The PS4 is a great piece of gaming technology. Even so, these advanced devices experience problems from time to time. The most common problem, outside of a bad internet connection, is overheating. So, if your PS4 is overheating, what can you do?
If your PS4 is overheating, the most likely culprit is a blocked fan. Always keep your console clear of dust and debris, and be sure it has plenty of space around it to take in cool air. If you keep having issues, or just want to prevent them, an aftermarket cooler is a very cost effective solution.
It can be a bit frustrating to get to the bottom of overheating issues. Since these out-of-the-box devices aren’t meant to be opened by users, getting a gauge for the problem is often difficult. But don’t worry; we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
Signs of Overheating in Your PS4
It can happen to anyone. You’re in the zone, gaming, and all of sudden, you hear a harsh buzzing coming from your console. What you’re hearing is the fan. When it’s running this fast, it can be a sign of many things, including overheating.
If you hear your fan constantly at higher volumes, it could be a sign your PS4 is overheating. To be sure, feel the console. While a little bit of warmth is normal, if it’s hot to the touch, you can assume that overheating is the issue.
The fan plays an essential role in keeping things cool. When it’s working overtime, you can bet there is a reason. In most cases, the fan will try to cool down your console. While a faulty fan could be the culprit, you should always take a loud fan as the first sign your console might be overheating.
The next sign is the most obvious one, and that’s the heat. Sometimes, your fan might be busted, or for some other reason, it’s just not working. So that’s why the touch test is the real litmus test for overheating.
Keep in mind that consoles create heat as a byproduct. Engineers design these devices to manage the heat, but there will always be a bit of warmth when a unit is running.
However, if you’re feeling a fairly aggressive heat — one that you can’t keep your hand on for long — that is an issue. At high temperatures, you’re not only getting poorer performance, but you could be doing long-term damage to the internal components of your PS4.
And keep in mind that you can always add more cooling manually! Options like the Linkhood Cooling Fan for PS4 (on Amazon) allow you to add more cooling to your PS4, while other options like OIVO PS4 Cooling Stand (also on Amazon) add even more features like controller charging and game storage.
What to Do When Your PS4 Overheats
When it comes to your PS4 overheating, there are a few ways to tackle the issue. Most of them get to the root of the cause, which is the heat.
In most cases, it’s a simple maintenance issue, but in others, it could mean cracking open the console and working on the inner components. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, we’d advise you to leave this kind of repair up to the pros.
Below you’ll find some easy fixes to the overheating issue. If your problems persist after you try all these fixes, contact a repair specialist.
Turn the Console Off for a Longer Period of Time
The first thing you should try if you’re experiencing overheating issues is to turn your device off. It may sound like generic tech advice, but in this case, it could really work. If you don’t know what the cause of your overheating issues is, it’s a good idea to try the simple fix first.
It could be a weird software or connectivity issue that is causing your components to heat up. Once they get hot, it can be hard to get things cool again. Turning your PS4 off gives it plenty of time to cool off.
If you are still experiencing the issues when you turn it back on, then you should move on to the next steps.
Check Your Fan
Remember how important the fan is to cooling your system down? Well, if you’re having problems with overheating, it could be the reason.
While Sony has designed a great piece of hardware, it’s not immune to problems. The fan needs access to the outside to expel hot air, usually in the form of fan ports somewhere on the outside console.
Once you find it, you can get a general idea of how well your fan might be running. If you’re hearing weird sounds or don’t hear any sound at all, it could mean you have a bad fan. You can replace and repair these yourself, but if you don’t have prior expertise, we’d recommend you send it in for repairs.
Unblock the Vent
The fan vent is just as important as the fan itself. If you can think of the fan as the respiratory system of your PS4, the vent is the mouth. If it’s kept closed, air can’t escape the system. It really is that simple. So, if you see a dirty vent filled with dust, you can assume that’s part of the problem.
To fix everything up, you need to take care of your PS4. This includes cleaning out the vent and other areas. Let’s explore those prosesses now.
How to Care for Your PS4
If you’re taking a look at your PS4 and seeing loads of dust and grime, it might be the cause of your overheating problems.
Dust can block necessary fan vents and prevent the hot air in the system from escaping. If this happens, the hot air has nowhere to go and will quickly overheat your console. The fan will start to hum loudly, and your console will become hot to the touch.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to take proper care of your PS4. This includes cleaning. But before you break out the dish soap, there are a few things you should understand about cleaning electronic devices such as this.
First, don’t use any household cleaning products, especially anything liquid. It might seem obvious to most of us, but water and electronics just don’t mix. Even a little bit of moisture in your system can spell disaster.
To clean and take care of your PS4, try and use a dry cloth to wipe away any surface dust. To clean your vent, you can use a small vacuum to get the inner dirt or a canned air spray specially designed for electronics, like Falcon Dust-Off (on Amazon). You may even have luck using both methods.
Whichever way you choose to clean your PS4, make sure to be extra careful. As you clean, try not to push dirt and grime deeper into the console. This can be a difficult task, so take things slow. The more often you do this task, the less of a chance your console will overheat.
How often you’ll need to do this will depend on a few factors:
- Where you live
- If you have pets
- How often do you play
Pets can easily create plenty of dust and dander to keep you on a daily cleaning schedule. If you live in a fairly clean and dust-free house, you may get away with only cleaning every few weeks. Take a look at your console every once in a while to get a gauge of how often you should be cleaning.
How to Update Your PS4’s Software
Updating your software is another way you can limit the chances of overheating. While physical components like a fan are likely culprits, sometimes it’s outdated software that’s causing the problems.
Developers are always looking for ways to optimize their games for consoles, making updates a common occurrence. Moreover, Sony itself will deploy periodic updates to the PS4 firmware to ensure everyone has the best version of the console.
If you’re curious about manually updating your software, here’s what you need to know.
- Using a PC or Mac, create a folder named “PS4.” You’ll need to add it to a FAT32 formatted USB drive.
- Inside that folder, create another folder with the name “UPDATE.”
- Next, download the update file on the Sony website and save it in the folder. Save the file as “PS4UPDATE.PUP.”
- After that, plug the USB drive into your PS4 console.
- Start the PS4 console in Safe Mode: press and hold the power button, releasing after the second beep.
- Select Safe Mode option 3; this should be called “Update System Software.”
- Select Update from USB Storage Device, and then click OK.
In most situations, your console will automatically update. If it fails to do so, it could mean you’re running on outdated firmware. That outdated firmware could be the source of overheating issues.
Where’s the Best Place to Keep a PS4?
If overheating is becoming a sustained issue and you’ve already explored the above options, you should consider the location of your console.
Your PS4 needs room to expel hot air from the system and take in cool air from the outside. Keeping your console crammed in between other devices or underneath books is a surefire way to block access.
Generally speaking, the more space, the better. If you can, set your PS4 on a stand or a table without any obstructions blocking the vents. You should leave at least six inches on all sides, including the top.
You should also keep in mind that ambient room temperature can play a role in overheating. If your room is over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, your PS4 won’t have access to the cool air it needs to keep the temperature regulated. If this is the case, overheating will almost certainly occur.