/damaged charging port.
Finally, hardware failures that could cause the powering issues include:
- Broken power button
- Damaged charging port
- Dead battery
- Damaged wiring
- Dead/fried PCB
Arctis 9X Not Turning ON – Common Causes
Fixing SteelSeries Arctis 9X That Won’t Turn On
It’s never a good idea to open the headset immediately after experiencing an issue. The problem is not always inside. Sometimes, these issues can be fixed by simple actions that don’t require a lot of work and can be done in just a few seconds. So, let’s try those simple things first.
Try Pressing the Power Button Multiple Times
The power button on the outside might be losing contact with the power button on the PCB, causing the headset not to turn on. Pressing the button multiple times, then pressing and holding, or pressing the button slightly harder than usual might force your headset to turn on.
The bad news, if this method works, is that your power button is slowly dying. Eventually, it will break. So, you can deal with the issue now, or wait for the button to break and then deal with it.
Press the power button multiple times, then press and hold, or try pressing the button a little bit harder.
Inspect the Power Button for Damage
If you notice the button sunk inside or doesn’t behave the same as before (doesn’t make the same click as before), pressing it multiple times will not help.
Also, if you don’t see the button and hear rattling inside the cup, your power button most probably broke off.
You have to open the headset and fix the broken button by soldering it back onto the PCB.
Scroll down to see video instructions on how to fix the broken power button on Arctis 9X.
Reset/Update Your SteelSeries Arctis 9X
If your Arctis 9X looks perfectly fine and undamaged, your powering issue might be caused by a firmware bug. Luckily, firmware bugs are easy to fix. A simple reset or update will bring your Arctis 9X back to life.
How to Reset Arctis 9X?
Arctis 9X has a reset button, but it’s hidden. To locate it, you have to remove the earpad from the right cup (the one without the microphone) and locate a tiny pinhole at the bottom. Don’t mistake it for three holes where the screws are – those holes are bigger than the reset pinhole.
When you remove the earpad from the right cup, you will see a tiny pinhole at the bottom. The reset button is inside this pinhole.
Once you locate it, use a paperclip to press the button hidden inside. Press it and hold for about 3 seconds. The headset will reset.
To reset Arctis 9X, press and hold the reset button inside the pinhole for 3 seconds.
How to Reset Arctis 9X?
How to Update Arctis 9X?
If resetting doesn’t help, you could also try to update your Arctis 9X. For that, you need to download and install the SteelSeries GG software on your PC. Then, connect the headset to the PC using the included USB cable.
When you open the SteelSeries software, it will recognize your Arctis 9X and show a message under the headset’s name if there is an update available. Click on it and follow the instructions to update it.
Updating a SteelSeries Headset – Step-by-Step Guide
Try Charging the Headset
It sounds stupid, but you may have forgotten to charge your headset’s battery. Connect the included charging cable and observe the LED light. If it’s rapidly flashing red, your battery is critically low. Leave it charging until the battery is full.
The LED will flash in different colors to indicate the current charging status.
What If the Headset Won’t Charge?
If the LED light does not turn on when you connect the charger, it might be because the battery is extremely discharged.
Leave the headset charging for at least an hour, even if the LED doesn’t light up.
Try Using Different Charging Equipment or Charging Methods
If the LED doesn’t light up, try using a different charging source. Arctis 9X doesn’t come with a charging adapter, but you could try using a 5V/0.5A adapter (not a fast charger) or a powerbank to charge the headset instead of your PC. Alternatively, try using different USB ports on your PC.
Try charging your Arctis 9X using different charging sources.
Furthermore, check your charging cable for damage. The original charging cable that came with the headset is the preferred charging option, but if the cable or the connectors are damaged, use a third-party charging cable instead of the original one.
Check your cable for damage. Use a different cable if the original cable is damaged.
Inspect the Charging Port
If the battery is not charging, regardless of the charging equipment or the charging method, there might be something wrong with the charging port.
Observe the charging port, and look for dirt inside it. If the pins inside the port are dirty, the headset will not charge. You need to clean them using a soft brush or canned air.
If the contacts are damaged or you notice cracks around the charging port, cleaning it won’t help. In this case, you are dealing with a charging port malfunction, and you will probably have to replace the charging port.
Cracks and damages around the charging port may indicate a more serious charging port issue. In the image above, the charging port seems fine, but it’s actually loose, and it sinks when you try to plug in the charging cable. In other words, the port is partially detached from the PCB and needs to be soldered back on. Luckily, the port is physically undamaged, so there’s no need to look for a new charging port.
It’s Time to Open the Headset
After ruling out firmware bugs, empty battery, and incompatible/damaged charging equipment, there’s nothing left to do but to open the earcups and inspect the internal components.
If there’s a component that needs to be replaced, you can get it from a local Facebook marketplace or eBay. Look for used or damaged Arctis 9X (sold for parts), but ensure the part you need is still functional.
What’s Inside?
Unless you want to check for damaged wires, you will only need to open the right earcup. That’s where the main PCB and most buttons are found. The charging port and battery are also inside the right cup.
When you remove the earpad from the right cup, you will see three T6 Torx screws. Remove them and gently lift the earcup cover with the speaker driver.
Remove 3 T6 Torx screws to open the right earcup.
When you remove the plastic cover with the speaker driver, you will see the main PCB. In order to inspect the power button, charging port, check the wiring, or replace the battery, you have to take the PCB out.
Remove three Philips screws, then gently lift the main PCB, and take it out.
In the image below, I have labeled the internal components found on the main PCB.
Arctis 9X – Right Earcup PCB
Fixing a Broken Power Button
If you notice something wrong with the power button during the visual inspection, you will know exactly where to focus your attention when you open the earcup. For example, if the button sunk inside the hole or you don’t see it at all, but you hear rattling inside the cup, it means you need to re-solder the button or replace it if it’s broken.
Location of the power button on the main PCB (Arctis 9X right earcup).
Watch the video below to learn to re-solder or replace the power button on your Arctis 9X. The model in the video is Arctis 9, which has a different PCB, but the power button on both headsets is the same, and the position of the power button is the same.
Soldering a Broken Power Button on SteelSeries Arctis 9
Fixing/Replacing the Charging Port
Charging port malfunction can also be noticed during the initial visual inspection, before opening the headset. For example, if the port is loose or sunk inside, the port probably just needs to be re-soldered. If it’s not completely detached from the PCB, you will have to desolder it, and then solder it back on.
If the pins inside the charging port are damaged, replacing the entire port is a better idea than re-soldering the old charging port. Also, if the pins on the charging port (pins used to solder the port back onto the PCB are damaged), replacing the port is your only option.
Location of the charging port on the main PCB (Arctis 9X right cup).
The video below describes the process of replacing the charging port on the Arctis 7 headset. The charging port on Arctis 9X is on the right cup, while the charging port on Arctis 7 is on the left. Also, the PCBs on the headsets look different. However, the process of soldering the charging port is the same.
Soldering the Charging Port onto the PCB (SteelSeries Arctis 7)
Fixing Damaged Wires
If the power button and charging port on your Arctis 9X seem fine and you don’t notice anything strange during the initial visual inspection, there are a few more things you can do.
First, inspect the wires inside both cups. Only one damaged or detached wire is sufficient for the problem to arise.
Fixing a damaged wire is not extremely difficult, but requires attention and precision. Also, having the right tools can make things much easier. In this case, you need a quality soldering station with a microscope.
Fixing a Damaged Wire on a SteelSeries Headset
Is the PCB Dead?
If the PCB is fried, you should be able to see the damage immediately after opening the headset. If you notice such damage, there’s no need to inspect other parts – your PCB needs to be replaced.
Example of a fried PCB on SteelSeries Arctis 9 (image credit – Reddit)
Sometimes, the damage on your main PCB may not be so obvious. If you don’t have the right tools or don’t know how to use a multimeter to find short circuits or damaged components on the PCB, you could try replacing the battery. If that doesn’t work, replace the entire PCB.
Battery Replacement
The battery on Arctis 9X is located inside the right earcup, underneath the main PCB. When you lift the PCB, you will see the battery taped/glued onto the backside of the PCB.
The battery is glued onto the backside of the PCB. To remove it, unplug the battery connector on the front side of the PCB, then pull the battery up.
You can get a replacement battery from Amazon or eBay. Look for a battery with the same voltage rating (3.7V). The capacity of the OEM battery is 900mAh, but you can upgrade it to a battery with higher capacity as long as the voltage rating and the size of the replacement battery are the same.
Arctis 9X – Original Battery
Once you find a compatible replacement battery, connect it to the PCB, then glue it back onto the backside of the PCB, and put the earcup back together. Watch the video below for detailed instructions.
Replacing the Battery on SteelSeries Arctis 9X – Quick Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do I turn on my SteelSeries Arctis 9x?
- Answer: Press and hold the power button on the right cup of your Arctis 9X for 3 seconds to turn it on. Press and hold again to turn it off.
- Question: What to do if the power button on a SteelSeries headset is unresponsive?
- Answer: If the button is damaged or doesn’t behave the same as before, you probably have to replace it. If the button looks and feels the same, resetting the headset should make the power button responsive again.
- Question: How to do a hard reset on SteelSeries Arctis 9x?
- Answer: Remove the earpad from the right earcup and locate the reset pinhole. It’s at the bottom, next to the screw. Press the button inside the reset pinhole using a paperclip. Hold the button for about 3 seconds.
- Question: How long does Arctis 9x last?
- Answer: Arctis 9X can deliver 20+ hours on a single charge.
- Question: Why is my SteelSeries Arctis 9x not turning on or charging?
- Answer: The list of potential reasons is long and includes firmware bugs, incompatible or damaged charging equipment, damaged charging port, damaged power button, dead battery, damaged wires inside the headset, or dead PCB.
- Question: Where is the reset button on the Arctis 9x?
- Answer: The reset button is on the right cup, hidden inside a pinhole underneath the earpad.
- Question: Can you use Arctis 9X while charging?
- Answer: Yes, you can. Your Arctis 9X will take longer to charge if you are using it while charging. Other than that, you should experience no issues.
- Question: How do I update Arctis 9x?
- Answer: To update your Arctis 9X, you have to use the SteelSeries GG and connect the headset to your PC using the included USB cable. When you open this software tool and select the Engine tab, you should see the Update notification under your headset’s name. Click on the notification and follow the instructions.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helped you diagnose the issue causing your Arctis 9X headset not to turn on and fix it. Feel free to share your experience with Arctis 9X and tell me what worked for you.
