Xbox 360:Files and Directories

This page describes the file systems used by the Xbox 360 as well as what each directory is on the hard drive. Most custom dashboards have built in file browsers and provide an FTP service for connecting to the Xbox 360 from another device. There is also dedicated file browsing software on the Xbox 360 console, like Xex Menu.

File Systems

The Xbox 360 uses various file systems for storing games, user content, and more.

• FATX (File Allocation Table for Xbox) is the storage file system used on hard drives, memory units, USB devices, and xlaunch.fdf files.
  • Windows tools:
    • FatXplorer
    • Party Buffalo Drive Explorer
    • Xplorer360
    • Horizon
    • Velocity
    • wxHdd

• GDFX (Game Disc Format for Xbox) / XSF is the file system used on Xbox 360 CD/DVD Media.
  • Windows tools:
    • Velocity
    • wx360
    • wxRipper

• STFS (Secure Transacted File System) is used for game saves, profiles, arcade games, downloadable content and more. STFS is also referred to as CON/LIVE/PIRS files, as they are all STFS files, just signed with a different header.
  • Windows tools:
    • Velocity
    • wxPirs

• SFCX (Secure File Cache for Xbox) is used for cache storage for games.

• NAND File System is used to store the bootloaders, kernel, keyvault and other files on the NAND. CPU key is required to browse its contents.
  • Windows tools:
    • 360 Flash Dump Tool

Root

Different file browsers for the Xbox 360 will list different directories in root, but generally follow the name convention below. Some file browsers won't show all directories, this changes between implementations.

• DVD: Contents of current CD/DVD in the disc drive.
• Game: Shortcut for the currently loaded applications directory. This is directory where currently loaded .xex exists.
• Hdd1: Internal hard disk main partition (partition 3).
• HddX: Original Xbox backwards compatibility partition (partition 2). This might not be present if it is not installed.
• SysExt: System extended partition.
• System: Contents of the NAND chip.
• Usb0: Contents of first plugged in USB drive.
• Usb1: Contents of second plugged in USB drive.

Hdd1

Hdd1 is where all console-created and downloaded content is stored. From here can be found for example profiles, save games, DLC, Game on Demand games, title updates. Custom dashboard software is also usually installed here and is where the dashboard tries to find the launch.ini file.

Example Structure

> * Cache (partition 0) > * Content > * 0000000000000000 (public directory) >*** * 4D5307DC (example title) >*** * 4D5307EA (example title) >*** * ...other titles > * E00015BF00008BD2 (example profile) >*** * 4D53880C (example title) >*** * FFFE07D1 (profile GPD) >****** * 00010000 (profile data) >*** * ... other titles > * E0004EC40000CBC7 (example profile) >*** * 5655002A (example title) >*** * FFFE07D1 (profile GPD) >******* 00010000 (profile data) >*** * ... other titles > * ...other profiles > * FreeStyle > * Aurora > * launch.ini > * name.txt

Content

• The 0000000000000000 directory is a common public or "download" directory for all profiles in system. Everything downloaded from the Xbox Marketplace and files installed system-wide (for example DLC and game extra files) are stored here. Files in here are usually "PIR" and "LIVE", meaning that they are signed with Microsoft's private key and verified by consoles public key.

• The FFFE07D1 directory contains a profile's Game Profile Data in the 0001000 directory which includes the profile's achievements, name, and profile settings.

• Other directories inside Content are profile directories. The name of a directory is a profile's ID. Under here are files that are specific to a profile, such as game saves. Files under here are usually type of "CON" meaning that they're signed by consoles private key.

• Files inside of both the public and profile-specific directories are directories identified by Title ID. Each game or app has its own unique Title ID, which can be looked up here. Each Title ID directory contains directories that are identified by type of data they hold inside them as listed below. Files inside these directories are usually packages with STFS and can be opened with a tool such as Velocity.

> - 000D0000 Arcade Title > - 00009000 Avatar Item > - 00040000 Cache File > - 02000000 Community Game > - 00080000 Game Demo > - 00020000 Gamer Picture > - 000A0000 Game Title > - 000C0000 Game Trailer > - 00400000 Game Video > - 00004000 Installed Game > - 000B0000 Installer > - 00002000 IPTV Pause Buffer > - 000F0000 License Store > - 00000002 Marketplace Content > - 00100000 Movie > - 0x300000 Music Video > - 0x500000 Podcast Video > - 00010000 Profile > - 00000003 Publisher > - 00000001 Saved Game > - 00050000 Storage Download > - 00030000 Theme > - 00200000 TV > - 00900000 Video > - 00600000 Viral Video > - 00070000 Xbox Download > - 00005000 Xbox Original Game > - 00060000 Xbox Saved Game > - 00001000 Xbox 360 Title > - 00005000 Xbox Title > - 000E0000 XNA

HddX

HddX is the original Xbox backwards compatibility partition. It is used when playing original Xbox games on the Xbox 360. If partition is not visible it might not be installed.

SysExt

The SystemExtended partition introduced in the 2.0.12611.0 (Kinect-Dashboard) update was created to hold Kinect and Avatar related system files. Most likely the reason for this partition to exist is that Microsoft needed place for new system files and there was not enough space in the NAND chip to hold everything. SysExt contains important system files and it is dangerous to change anything if you don't know what you're doing. Broken SysExt can lead to a bricked console!

System

The System partition contains the contents of your Xbox 360 NAND chip. The NAND contains important system files and it is dangerous to change anything if you don't know what you're doing. Broken NAND can lead to a bricked console!