How To Easily Clean Ps4 Pro Heat Sink

How to clean a PS4 without breaking information technology

(Image credit: Future)

Knowing how to clean a PS4 properly tin get your console running back up to speed.

If you've not been able to have advantage of the limited PS5 restocks, y'all volition still be relying on your trusted PS4. All the same, as you play the best PS4 games, dust will inevitably build up both outside and within the torso, causing information technology to overheat. When yous reach this phase, where the fan is running at full speed and the panel feels hot to the touch on, that's a sign that it needs cleaning.

Nevertheless, the thought of cleaning a panel makes even the well-nigh confident of gamers sweat. It's not as easy equally knowing how to clean Oculus lenses — dismantling is required, which means intendance needs to be taken. Don't panic, though: here we'll take you through exactly what to exercise, step-past-step. So here'due south how to clean a PS4.

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How to make clean a PS4

A photo of the PS4 and tools needed for cleaning it — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

What you'll need

Microfiber textile

Compressed air

T8 or T9 screwdriver

Phillips screwdriver

A cotton swab

Before we take you through the steps, it's worth flagging that every bit shortly equally you start dismantling your PS4 to clean the interior, you will void the warranty. Then, if your PS4 is overheating within the warranty period (usually a year), contact client service rather than cleaning it yourself.

You also need to be aware that the steps are different depending on whether you have an original PS4, a PS4 Slim or a PS4 Pro. And to farther complicate matters, there's a 2nd version of the original PS4 that was fabricated after September 2022 and which is slightly different again. The photos here are for the start original model, but we've indicated where the steps differ for the others.

ane. First, brand certain that your PS4 is switched off and all cables are disconnected from the console's body.

2. Next, y'all want to clean the outside of your PS4. To practice this, take your tin can of compressed air and spay bursts of air into each of the ports, forepart and back, too every bit the vents. Make sure you keep the can upright as yous spray and keep your distance then you don't spray moisture into the PS4. If you don't own a can of compressed air, nosotros recommend Falcon Grit, Off Compressed Gas ($7.97, Amazon).

A photo of the PS4 showing compressed air being sprayed into the ports — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

3. Next, run a dry microfiber cloth along the surfaces of your PS4 to go rid of obvious dust. While you accept this cloth to manus, wipe the surface and around the expanse where your PS4 sits equally well. This clears away any potential dust your PS4 may collect once back in identify.

four. Now comes the tricky part: cleaning the internals. First make sure you've cleared some space and have a good source of lite to see what you're doing.

5. If this is your starting time time cleaning your PS4, and you have an original PS4, y'all're going to demand to remove the warranty stickers from the rear, non to the lowest degree considering y'all'll also need to remove the screws beneath them. Remember, if it's still under warranty, contact customer services rather than cleaning the internals yourself. If it's nevertheless nether warranty, information technology shouldn't need cleaning.

half dozen. If you have an original PS4 as pictured hither, you lot should observe four screws on the rear of the console, beneath the warranty stickers. These hold the outer case in place, then unscrew these using a T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver — we recommend Teckman ($6.59, Amazon). So safely keep them together and set them bated.

If y'all have a later on original PS4, there'south merely one sticker and one spiral. If you lot have a PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro, there are no screws.

A photo of the rear of the PS4 with the screws that need removing highlighted in green circles — (Epitome credit: Tom'southward Guide)

vii. If yous have either of the original PS4s, you'll demand to plough the PS4 upside down so information technology's resting on its top. You lot should now exist able to remove the base of the console by pulling the corners and edges away; this might take a niggling piece of work, only don't force it.

For PS4 Slim and PS4 Slim, proceed the console the correct way upwardly and gently slide off the outer casing from the front of the console.

A photo of the PS4 showing the case lifted up — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

8. Before setting the case aside, carefully wipe whatever dust abroad from its inside using your microfiber material.

A photo of the PS4 showing the dusty case — (Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

9. If you own a later version of the PS4, you lot should now be looking at a big metal plate from the top. If you own an original console, y'all'll exist looking at the base and will meet a combination of plastic casing and the ability supply, with the fan visible.

10. Gently place your finger on the centre of the fan to keep information technology in identify, then spray a couple of short bursts from the compressed air into the fan to dislodge grit. It's important that you keep the fan in place during this process, equally forcing it to spin tin can damage the hardware.

A photo of the PS4 showing the fan — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

11. For the PS4 Slim and Pro, you lot'll demand to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the plastic case covering the metal plate at the dorsum of the console. This should betrayal the smaller metallic plate. Remove this besides using your T8 or T9 screwdriver.

12. At present you should exist looking at the full metal plate covering the bulk of the surface. Remove the screws holding this in identify and carefully lift away.

13. If you own an original PS4 console, yous're going to have to remove the power supply to fully access the internals. Simply remove the five screws equally pictured (they're in slightly dissimilar identify on the later on version), gently lift it out and set it safely aside, being sure not to disconnect the power cable.

A photo of the PS4 power supply with the screws that need removing highlighted in green circles — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

A photo of the PS4 showing the power supply removed and the heatsink exposed — (Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

14. Whichever console yous take, yous should at present be able to meet the inside of your fan and the total internals. Employ compressed air to carefully and gently spritz grit abroad in short bursts from the components, although be certain to temporarily social club something in the fan, such as a cotton fiber swab, to foreclose it from turning. Try to aim the air so as to accident dust upwards and out of the fan and components. Aiming into the heatsink is besides a good idea (the grille you can run into exposed in the beneath photo).

A photo of the PS4 showing compressed air being blown into the heatsink — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

15. Leave the console to air-dry for nigh an 60 minutes before reassembling.

And there yous have it, your PS4 should run much more smoothly and quietly. Don't forget to clean the area information technology sits in regularly to cease grit from building upward as apace.

How to clean a PS4 controller

A photo of a dirty PS4 DualShock controller — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Thankfully, cleaning a PS4 controller is much more uncomplicated. First, disconnect any cables, then blow compressed air all over the controller to remove any immediate dust. Be sure to accomplish into awkward areas such every bit the ports and around the analogue sticks. Then wipe it over using a dry microfiber fabric. If it's peculiarly sticky or stained, you can dampen the textile, just brand certain to avert the ports and then moisture doesn't become into the internals. Leave it to fully dry earlier reusing.

When should I make clean my PS4?

Yous should clean your PS4 when it's out of warranty and is showing signs that information technology's full of dust. This includes noise from the fan, overheating and eventual hardware failure. That's why it's of import that you lot take time to requite your PS4 some TLC every and then often. There's no specific guidance on how frequently to clean it, simply as and when necessary. Although 1 clean should final at least a yr.

Can I clean a PS4 myself?

Y'all absolutely can, only exist enlightened that if your PS4 is yet under warranty, you will void it by cleaning the internals. A PS4 shouldn't have gathered plenty dust to crave cleaning while it's even so under warranty, and then contact customer service instead to become it looked at. If you're as well nervous to make clean your PS4 yourself, you lot tin can try request local repair shops if they're willing to exercise it for y'all.

Can you clean a PS4 without taking it apart?

You can clean immediate dust from the surface and ports of your PS4 too equally your controllers. However, if dust has built-upward inside the console, and is causing information technology to overheat, it needs taking apart to clear it out.

Katie looks afterward everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart home products also, so is the best betoken of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over half dozen years, so she knows what to look for when finding the all-time. Her favorite matter to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time.