PS5 Overheating: Here's How To Fix It
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The PS5 is an amazing console with tons of great titles available and even more games on the way, but many users have been experiencing issues with it overheating. Just like every other computer in the world, the components inside the PS5 generate a tremendous amount of heat when they are overloaded. This can cause a number of issues if they aren't properly cooled. There are a few warning signs that this might be occurring: The fan might be spinning way too loudly; games will start to display graphical glitches; the screen might suddenly turn white, purple, or black; or the console's operating system might even simply give the user a message warning them that their PS5 is too hot.
Of course, the external ambient temperature could be a contributing factor -– the PS5 wasn't designed to operate in a 100-degree room, after all -– but there are a handful of other things that could be causing the issue as well. Some of them can't be fixed without voiding the warranty, but others are relatively simple and can save gamers from having to box up their precious console and send it in for a replacement. Here is a list of steps that PS5 owners can take to try and help their console keep its cool.
Step 1: Make sure airflow vents aren't covered
The PS5 cools its components by using a blower-style fan to pull cool air into the console through the black vents that run along either side of the top of the console and the top third of its face (when mounted vertically.) The air then passes through metal fin stacks, which are designed to dissipate heat off the components that they are attached to before pushing the warm air out of the vents located on the back of the console (per Gamers Nexus).
For this process to function properly, the PS5 needs to have uninhibited access to cool ambient air. It won't work if there is a blanket thrown over it or if the intake or exhaust vents are pressed up against something like a wall or the side of a shelf. This also means that it shouldn't be kept in an enclosed space. Consoles that are kept inside a closed cabinet or drawer will quickly fill that space with hot air, making it so that the console only has warm air to take in, severely inhibiting its ability to keep its components cool.
Users should also be wary of putting it close to other heat sources, such as a heating vent or a space heater, as the fan can easily suck in the hot air produced by them. Simply ensuring that the PS5 is out in the open might make all the difference.
Step 2: Check that fans are working properly
The next step is to make sure that the blower fan responsible for moving all that air is actually doing its job. Players should turn on the console, let it run for a few minutes, and then put their hand near the vent at the back. They should be able to hear the fan moving and feel warm air coming out of the back vents. If the fan isn't moving, then it's possible that it has somehow become blocked or disconnected. Luckily, this is fairly easy to check.
Start by shutting down and unplugging the console. Next remove the white panel on the side of the console that has the disk drive (if it has one), opposite the side with the PS symbol. Do this by gently, but firmly, lifting up on the top right corner of the panel and then pulling down toward the bottom (per YourSixStudios). This will expose the fan.
There should be a little cable running out of the fan that is plugged into a gray panel toward the back of the console. Ensure that this is adequately plugged in so that the fan is receiving power. Gamers can also try removing and cleaning the fan by first lifting off the top vent panel that is partially blocking it, then unplugging the fan, and then using a T8 or T9 screwdriver to remove the four screws holding it in place.
If the fan still isn't working after giving it a thorough cleaning and reassembling the console, it might be time to contact Sony about a replacement.
Step 3: Clean it out
If the fan is working properly, but the PS5 is still overheating, then it's possible that the console simply needs to be cleaned. Dust, pet hair, and other debris that is pulled in by the fan can settle on the components inside the console, insulating them and making it much harder for them to adequately dissipate heat (per Kotaku). Luckily, Sony made it very easy for PS5 owners to clean it out. All they need is a vacuum and some compressed air.
To do this, players need to remove the white panel on the side of the console that has the PS symbol embossed into the corner. Simply lift up and then pull back on the corner that has the symbol to remove the plate. This should reveal two openings on the PS5: One near the front of the console, and one in the center near the bottom.
The user can then take the hose attachment on a vacuum cleaner and use it to suck out a bunch of the dust and debris from these ports (per YourSixStudios.) Once this is done, gamers can also use an air compressor or a disposable can of compressed air to try and blast out any remaining dust that might be inside the console. Just be sure to hold the nozzle about six inches from the ports and vents — and make sure not to tilt the can to avoid getting moisture from it inside the console. This is best done outside, so dust isn't blasted into the air inside the user's house.
Step 4: Check any attached SSDs
Some people might not even know that their PS5 comes with a port where they can attach an extra solid state drive (SSD). This is a nice touch since it allows users to buy an SSD of whatever size they want in order to expand the console's storage capacity. Those who have already done this might want to consider whether an abundance of extra heat is being generated by their aftermarket SSD, however.
SSDs, like most computer components, generate a fair amount of heat (per UltimatelyTech). Those that were designed to work in a PC might be sufficiently cooled by the air being pushed through the computer case, but those that are going inside a PS5 typically need a little more help.
Drives that have been officially licensed for the PS5 all come with a metal heatsink attachment, which helps them to dissipate the heat generated under load. When seeking to put an SSD inside the PS5 it's important to make sure that it has this heatsink, but also that the heatsink isn't so large that it won't fit inside the case. If PS5 owners have installed an SSD without a heatsink, it is likely generating a considerable amount of heat in the console. Check this by removing the disk-side panel and examining the SSD. If it doesn't have a metal heatsink on it, it may need to be removed.
Step 5: Contact Sony for a replacement
If the PS5 is clean, has decent airflow, and isn't being heated by any sort of external sources like an SSD, then it's probably time to call Sony. The PS5 continuing to overheat at this point likely means that there is something wrong with one or more of the components inside the console, and accessing it will likely void Sony's responsibility to repair it. Assuming that the damage was not caused by the user, Sony grants a one-year limited warranty to repair the console at no cost to the user — or else replace it if the SIE-authorized service facility deems that it cannot be fixed.
Users who are no longer within the warranty period can still contact Sony about an out-of-warranty refurbishment. The user will be charged a fee for the shipping and repair of their console, but it will likely be more affordable than purchasing a whole new one. During this refurbishment process, "All cosmetic parts of the unit are replaced and all major console modules such as the power supply, Blu-ray drive, hard disk drive and main circuit board are methodically evaluated then calibrated to factory standards." Sony then stress tests the console to ensure that it is working properly before returning it to the user.
A final note about third party coolers
When functioning properly, the PS5 should be able to regulate its own internal temperature without the assistance of external devices. That's why it's always best to clean and repair the console rather than try to solve issues with external devices. Users experiencing overheating issues might be tempted to purchase a third-party cooler, but these are generally not recommended — and many of them have been deemed to be a waste of money. A lot of them don't do anything to cool the PS5, and a few of them actually do more harm than good (per Gamers Nexus).
Some of these coolers are designed as a base for the PS5. They attempt to cool the bottom of the console where there are only a few tiny vents, primarily blowing air at the solid plastic base of the console and essentially achieving nothing. But other, more insidious coolers actually vent air into the exhaust vents at the back of the console, actively going against the PS5's airflow pattern. Users who are set on purchasing one, however, should make sure that it attaches at the back and assists in blowing air out of the console rather than in. That way the airflow will be moving in the right direction.