Is your Astro A50 headset not working right?
Maybe it won’t connect, won’t charge, or feels stuck. Learning how to reset Astro A50 can fix many common problems fast.
In this article, you will learn:
Simple steps to reset your Astro A50 headset
How to reset the base station for better connection
Easy fixes for charging and syncing issues
How to update your headset’s firmware
Let’s get your Astro A50 back to perfect sound and performance!
🔧 Quick Reset — Headset Hard Reset
If your Astro A50 Gen 4 refuses to power on, doesn’t charge, or seems unresponsive, chances are it just needs a manual hard reset. I ran into this exact issue myself — headset completely dead, wouldn’t charge on the base station, and even direct USB to PC did nothing.
Luckily, there’s a hidden reset combo that brings it back to life. Here’s exactly how to do it:
✅ Step-by-Step: How to Hard Reset Astro A50
Remove the headset from the base station.
Make sure it’s off the dock before starting the reset.Power on the headset manually.
Slide the power switch up.
Even if the LED doesn’t light up, proceed — it’s often completely unresponsive in this state.
Press and hold two buttons simultaneously for ~20–30 seconds:
Dolby button (center button on the right earcup)
Game/Voice balance button — press the Game side (left side of the rocker)
⚠️ Important: Make sure you’re not pressing the very center of the balance button. Press down on the Game side of it.
Keep holding for 20–30 seconds.
You might not see any feedback (no LED blink, no sound), but just trust the process.Release both buttons.
If successful, your headset will softly blink, then return to a solid white LED, indicating a reset and reinitialization.Power off the headset.
Slide the power switch down to turn it off.Dock the headset back on the base station.
This allows it to resync with the base, which is essential if it lost pairing or EQ presets.
🧠 What This Reset Actually Does
Clears custom EQ presets
Resets pairing with the base station
Often resolves:
No power issues
Failed firmware update loops
Syncing/connectivity failures
You won’t lose your firmware version or need to reinstall the Astro Command Center afterward. This is strictly a hardware reset — it doesn’t touch your PC or console settings.
📝 My Observations from Using This Reset
No feedback? That’s normal.
The reset doesn’t always flash or beep. I held it for a full 25 seconds before anything happened — patience is key.Works even if headset looks “dead.”
When mine wouldn’t power up at all, this reset still brought it back.Always re-dock afterward.
If you skip docking the headset, it may not reconnect to the base, and you’ll still have audio or mic issues.
🔄 Resetting the Astro A50 Base Station
Sometimes it’s not the headset that’s the problem — it’s the base station. I’ve had moments where the headset looked totally fine, but the base wouldn’t power on, or the LED was stuck on red, or it simply wouldn’t sync with the headset no matter what I tried.
In those cases, you’ve got two reset options depending on how serious the issue is:
🔌 A. Soft Reset (Power Cycle)
This is the first thing I always try. It’s quick, safe, and in many cases, fixes connection or power bugs instantly.
✅ Steps:
Unplug the base station’s USB cable
If it’s connected to your PC or console, just remove the USB connection.
No need to unplug optical or other cables unless you want a full power drain.
Wait 30–90 seconds
I personally wait a full 60 seconds, but some users say even 20 seconds works.
The longer wait helps fully discharge the base’s internal circuitry.
Plug it back in
Reconnect the USB cable to the PC (or console).
Watch for the base LED to reinitialize and blink white, then go solid once it recognizes the headset.
💡 Why This Works
The base station stores temporary power and sync info, and sometimes it freezes like a mini computer. Power cycling forces a memory reset without changing any firmware.
🧪 My Experience:
I’ve had to do this after failed firmware updates or when switching between my Xbox Series X and PC. In one case, the LED was stuck red, and it wouldn’t sync with the headset at all. After unplugging and waiting about 75 seconds, it powered back on and worked perfectly.
This also helped me fix an issue where the base wasn’t charging the headset, even though it was docked correctly. A simple power cycle brought it back to life.
🔁 B. Bootloader Reset (Gen 4 Only)
If soft reset doesn’t help — and especially if your base station is completely unresponsive or stuck during a firmware update — this is the “last resort” reset I used to recover it.
⚠️ This only works on Gen 4 Astro A50 base stations — they have a small reset pinhole underneath.
🛠 How to Perform a Bootloader Reset:
Unplug the USB cable from the base station (if it’s currently connected).
Flip the base upside down to locate a small pin-hole reset button.
It’s on the bottom-right side near the rubber feet.
You’ll need a paperclip or SIM card tool to press it.
Press and hold the pinhole button firmly.
While holding the button, plug the USB cable back into your PC.
You should see the base’s LED blink rapidly or dim briefly — that’s how you know bootloader mode has started.
Release the pinhole button after 5 seconds.
🧠 What Happens in Bootloader Mode?
The base station enters a firmware recovery state.
Astro Command Center (ACC) on your PC will detect it and offer a forced firmware update.
This is especially useful if your last update was interrupted and “bricked” the base.
🧪 My Personal Use Case:
I had one scary moment where my base completely died after a failed firmware update — the LED didn’t turn on, nothing happened when I plugged it in, and my headset wouldn’t connect.
The only fix was the bootloader reset. After doing the pinhole + USB trick, Astro Command Center detected it in recovery mode, and I reinstalled the firmware. Within 2 minutes, everything was back online.
🛑 Caution:
Do not unplug the base during the recovery flash.
If this fails, try using an older version of Astro Command Center (some Reddit users swear by the
.msiinstaller version instead of the Microsoft Store one).
🔧 Firmware Update Guide (Astro A50)
Updating the firmware of your Astro A50 ensures compatibility with modern systems like PS5/Xbox Series X and fixes bugs. Follow this carefully:
✅ Preferred Method – Astro Command Center via Microsoft Store
This is the standard and safest method. Only attempt the manual method if this one fails.
1. Install Astro Command Center (ACC)
Go to the Microsoft Store on your Windows PC.
Search for “Astro Command Center” and install it.
2. Connect the Headset and Base Station
Place your headset into the base station.
Connect the base station to your PC via USB.
Ensure the headset is in PC mode (switch on the base).
3. Launch ACC & Start Update
Open Astro Command Center.
If a firmware update is available, a red “Update Now” button will appear.
Click the gear icon ⚙️ (top-right) > Update Firmware, then confirm.
4. Monitor the Update
The update will go through 4 stages (1/4 to 4/4).
Do not disconnect anything. The base LED might flash red—this is normal.
⚠️ If the Update Fails (50–75% Freeze or Bootloader Mode)
Sometimes, the update stalls or fails mid-way. Here’s how to recover:
1. Force Hard Reset Mid-Update (Bootloader Recovery)
When stuck at 50–75%, remove the headset from the base station, then immediately place it back again.
This forces a hard reset and often resumes the update.
If that doesn’t work, restart the ACC app and retry the update.
2. Try a Different PC or Laptop
Some systems just don’t like it.
Try updating on another Windows PC (any family/friend’s laptop).
Download ACC fresh from the Microsoft Store, then repeat the steps.
🛠️ Advanced Recovery – Manual Firmware Flash
Only do this if normal updates fail repeatedly.
1. Uninstall Microsoft Store Version of ACC
Go to Start > Add or Remove Programs.
Uninstall Astro Command Center completely.
Delete leftover files in the install folder (usually under
C:\Program FilesorAppData).
2. Download Legacy ACC + .AFW Firmware Files
Use trusted Reddit sources or archive sites (search “Astro A50 firmware .afw site:reddit.com”).
Download:
The standalone ACC installer (MSI)
The correct .AFW firmware file for your model (Gen 3/Gen 4)
3. Install Legacy ACC & Flash Firmware
Launch legacy ACC (the version that allows manual firmware updates).
Click the gear icon ⚙️ > “Update Firmware Manually”
Select the .AFW file from your Downloads folder
Confirm and let the flash complete (takes ~2–3 mins)
4. Reboot Everything
Once complete, close ACC
Turn the headset off and on again, place back in dock
Re-launch ACC to verify firmware version
🧪 Final Checks
Firmware should now show as up to date
Test audio/mic on your console or PC
Re-calibrate settings if needed in ACC
🛠 Troubleshooting Connection & Charging Issues
Even after a reset, the Astro A50 headset and base station can sometimes act up. I’ve personally dealt with situations where the headset refused to connect, or worse, looked like it was charging but never actually gained battery.
Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve learned from hands-on experience and fixes that have worked for me — plus what others in the community recommend.
📶 A. Connection Issues
🔄 1. Check the Mode Switch (PC / Xbox)
It sounds basic, but I can’t count how many times this setting tripped me up — especially when switching between my Xbox Series X and PC setups.
🧠 The Astro A50 Gen 4 base station has a physical mode switch on the back labeled PC and Xbox.
Make sure it matches what you’re currently using.
If it’s set to PC while you’re on Xbox, the headset won’t sync.
If it’s set to Xbox while on PC, it might not even appear in Astro Command Center.
✅ Pro Tip: After switching modes, unplug and replug the USB cable to the base station. This forces the firmware to reload for the correct mode.
🔋 2. Pre-Charge the Headset Before Docking or Resetting
I learned this the hard way — if your headset battery is completely dead, trying to reset or pair it can fail silently.
⚠️ Always charge the headset directly via USB cable for 15–30 minutes before performing a reset or docking it.
Sometimes the base station doesn’t push enough initial current to “wake up” a dead battery. Using a wall adapter or a powered USB port gives it the kickstart it needs.
🔌 3. Double-Check USB + Optical Cable Setup
When I first set up my system, I had the optical cable plugged in, but my Xbox settings weren’t outputting Dolby — and the headset wouldn’t sync. I thought the headset was the problem, but really, the signal path was broken.
Make sure your setup is clean:
USB cable provides power + data to the base station.
Optical cable (optional) is for audio pass-through (mainly on older consoles).
Don’t mix console settings (e.g., Dolby off) with the Astro’s Dolby mode on — they can conflict.
✅ Reset tip: Temporarily remove the optical cable during troubleshooting to eliminate it as a variable.
⚡️ B. Charging Problems
One of the most frustrating things is when your headset is docked and looks like it’s charging… but it isn’t.
I’ve had this happen a few times, and here’s what fixed it.
🔍 1. Check Charging Pins on the Base + Contacts on the Headset
The A50 charges via physical metal contacts — and like anything with contact charging, they can get dirty or misaligned.
Inspect the base station pins closely:
Are they straight and spring-loaded?
Are they sticking out evenly?
Use a flashlight if needed.
Clean them gently with:
A microfiber cloth
A Q-tip + 90% isopropyl alcohol (light dab only)
Compressed air to blow out any dust or lint
⚠️ I’ve seen a buildup of skin oil or gunk completely block charging. After a quick cleaning, the battery charged normally again.
🔁 2. Hard Reset Restores Charging Logic
This one surprised me — but yes, doing the headset hard reset (Dolby + Game button combo) actually restored charging behavior for me once when it had stopped working entirely.
The reset likely clears internal charging logic, forcing a proper handshake with the dock again.
If your headset won’t charge even after cleaning and reseating, this step is worth trying before assuming it’s a hardware failure.
🛠 3. Internal Fixes for Persistent Charging Failures
If nothing else works, some users on Reddit and forums have had luck with internal fixes — I haven’t personally done this, but it’s worth knowing:
Reseat the internal battery connector inside the headset.
In some cases, the battery’s plug loosens slightly during shipping or impact.
Replace the battery entirely (if yours is years old and won’t hold a charge).
The A50 uses a standard 3.7v lithium-ion cell inside.
You’ll void your warranty doing this, but guides and kits are available online.
🧠 I’ve had two friends successfully fix long-term charging issues just by unplugging and replugging the internal battery cable — so if you’re comfortable opening up your headset, this might be worth trying.
✅ Final Charging Tips:
Always seat the headset fully on the dock — you should hear/feel a soft magnetic click.
Look for the charging LED pattern: blinking amber while charging, solid white when full.
Keep Astro Command Center open on PC to confirm battery percentage in real time.
FAQ
Why is my Astro A50 not working?
Your Astro A50 may not work due to connection issues, low battery, or firmware glitches. Make sure the headset is charged, the base station is correctly connected and set to the right mode (PC or Xbox), and try resetting both the headset and base. Updating the firmware via Astro Command Center often solves many common problems.
Why are my Astro A50 headphones not turning on?
If your Astro A50 won’t turn on, the battery might be fully drained or the headset could be stuck due to a software glitch. First, charge the headset directly via USB for at least 30 minutes. Then try a hard reset by pressing and holding the Dolby button and Game button together for 20–30 seconds. If it still doesn’t turn on, check the charging contacts and base station.
How to factory reset Astro A50 without a PC?
To factory reset your Astro A50 headset without a PC, perform a hard reset directly on the headset:
Remove the headset from the base station.
Power it on manually.
Press and hold the Dolby button and the Game side of the Game/Voice balance button simultaneously for about 20–30 seconds.
This resets pairing and clears settings without needing a PC.
Astro A50 hard reset not working — what can I do?
If the hard reset on your Astro A50 isn’t working, try these steps:
Ensure the headset has enough battery by charging it via USB cable for 15–30 minutes.
Remove the headset from the base station before attempting the reset.
Make sure you’re pressing the correct buttons simultaneously (Dolby + Game side of balance rocker) for a full 20–30 seconds.
If the headset remains unresponsive, try resetting the base station or performing a bootloader reset (Gen 4). If problems persist, contacting Astro support may be necessary.
Conclusion
I hope you found everything you needed to know about how to reset your Astro A50 headset and base station. We’ve covered all the key steps, troubleshooting tips, and answered common questions to help you get your gear working like new again.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to explore our website for many more helpful guides and tips about speakers, headphones, sound systems, and all things audio.
Have any other questions or issues? Feel free to leave a comment below — we’re here to help!
Monica Rivas is a Reviewer and Content Manager of Audiofavorite, she is an audiophile for many years and she helps people to learn all they need about audio, speakers, sound etc.