How to clean a PS4 without breaking it

(Image credit: Time to come)

Knowing how to make clean a PS4 properly can get your console running support to speed.

If yous've not been able to take advantage of the express PS5 restocks, you will notwithstanding exist relying on your trusted PS4. Withal, as you play the all-time PS4 games, grit will inevitably build upward both outside and within the body, causing it to overheat. When you reach this phase, where the fan is running at full speed and the console feels hot to the touch, that's a sign that it needs cleaning.

Nevertheless, the thought of cleaning a console makes even the almost confident of gamers sweat. It's non as easy equally knowing how to clean Oculus lenses — dismantling is required, which means care needs to be taken. Don't panic, though: here we'll take y'all through exactly what to do, footstep-by-step. Then hither'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 — (Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

What you'll demand

Microfiber fabric

Compressed air

T8 or T9 screwdriver

Phillips screwdriver

A cotton swab

Before we have you lot through the steps, it's worth flagging that as soon as you showtime dismantling your PS4 to clean the interior, y'all will void the warranty. Then, if your PS4 is overheating inside the warranty catamenia (usually a yr), contact customer service rather than cleaning it yourself.

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

1. Kickoff, make sure that your PS4 is switched off and all cables are disconnected from the console's trunk.

2. Next, yous want to make clean the outside of your PS4. To exercise this, take your can of compressed air and spay bursts of air into each of the ports, front and back, as well as the vents. Make sure you continue the tin upright as you spray and continue your distance and then you lot don't spray moisture into the PS4. If you don't ain a can of compressed air, we 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. Adjacent, run a dry microfiber cloth along the surfaces of your PS4 to get rid of obvious dust. While y'all have this cloth to mitt, wipe the surface and effectually the surface area where your PS4 sits likewise. This clears away any potential dust your PS4 may collect once back in place.

four. At present comes the tricky part: cleaning the internals. Kickoff make sure yous've cleared some space and have a adept source of lite to see what you're doing.

five. If this is your first time cleaning your PS4, and you have an original PS4, you're going to need to remove the warranty stickers from the rear, not least because you'll also need to remove the screws beneath them. Remember, if information technology's still under warranty, contact customer services rather than cleaning the internals yourself. If it'due south still under warranty, information technology shouldn't need cleaning.

6. If you have an original PS4 as pictured here, you should notice four screws on the rear of the panel, below the warranty stickers. These agree the outer case in place, so unscrew these using a T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver — we recommend Teckman ($half dozen.59, Amazon). Then safely keep them together and set them bated.

If you lot have a later original PS4, there'south just one sticker and 1 screw. If you take 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 — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

7. If you have either of the original PS4s, you'll need to turn the PS4 upside down so it's resting on its top. You should now be able to remove the base of the console by pulling the corners and edges away; this might have a little work, merely don't force it.

For PS4 Slim and PS4 Slim, keep the panel the right way up and gently slide off the outer casing from the front of the console.

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

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

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

ix. If you own a later version of the PS4, you should now be looking at a large metal plate from the height. If you own an original panel, you'll be looking at the base of operations and volition see a combination of plastic casing and the power supply, with the fan visible.

10. Gently place your finger on the center of the fan to go on information technology in place, then spray a couple of short bursts from the compressed air into the fan to dislodge dust. It's of import that you go on the fan in place during this procedure, as forcing it to spin tin can damage the hardware.

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

xi. For the PS4 Slim and Pro, you'll demand to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the plastic instance covering the metal plate at the back of the console. This should expose the smaller metallic plate. Remove this also using your T8 or T9 screwdriver.

12. At present yous should be looking at the total metallic plate covering the bulk of the surface. Remove the screws holding this in place and carefully elevator away.

13. If you own an original PS4 console, you're going to have to remove the ability supply to fully access the internals. Just remove the v screws as pictured (they're in slightly dissimilar identify on the afterwards version), gently lift information technology out and gear up it safely aside, being certain non to disconnect the power cablevision.

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

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

14. Whichever console you have, you should at present be able to see the within of your fan and the full internals. Utilize compressed air to carefully and gently spritz dust away in short bursts from the components, although be sure to temporarily social club something in the fan, such as a cotton fiber swab, to forestall it from turning. Effort to aim the air then equally to blow dust upward and out of the fan and components. Aiming into the heatsink is also a good idea (the grille you can run across exposed in the below photo).

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

fifteen. Get out the console to air-dry for about an hour before reassembling.

And there you have it, your PS4 should run much more than smoothly and quietly. Don't forget to clean the area information technology sits in regularly to cease dust from building upwardly as quickly.

How to clean a PS4 controller

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

Thankfully, cleaning a PS4 controller is much more unproblematic. First, disconnect whatsoever cables, then blow compressed air all over the controller to remove any firsthand dust. Be sure to accomplish into awkward areas such as the ports and around the analogue sticks. Then wipe it over using a dry out microfiber cloth. If it'due south especially viscous or stained, you tin can dampen the cloth, just brand sure to avoid the ports and so moisture doesn't get into the internals. Go out it to fully dry out before reusing.

When should I clean my PS4?

You should make clean your PS4 when it's out of warranty and is showing signs that information technology'southward full of grit. This includes noise from the fan, overheating and eventual hardware failure. That's why it's important that you lot take fourth dimension to give your PS4 some TLC every so oftentimes. In that location's no specific guidance on how ofttimes to clean it, just as and when necessary. Although one clean should last at to the lowest degree a year.

Can I clean a PS4 myself?

You absolutely tin, but exist aware that if your PS4 is still under warranty, you volition void it by cleaning the internals. A PS4 shouldn't have gathered enough dust to require cleaning while it'southward nonetheless nether warranty, and so contact customer service instead to go it looked at. If yous're too nervous to clean your PS4 yourself, you can try asking local repair shops if they're willing to do information technology for you lot.

Tin you clean a PS4 without taking information technology autonomously?

You tin make clean immediate dust from the surface and ports of your PS4 likewise as your controllers. All the same, if grit has congenital-upwards inside the console, and is causing information technology to overheat, it needs taking apart to clear information technology out.

Katie looks subsequently everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart dwelling house products as well, and so is the best point of contact for any household communication! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over half dozen years, and so she knows what to look for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare fourth dimension.